Stop focusing on your Weight Only!!!
Replies
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I definitely think that this is true. I weigh myself every morning, but on the days when I forget to weigh I usually feel much better about myself. Also, for me the scale constantly goes up and down and sometimes on the down days I am still not happy with how my body looks! The scale can read 132 and I am down 2 more pounds but my stomach still sticks out. I have read that you have to lose fat before you can see the muscles you are building. My biggest concern is my stomach. Seems like no matter how much weight I lose it still looks big unless I am cutting carbs and sugar. Would love to get your take on this. :-)0
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Awesome info! I needed to be reminded of all these things...i am suddenly getting a craving for lifting! ahh...thank you.0
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The thing about exercising is that you need time to repair your muscles. Which means there will be a temporary buildup of fluids. This weighs weight and is Not fat. Mostly fluids that are in the form of energy. You exercise, you deplete this fluid. You give your body time to repair, the fluid comes back to help that process. It's a good thing.You are right, but it's so hard when you are starting out. I had lost my first pound as off this Saturday, and today it's all back. And it doesn't help that my measurements went back up either. I think for me personally, I need to stop logging in my weight every time I lose. Maybe give it a week and see if it sticks.0 -
So so true!!! I've given up the scale for awhile!! I want to rely more on how I feel, how do I look in my clothes, are my workouts progressing. It helps more in the long run to get in touch with yourself....don't rely on the scale to tell you how good you should feel!!!0
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Great post! Not even the trolls could touch it.0
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Thank you so much, I needed this little pep talk. I have not been losing weigh but inches and %BF and was feeling a bit disappointed because I saw so many others dropping pounds like crazy! I also tried the BMI online and it said i was over 25%, when my PT said I'm only 21.3%. I was worried it was wrong but it sounds like I have nothing to worry about. I could use some encouragement whenever possible! Friend request coming your way!0
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Great post! Not even the trolls could touch it.
Thanks David. Just trying to help wherever I can and this had been on my mind for a few days!0 -
I tend to weigh myself every morning just to see where I'm at. Since May I've lost only 8 lbs according to the scale. I know I've lost more, because I also take measurements. According to my measurements from May until last week, I've lost a total of 17.5 in overall. I have more shape, my thighs don't rub to the point my shorts are creeping up, and I went from a 14 to an 11-12 in pants. I've been doing a lot of the 30 Day Shred and Insanity (only 2-3 days a week) so I know I've gained a lot of muscle. I still have more weight to lose, but if I never took my measurements (I do this weekly), then I would've been really discouraged to only see an 8 lb loss. Definately take measurements as it aids in more motivation.
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I love you for writing this. in talking to one of my kickboxing instructors about my game plan, weight never came up. he asked what my goals were, and i said i wanted to be fit and strong. i want to lose the fat. that's it. i picked a weight that i think will be close to where i want to end up, but it's the fitness level that is the important thing to me. i weigh myself once a week and take measurements, but i really base everything on NSVs, like how I feel after whatever work out i'm doing. as long as i feel stronger, i know i'm headed in the right direction.0
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So so true!!! I've given up the scale for awhile!! I want to rely more on how I feel, how do I look in my clothes, are my workouts progressing. It helps more in the long run to get in touch with yourself....don't rely on the scale to tell you how good you should feel!!!
Lizzie - yes. If you are exercising - you should feel great about yourself...no matter who you "are" right now. The mental war is more important than the physical because in the end - your mind tells your body what to do. And if you don't feel great about yourself, it's gonna be hard to win. I feel my next thread just came clear. (Watch someone take it before I post it...hehe) 0 -
I tend to weigh myself every morning just to see where I'm at. Since May I've lost only 8 lbs according to the scale. I know I've lost more, because I also take measurements. According to my measurements from May until last week, I've lost a total of 17.5 in overall. I have more shape, my thighs don't rub to the point my shorts are creeping up, and I went from a 14 to an 11-12 in pants. I've been doing a lot of the 30 Day Shred and Insanity (only 2-3 days a week) so I know I've gained a lot of muscle. I still have more weight to lose, but if I never took my measurements (I do this weekly), then I would've been really discouraged to only see an 8 lb loss. Definately take measurements as it aids in more motivation.
Measurements - - and pictures! It is motivating to see progress over months of time!!0 -
Loving this! Bump!0
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The thing about exercising is that you need time to repair your muscles. Which means there will be a temporary buildup of fluids. This weighs weight and is Not fat. Mostly fluids that are in the form of energy. You exercise, you deplete this fluid. You give your body time to repair, the fluid comes back to help that process. It's a good thing.You are right, but it's so hard when you are starting out. I had lost my first pound as off this Saturday, and today it's all back. And it doesn't help that my measurements went back up either. I think for me personally, I need to stop logging in my weight every time I lose. Maybe give it a week and see if it sticks.
I had wondered about that. I did a pretty hard boot camp style workout on Friday and then Saturday night I went out jogging/walking for about 3 miles. Maybe that's lactic acid buildup that is showing up on the scale?0 -
Thank you for this! I've been struggling with this. I used to obsess over the scale while I lost 70 lbs. It made me feel great about myself, but when the scale stopped moving my self-esteem went down and I would stop working out. This time around, I have taken the batteries out of the scale, eating healthier foods and not just eating whatever I wanted and saying I ate healthy, and incorporated strength training in my workouts. I've looked at the scale a couple of times, mentally not good results. But, I feel so much stronger and my endurance has gone way up. I hope I can stick to this mentality!0
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I definitely think that this is true. I weigh myself every morning, but on the days when I forget to weigh I usually feel much better about myself. Also, for me the scale constantly goes up and down and sometimes on the down days I am still not happy with how my body looks! The scale can read 132 and I am down 2 more pounds but my stomach still sticks out. I have read that you have to lose fat before you can see the muscles you are building. My biggest concern is my stomach. Seems like no matter how much weight I lose it still looks big unless I am cutting carbs and sugar. Would love to get your take on this. :-)
Pinthin - first, nice screen name.
I don't think it is helpful to pay much attention on a "micro" basis in terms of weight or look. Feel is a different story because how you feel often determines what you do that day (exercise and diet). Some are motivated weighing daily. Some are discouraged. There is no wrong or right - I just don't believe it is the most effective or beneficial weigh. I mean, think about it. Am I going to weight myself every day for the next 40 years of my life? That seems a bit OCD. I'm not picking on the people that do, I already said earlier that it may help some. but who likes to be micro-managed? NO ONE!! EVER!! So why the heck would we do that to ourselves? It makes no sense.
Be in touch with your body. Watch what you eat and then how you feel 30 minutes to 2 hours after. If you don't feel good, don't eat it anymore (or often). Your body is talking to you! Now to your question about your stomach. That is a tough one...I feel the same way about my sometimes!! How much sodium do you take in a day? Water? A lot of times people feel "bloated" and that can be from taking in too much sodium. And sodium doesn't mean you are salting everything - you would be shocked by the amount of sodium that comes in food before it is ever salted.
Last - work abs like you would arms. What I mean is some people think that you should just do non-weighted movements for abs. That does help rip them up and build a good core. However, you grow them just like any other muscle and if you want them to get bigger, do movements that will help them to grow by using WEIGHTS. Don't be afraid to go heavy on abs. Mix it up. The key when you weight them is to focus on hitting them. Some people I see at the gym use every muscle but their abs to do weighted abs. So use an weight where you can really focus on the abs and do between 12-15 reps per set...it should be burning by 12, then you go to 15 (and want to throw up). Hit em hard. My 2 cents.0 -
Thank you for this! I've been struggling with this. I used to obsess over the scale while I lost 70 lbs. It made me feel great about myself, but when the scale stopped moving my self-esteem went down and I would stop working out. This time around, I have taken the batteries out of the scale, eating healthier foods and not just eating whatever I wanted and saying I ate healthy, and incorporated strength training in my workouts. I've looked at the scale a couple of times, mentally not good results. But, I feel so much stronger and my endurance has gone way up. I hope I can stick to this mentality!
70 lbs is awesome, but it shouldn't be just about the pounds. Make it about how you feel physically, mentally, for working so hard. Focus on body fat. Sometimes we get "stuck" at a certain weight and it takes something totally different in our training or diet to break through. I am a big believer in strength training!0 -
Good post imanole.
I step on the scale whenever the mood strikes. I'm not a slave to it and I found some time back that the normal daily fluctuations showing up on the scale can stress me. Stress leads to comfort eating for me so best to avoid things that make me feel bad. I've lost 36lbs in a year. Sure, not as fast as some, but just right for me. I exercise when my joints(&chronic migraines) allow. I eat so much better than in the past and have inspired my omni spouse to do the same. My clothes fit better & more comfortably. I've changed my relationship with food and with myself.
Most impotantly to me, I've managed to continue to enjoy food, the occasional 'rita, my family & friends and myself. I have 9 or 10 lbs to go and have plenty of time to get there.0 -
Yes!
Mine is going NOWHERE right now...and for the past 12 weeks! If I'd still focused on the scale only, I would be back to my old habits. Not going to happen. Eventually I will figure out why I can't break this!
Tandi - we're gonna figure this out. 0 -
Yes!
Mine is going NOWHERE right now...and for the past 12 weeks! If I'd still focused on the scale only, I would be back to my old habits. Not going to happen. Eventually I will figure out why I can't break this!
Tandi - we're gonna figure this out.
Same boat. Plateaued for 4 months. That last 4-6 weeks I have increased my calories because I work out so much I was causing too big of a deficit, decreased my cardio but added 3-4 days of strength training. Hoping August is the month to break it. Hard not to be concerned with the scale when it hasn't moved in months. But, I have been noticing little things and they keep me going... for now.0 -
Yes!
Mine is going NOWHERE right now...and for the past 12 weeks! If I'd still focused on the scale only, I would be back to my old habits. Not going to happen. Eventually I will figure out why I can't break this!
Tandi - we're gonna figure this out.
Same boat. Plateaued for 4 months. That last 4-6 weeks I have increased my calories because I work out so much I was causing too big of a deficit, decreased my cardio but added 3-4 days of strength training. Hoping August is the month to break it. Hard not to be concerned with the scale when it hasn't moved in months. But, I have been noticing little things and they keep me going... for now.
Sometime this week I'll try to post some ideas for the "stuck" crowd. We can all get there at times.0 -
Yes!
Mine is going NOWHERE right now...and for the past 12 weeks! If I'd still focused on the scale only, I would be back to my old habits. Not going to happen. Eventually I will figure out why I can't break this!
Tandi - we're gonna figure this out.
Same boat. Plateaued for 4 months. That last 4-6 weeks I have increased my calories because I work out so much I was causing too big of a deficit, decreased my cardio but added 3-4 days of strength training. Hoping August is the month to break it. Hard not to be concerned with the scale when it hasn't moved in months. But, I have been noticing little things and they keep me going... for now.
Sometime this week I'll try to post some ideas for the "stuck" crowd. We can all get there at times.
I will look out for that. Loving this thread, its like we have our own personal coach and guru!!! lol0 -
Yes!
Mine is going NOWHERE right now...and for the past 12 weeks! If I'd still focused on the scale only, I would be back to my old habits. Not going to happen. Eventually I will figure out why I can't break this!
Tandi - we're gonna figure this out.
Same boat. Plateaued for 4 months. That last 4-6 weeks I have increased my calories because I work out so much I was causing too big of a deficit, decreased my cardio but added 3-4 days of strength training. Hoping August is the month to break it. Hard not to be concerned with the scale when it hasn't moved in months. But, I have been noticing little things and they keep me going... for now.
Sometime this week I'll try to post some ideas for the "stuck" crowd. We can all get there at times.
I will look out for that. Loving this thread, its like we have our own personal coach and guru!!! lol
I agree! 0 -
Fantastic post!!! I've been telling people for years that strength training is vital if you want to SEE a transformation. I sometimes think there are people who forget the 1 pound of muscle looks smaller than 1 pound of fat, so even if your weight doesn't change while you gain muscle and lose fat, you're still going to LOOK better.
Having said that, I weigh myself at least once each day. It's more about understanding my bodies trends. Sometimes I will get on the scale before I go to bed, and then check first thing in the morning. I've seen a difference of as much as 6 pounds - mostly due to the multiple trips to the bathroom during the night. (TMI!!).
I'm currently on a quest to get to 190 pounds WHILE ADDING MORE MUSCLE. I sure wouldn't mind being in the low teens as far as body fat% goes. I'm currently sitting at 17% based on the measurements a trainer at my gym took using calipers.0 -
I frequently lurk and I pretty much never post but had to say this hit the spot for me. I lost 75lbs from Feb 2011 - Feb 2012 and only about 7 lbs since. I've lost 13 inches off my hips, 12 inches off my waist, 5 inches off each thigh (don't have the rest of my figures handy since I found MFP 6 months into my journey). I've gone from pants size 22 to 10/12 and from 2X to Medium in tops. My size 20 wedding dress is ridiculously loose despite the fact that I currently weigh about the same as I did when I got married nearly 13 years ago. I'm about 16lbs from "normal" BMI weight but I look so much better than 18 months ago and I feel great. I'm not gonna lie, it would be nice to be "normal" by stupid BMI standards but I'm trying to keep focused on the fact that I'm fit and healthy. I've still lost 1/2 inch off my hips and 1/2 inch off my waist in the past 2 months without losing a pound.0
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I frequently lurk and I pretty much never post but had to say this hit the spot for me. I lost 75lbs from Feb 2011 - Feb 2012 and only about 7 lbs since. I've lost 13 inches off my hips, 12 inches off my waist, 5 inches off each thigh (don't have the rest of my figures handy since I found MFP 6 months into my journey). I've gone from pants size 22 to 10/12 and from 2X to Medium in tops. My size 20 wedding dress is ridiculously loose despite the fact that I currently weigh about the same as I did when I got married nearly 13 years ago. I'm about 16lbs from "normal" BMI weight but I look so much better than 18 months ago and I feel great. I'm not gonna lie, it would be nice to be "normal" by stupid BMI standards but I'm trying to keep focused on the fact that I'm fit and healthy. I've still lost 1/2 inch off my hips and 1/2 inch off my waist in the past 2 months without losing a pound.
I'm glad it helped!! 0 -
Nevermind.
Everyone has goals for their own personal reasons. 0 -
Fantastic post!!! I've been telling people for years that strength training is vital if you want to SEE a transformation. I sometimes think there are people who forget the 1 pound of muscle looks smaller than 1 pound of fat, so even if your weight doesn't change while you gain muscle and lose fat, you're still going to LOOK better.
Having said that, I weigh myself at least once each day. It's more about understanding my bodies trends. Sometimes I will get on the scale before I go to bed, and then check first thing in the morning. I've seen a difference of as much as 6 pounds - mostly due to the multiple trips to the bathroom during the night. (TMI!!).
I'm currently on a quest to get to 190 pounds WHILE ADDING MORE MUSCLE. I sure wouldn't mind being in the low teens as far as body fat% goes. I'm currently sitting at 17% based on the measurements a trainer at my gym took using calipers.
Great job! You are killing it! I'm sure you will meet your 190 lb goal.0 -
So true thanks for posting.0
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Great post! I actually tell people that I am on a fat loss journey instead of weight loss. I still weigh myself, but the number on the scale just helps me keep track of my water retention. The real measure of my success comes with looking in the mirror and appreciating the noticeable changes in my body. Would I like the scale to go down? Of course I would, but it is not the most important thing to me. I want to be healthy, not skinny.0
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I'm into week 3 of a journey I've started (and quickly bailed on) so many times over the past 10 years as I've slowly and steadily gained approx 3 LBs a year (that breaks down to only a third of a pound a month, but oh how it's added up!) I've started to lose faith that I can really get rid of it... that I can really ever be a thin person again... I'm not sure I truly believe it can happen and I need to work on my mental game...(Did you say you were going to post something about that topic?)
So thanks for the motivating post on a day I really needed it. I gained a half pound over the past week when I did (almost) everything right... tracking, exercising, less splurging than usual, etc.... I'm definitely going to incorporate two days of strength training into my routine and more produce (because the cardio and calorie tracking isn't working alone...) And thankfully, I did measure my self at start of journey and have lost 2 inches and 4 LBS... slow, but better than 3 weeks ago!! :-)0
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