Stop focusing on your Weight Only!!!

imanole
imanole Posts: 169 Member
in Motivation and Support
All my friends on MFP will tell you that I am a HUGE supporter of not focusing on weight as much as how you look (and feel). How you look: Body fat vs lean muscle. I have seen myself and helped other people make great transformations where they didn't lose 15 lbs the first month in WEIGHT - but they did in BODY FAT! Why, because they gained muscle in the process. So their pants size shrunk up because they lost some on their waste but they gained more muscle around their body.

(For those peeps who love to weigh in, don't start spewing venom at me just yet...patience)

People don't feel bad about themselves just because of weight, but because of body fat. I feel great about myself and I'm around 215. And a traditional BMI reading (for some) is crap. Why? Well, I just put in my stats from today and it says I am at 27.6 BMI and officially "over weight"...now, look at my pic. Does it look like I am at 27.6? No. Because BMI doesn't take in stats like waste, neck measurement or how much of that is actually muscle.

Here is my point. Keep weighing yourself if this helps you. And if you are 30 lbs or more overweight (like I was 6 years ago), weigh yourself and work on losing weight - but WATCH the transformation. And don't just do cardio!!! You need to do weights or strength training. Build your core muscles. Muscle will help you burn more calories when you are not exercising! Eat every 3 hours - good stuff - small stuff usually - but that will keep your metabolism high. Don't starve yourself (except from extra carbs).

AND TAKE PICTURES!! I wish I had a before pic - I regret it now. I lost over 30 lbs in 3 months - and if I hadn't, I may not have stuck with it. I SAW the transformation. I believe a weekly picture is a great thing. Some weeks you may see no progress. But if you line them up over 4-6 weeks (or more) and have been doing the things above, you WILL see a transformation.

If you need encouragement, FRIEND ME. I'm here to encourage anyone I can (and I can use it too!).

Ps. I don't blog so I am putting this here instead. :wink:
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Replies

  • afigueroa_pr
    afigueroa_pr Posts: 344
    Absolutely true!!!
  • DeenaSteelerGirl
    DeenaSteelerGirl Posts: 421 Member
    Good stuff.. and very true. Need a balance .. cardio / lifting / diet. A lifestyle change.. not a diet. And I am addicted to the scale.. I know not a good thing.. but I weigh in every AM .. nakkie and after a pee.. lol.. And you know I love to take pics.. so that is not a huge problem for me. : ) You are awsome !! Keep up the good work !
  • Rambo313
    Rambo313 Posts: 179 Member
    GREAT POST!
  • krisiepoo
    krisiepoo Posts: 710 Member
    I am addicted to the scale but still have quite a bit to lose as well. I've also taken before pics and will be taking a Day 2 of 30 DS tonight (camera died on day 1)... I also took measurements because when I lost weight before the scale would stall but I was losing inches.

    I kind of feel OCD in that I need so many things, but I didn't get where I am because I have a healthy mindset about my body!
  • imanole
    imanole Posts: 169 Member
    I am addicted to the scale but still have quite a bit to lose as well. I've also taken before pics and will be taking a Day 2 of 30 DS tonight (camera died on day 1)... I also took measurements because when I lost weight before the scale would stall but I was losing inches.

    I kind of feel OCD in that I need so many things, but I didn't get where I am because I have a healthy mindset about my body!

    Again, when I was 30 lbs overweight I weighed myself a couple times a week. I actually think I lost more than 35 lbs of body fat though because I went from 214 to 182 but was lifting weights and only doing 30 min of cardio for the most part. So I know the need to get on the scale...but don't focus solely on that. That's all.
  • TPLSTNK
    TPLSTNK Posts: 5 Member
    I completely agree with this. Hands down, the tape measure is the best method for tracking success. In the last two months I have gone down two sizes and didn't drop a SINGLE pound. I don't hate the scale, I just hate the dependence upon it - even the doctors office. You can put three women in the same room, all weighing the EXACT same amount and they are three different sizes.

    Body composition is vital. The more lean muscle mass you have, the higher burn you get - your furnace needs fuel, and muscle is the fuel!

    Take care!
  • imanole
    imanole Posts: 169 Member
    I completely agree with this. Hands down, the tape measure is the best method for tracking success. In the last two months I have gone down two sizes and didn't drop a SINGLE pound. I don't hate the scale, I just hate the dependence upon it - even the doctors office. You can put three women in the same room, all weighing the EXACT same amount and they are three different sizes.

    Body composition is vital. The more lean muscle mass you have, the higher burn you get - your furnace needs fuel, and muscle is the fuel!

    Take care!

    Tkerbell - so true. That is why I put the word "only" in the title. Great advice - grab the tape measure.
  • sheila569
    sheila569 Posts: 269 Member
    Posts like these are why I friended you :wink:
  • robinogue
    robinogue Posts: 1,117 Member
    Great post! Exactly what I needed to hear this morning. I look in the mirror and get discouraged but I have to remember where I came from and it's a total transformation!
  • new_blossom
    new_blossom Posts: 111 Member
    Thanks for posting this. I have a lot of weight to lose and I am focusing on pounds. I lost 4 in one week and now this week up 4-6 pounds. I read that muscle does not weight more than fat. 1lb is 1lb. But muscle is lean and compact and fat is loose and takes up more space- make total sense. I just cannot figure out whey I am gaining, when doing the same as I have been. I checked my reports on MFP an d it does not seem to be anything out of the ordinary. There were several days I did not eat all of my calories and I never eat my exercise calories. But I did this the entire time and still was managing losing approx 3 lbs a week. Any suggestions or thoughts?
  • Tandi_S
    Tandi_S Posts: 439 Member
    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!
  • imanole
    imanole Posts: 169 Member
    Posts like these are why I friended you :wink:

    :) Keep up your great work!
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    Word.

    I weigh about five pounds more than I did last summer. I'm in a smaller pants size and people who hadn't seen me in a while think I'm still losing weight. Yay for strength training and ignoring the scale!
  • imanole
    imanole Posts: 169 Member
    Great post! Exactly what I needed to hear this morning. I look in the mirror and get discouraged but I have to remember where I came from and it's a total transformation!

    ** TOTAL TRANSFORMATION **
    I like it. Keep that in mind. I look at my pics and how skinny I was (no muscle) and a tire around my waste. And now, wow. Let's keep it up. Healthy habits!
  • imanole
    imanole Posts: 169 Member
    Word.

    I weigh about five pounds more than I did last summer. I'm in a smaller pants size and people who hadn't seen me in a while think I'm still losing weight. Yay for strength training and ignoring the scale!

    Absolutely!!
  • Leeanne1974
    Leeanne1974 Posts: 207 Member
    I wish i wasn't such a scales addicted moron.
    I know that i put on a couple of pounds that can be lost by evening due to water retention etc.
    Instead they rule me even though I know its stupid.

    Will try and keep this thread in mind when I am down about it x
  • phillbis
    phillbis Posts: 353 Member
    I'm addicted to the scale but the scale gives me the mental motivation to keep going. I don't really care if I lose any more weight at this point though. I'd like to get my bf% down. As you said I'm trying to transition over to using how I feel and look as a guide.
  • Aries03
    Aries03 Posts: 179 Member
    Bump for later
  • imanole
    imanole Posts: 169 Member
    I'm addicted to the scale but the scale gives me the mental motivation to keep going. I don't really care if I lose any more weight at this point though. I'd like to get my bf% down. As you said I'm trying to transition over to using how I feel and look as a guide.

    I hear you. Everyone is a bit different because some peeps can get on the scale daily and no matter what it motivates them! But, others get down and discouraged - and many times unnecessarily! Great work...73 lbs lost is AWESOME!
  • CoderGal
    CoderGal Posts: 6,800 Member
    I'm addicted to the scale. I weigh myself several times a day sometimes. I'm a curious freak. With all the weighing you notice trends. So, anyone that weighs themselves constantly should realize that weight does not correlate with inches, and losing inches looks a hell of a lot better and it's easy to feel the health benefits from strength vs losing weight sedentary. I basically got to goal being sedentary and I gotta say, when I had the time to start exercising regularly again I felt and looked a ton of a lot better. Yes, weight is important if you have weight to lose, but you could lose a bit not moving and not feel much different health wise, or you could start exercising not lose any weight and feel a ton better. And if you keep that up you well eventually start dropping weight if your on a deficit, it just doesn't drop off quite so fast since your losing less muscle mass.
  • dalila747
    dalila747 Posts: 153 Member
    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.
  • TrailRunner61
    TrailRunner61 Posts: 2,505 Member
    I still have weight loss goals because I know I can look good and have muscles at my goal weight, since I've been there before. :)
    However, I've only lost about 5lbs in the last 2 months but I've dropped 2 sizes in jeans. All because I broke my foot, cant walk well, can't jog at all and started biking instead!
    A tape measure can be your best friend, especially when the weight loss starts to slow as you reach goal.
  • cawmacomber
    cawmacomber Posts: 12
    Thanks for posting this. I have a lot of weight to lose and I am focusing on pounds. I lost 4 in one week and now this week up 4-6 pounds. I read that muscle does not weight more than fat. 1lb is 1lb. But muscle is lean and compact and fat is loose and takes up more space- make total sense. I just cannot figure out whey I am gaining, when doing the same as I have been. I checked my reports on MFP an d it does not seem to be anything out of the ordinary. There were several days I did not eat all of my calories and I never eat my exercise calories. But I did this the entire time and still was managing losing approx 3 lbs a week. Any suggestions or thoughts?

    I'm not sure if you're a woman or not, but my most frustrating scale time is "bloat week". It took me a couple months to figure out why suddenly I would go from losing consistently to gaining back when nothing changed except maybe a bump up in physical activity (which should have made a decrease).
  • imanole
    imanole Posts: 169 Member
    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.

    @dalila747 - do not get discouraged. 1) It could be water weight that could be gone tonight. Or, if you are like me, I call it 2) weekend weight, which I almost innevitably gain .5-1.0 lbs. Focus on how you look. Focus on inches. And just keep at it!!
  • starlite_79
    starlite_79 Posts: 88 Member
    this is good advice. great post! i believe i shall friend request you--i can use all the motivation and information i can get! :smile:
  • ChristineDiet
    ChristineDiet Posts: 719 Member
    True very true! I have dropped a dress size in the last 2 months but have only lost about 2lbs. yes it is demoralising when you step on the scale - and yes I have to, I still want that to move, but I guess I do also need to focus on being a size smaller, my body shape changing and also my BF% going down. I'm still way up there with a lot to lose, and DO want the scale to move A LOT but would rather have the dress size go down if I had to choose.

    Thanks - it's always a good reminder, especially on those down days when everyone else seems to be losing tons and your not!!

    x
  • SairahRose
    SairahRose Posts: 412 Member
    I couldn't agree more. I did 30 Day Shred before I became pregnant. I was doing heavier weights and less cardio. I lost about 4lb.. but went down 3 dress sizes, it was brilliant.

    For some reason my body told me to do more cardio this time round after the baby - I've lost 36lb, but only gone down 1 dress size and feel a lot bigger than I did before. I switched back to weights and resistance before getting sick, and will be continuing to do so when I'm back to my usual self.
  • imanole
    imanole Posts: 169 Member
    @CoderGal - I couldn't agree more.
  • rascallycat
    rascallycat Posts: 248 Member
    bump
  • mommaski4
    mommaski4 Posts: 305 Member
    Such a timely post for me. I ignored my scale this morning. I have been working out on the weight machines with heavy weights 3x/week for the last two weeks. The scale had only moved 3lbs since I started back 3 weeks ago. I do not want the scale to discourage me. I know that I am doing well. I am going to have enough challenge next week when the kids go back to school and activities, trying to readjust my workout times. I do not need the scale to get in my head. That said, I might weigh in Friday just to see. Not sure yet. But it will be a challenge to ignore the scale this week.

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