Why the Scale Sucks

kestrel359

From November 1st to January 1st I went from 160 lbs to 140 lbs, but only went from 38% body fat to 36% body fat. From January to now I have only lost 5 lbs but I went from 36% body fat to 29%. Seeing the scale refuse to move has been extremely frustrating. Luckily I am taking part in a body transformation challenge that requires me to take pictures every month, and comparing January's pictures to today's pictures has been very motivating. If you haven't already realized how poor of a tool your scale is for rating your improvement, then I hope this is adequate proof for you.

ThinUpGirl

Thanks for sharing.

I've been struggling with the number on the scale lately.

soobie

Sure is helpful to see this. I lost a great deal from Sept. to Jan and then it just stopped. I took some photos in January, but haven't since. Maybe time to break out the camera again. You really have made improvements, congratulations!!

cook6609

thanks for this reminder... I haven't really seen the scale move since I started the 30 day shred (20 days ago... I start level 3 today!!)... I was getting a little discouraged, but with the encouragement of my measurements and my friends and husband, I have seen improvement as far as inches... My pants (that I bought right before I started) fit perfectly before the shred. Now they are loose. I had to tighten my belt (using the custom made holes my hubby put in for me). Shirts that I couldn't fit in before now fit!!! While the scale hasn't been moving, I have... It's just nice to know that I'm not the only one dealing with this dilemma....

kmc979

wow, congrats on your success. I agree, the scale sucks, but we are so stuck on having a number. I do prefer to go by how my clothes fit but everyone wants to see that scale number drop while our pants size drops also.

kmr72

I needed to read this......I have lost 4 inches in my hips but the scale went up 5.8 lbs. Go figure

WhaddoWino

This is such a great post! First, you look really good; keep up the hard work! Second, I have also come to the conclusion that-- if you are seriously working out as you eat well-- scales are pretty meaningless. Fortunately, I have access to a Tanita Body Composition Analyzer and have been tracking myself on that over the past three months. Seeing your fat % go down, seeing your muscle mass % go up... those are the true successes! It's also amazing how much your water weight can fluctuate, especially as a woman.

Thanks for sharing this!

AndrewXB9

Helpful. Thanks for sharing and congratulations

kestrel359

Thank you to everyone who has commented. I'm bumping this just to make sure more people see why you shouldn't focus on the scale

djack18

Awesome job! Bump!

Colbyandsage

<---yep, it is!

Lecterman

I agree 100%. Last month I started concentrating more BF loss than weight loss.

Net results were a 2 pound weight loss, but a 2.5% loss in BF (36.8% to 34.3%) and a loss of 2.25" in the waist alone.

Keep it up!

MercenaryNoetic26

So true! I look like that 2nd pic right now kinda. I'm at 120 25-28%BF. AND I had those exact same shorts you're wearing! I gotta kick outta that! lol

SuzieQ724

Yea. What's the first thing someone asks you when they notice you've lost weight...."how much have you lost??!!"

kestrel359

when people saw me after a week or two they would say I was wasting away and wouldn't believe me when I would tell them I hadn't lost any more weight since the last time they saw me

jillybeansalad

Yeah, I think it's normal to want to see the concrete numbers fall... but it's unrealistic. I still get frustrated now-and-then, and I wish bf% was easier to measure. lol

justunrick

The scale is awful last weigh in I was 182. Got on the scale last night it said 192. This morning it said 190 and then after my workout today it had me at 186. After using the rest room it had me at 182. Now I know there is no way I put on 10 pounds nor did it go away that fast. I never get on this much but Really that much of a difference. I understand water weight but what the heck was this deal all about?

RayBoy76

Very true. Measurements are best, even if it is just realizing that those pants fit looser than before.

Rhonnie

Excellent proof that the number on the scale is nothing more then a measure of the earths gravitation pull on your body. Great job!

DaniH826

Yep, I've decided to focus on fat loss rather than weight loss and banished my scale to the upper shelf of my closet. Where it will stay. Stay. Ubu. Good dog. /pat

I'm going to go by monthly measurements and how my clothes fit instead. It's been tempting to peek (cause years-long habits can be tough to break), but not worrying about it is rather liberating.

Thank you for posting this! I hope more people pay attention. :flowerforyou:

SASSYGIRLY30

wow amazing!! I needed to see this... the scale hasn't been friendly haha

bekah818

That's awesome!!! Thanks for sharing I think a lot of people (including me) needed to see this.

cnewlin86

I agree!! The scale moves slower than I like but I do pictures every month and my measurements twice a month. if I focused only on the scale I wouldn't be where i am today. It's been over 10 days since I've seen the scale go down and yes, it bugs me that it isn't moving but it also makes me push harder and when others see a difference in me I know I am still on the right track. Thanks for sharing this because you do look great! And I can see the difference! And it's just another boost I need to keep me moving forward!

kmchambers64

thanks for this reminder... I haven't really seen the scale move since I started the 30 day shred (20 days ago... I start level 3 today!!)... I was getting a little discouraged, but with the encouragement of my measurements and my friends and husband, I have seen improvement as far as inches... My pants (that I bought right before I started) fit perfectly before the shred. Now they are loose. I had to tighten my belt (using the custom made holes my hubby put in for me). Shirts that I couldn't fit in before now fit!!! While the scale hasn't been moving, I have... It's just nice to know that I'm not the only one dealing with this dilemma....

I did not lose a single pound doing the shred. But I lost 12 inches. So don't give up. I start LV 4 of Ripped in 40 on Wednesday. And I have read several other posters who did not lose weight doing the Shred, but lost plenty of inches.

kmchambers64

Thanks for sharing this reminder

babynun

I even googled how to weigh yourself on a scale because I was so frustrated with mine. It doesn't take a genius to figure it out but when the #s increase and you're losing inches, it's frustrating!

I was sceptical with the 30 day shred but there have been many, many positive comments on here so I added it to my workout routine. I'm on day 4, level 1 and my muscles ache! So probably a good sign.

My advice...stop weighing yourself!

thekyleo

I do like this reminder. I have cut down from weighing myself every day to once a week. but i still do it because it still lets me keep track of my weight, i know inches matter but it just helps me keep myself in check

AGREENLEE1960

I refuse to live my life by watching a number..I am not a number. Just keep on working out and eating right. The health benefits are
astounding!

Allup2Me78

I have lost 5.5 lbs from Jan-March but still can tell I am loosing because of how my clothes fit and compliments I get...The scale has been mean to me lately...Good to see this post and see that I am NOT alone in this!!

kestrel359

bump

dixiewhiskey

Coming along nicely