Stop focusing on your Weight Only!!!

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!

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!!

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.

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!!

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.