THE SCALE IS A LIAR!!
MED2012COLORADO
Posts: 238
How can you be 192 one day and the next be 196 or one day 195 then the next be 198. But my clothes feel looser on me , once tight clothes now fit better. I want to throw in the towel on these days! Help me stay strong..................
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Replies
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Don't get on those scales, use a tape measure and measure yourself instead. But not everyday, once a week, or if you can hold out, once a fortnight.
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ur body is gonna fluctuate up and down a lot, depending on if ur holding water or need to potty or lots of other things. don't go by the number, go by how you feel0
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Don't weigh yourself daily. It fluctuates for so many different reasons. My husband ended up hiding the scale on me for a long while because I was getting so frustrated with the number flip flopping around.
If clothes are fitting better, go by that. Also remember that muscle weighs more than fat... so if you're building lean muscle AND losing weight, that number on the scale will look like its not moving and that you're not progressing... but you really are (which is evident by your clothes fitting better).0 -
Set a day that you are going to get on scale and stick to it. I know how it can be, I can step on one day be down a few pounds and the next day be higher then I had been a week ago. So simply back away from the scale. You can do this!0
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I'll admit it...I look at the scale every morning, so I can understand what you are saying. I'll hit some milestone and the next day be a few pounds back over.
For me I find looking at the longer term results helps me get past a few day upwards trend. I suggest you think about this as a long term thing ( weekly or monthly ) and don't focus on day to day results.0 -
Thank you for the support!!
............. I will keep all of your advice in the back of my head when i want to throw the scale out the window! Lots of love and hugs. 0 -
Your water weight will fluctuate significantly, but at the beginning stages(mine is a long beginning stage, like 3 months) you gain or stay stagnant instead of lose. It takes a while for your body to let go of the excess because it doesn't want to. Don't lose hope! We've all been there and we're going through it with you(:0
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Why do so many people need the scale to tell them they're on the right track.
You said it yourself. Your clothes fit better, yet you want to give up just because a machine says otherwise?
Mkay then.0 -
I agree that weighing yourself everyday is going to hurt you. Also agree that a tape measure is more reliable. I have two weigh in days, Saturday and Wednesday, but Saturday is the only day that counts. As soon as I get off the scale I measure with the tape measure. Your body weight will fluctuate and that used to be my reason for quitting.0
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Why do so many people need the scale to tell them they're on the right track.
You said it yourself. Your clothes fit better, yet you want to give up just because a machine says otherwise?
Mkay then.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ GREAT ADVISE I NEED TO TAKE THAT!0 -
I give the advice only after 2 years of crying over what the scale was saying. Once you stop relying on the scale to give you a pat on the back, and you pay attention to the fact that you actually LOOK much better, weight loss becomes so much more enjoyable.Why do so many people need the scale to tell them they're on the right track.
You said it yourself. Your clothes fit better, yet you want to give up just because a machine says otherwise?
Mkay then.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ GREAT ADVISE I NEED TO TAKE THAT!0 -
Love that! Thank you!0
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I know how frustrating that can be. My scale is the same read as the doctors office every time. On my last Dr weigh in , i woke in the morning and went to the bathroom ( i always make sure i weigh on same day/time and always after a BM and before taking any food or liquid) . I weighed at 170. My appt wasent until 1pm so i had breakfast, water . snack before going. Her scale said 174! I freaked out and she said no my scale is the one to go by and i could have those fluctuations through out the day. Whew! That was a relief because i was ready to start crying right there. I immediately came right home and weighed again and it matched the Dr ( just in case mine was messing up).
Some weeks i think its defective though when its not what i want it to say lol0 -
You need to read my thread then....How can you be 192 one day and the next be 196 or one day 195 then the next be 198. But my clothes feel looser on me , once tight clothes now fit better. I want to throw in the towel on these days! Help me stay strong..................
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/350212--why-scales-lie?hl=why+scales+lie
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
I needed to read that because I was really bugging out this morning. I got on the scale and it said I'd gained .4 pounds, but my clothes are fitting looser. I'm gonna keep in mind that it'll take a while for my body to adjust.0
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Don't weigh yourself daily. It fluctuates for so many different reasons. My husband ended up hiding the scale on me for a long while because I was getting so frustrated with the number flip flopping around.
If clothes are fitting better, go by that. Also remember that muscle weighs more than fat... so if you're building lean muscle AND losing weight, that number on the scale will look like its not moving and that you're not progressing... but you really are (which is evident by your clothes fitting better).
This! Mine hasn't moved in months but everything is still getting bigger!0 -
I am right there with you learning along the way. 0
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You need to read my thread then....How can you be 192 one day and the next be 196 or one day 195 then the next be 198. But my clothes feel looser on me , once tight clothes now fit better. I want to throw in the towel on these days! Help me stay strong..................
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/350212--why-scales-lie?hl=why+scales+lie
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
Alot of great answers here! THANKS! 0 -
I know how frustrating that can be. My scale is the same read as the doctors office every time. On my last Dr weigh in , i woke in the morning and went to the bathroom ( i always make sure i weigh on same day/time and always after a BM and before taking any food or liquid) . I weighed at 170. My appt wasent until 1pm so i had breakfast, water . snack before going. Her scale said 174! I freaked out and she said no my scale is the one to go by and i could have those fluctuations through out the day. Whew! That was a relief because i was ready to start crying right there. I immediately came right home and weighed again and it matched the Dr ( just in case mine was messing up).
Some weeks i think its defective though when its not what i want it to say lol
I think its defective.....I love that! I laughed so hard! lol:laugh: ......I needed that thanks so much0 -
those fluctuations are enough to make you mad. But don't let 'em. They're just that-fluctuations. I remember a time, no about 12 times, per year that is, when I used to get on the scale one day and be suddenly down by about 4 lbs from the day before. Then the next day I'd be up by 8. Every time. Now if I hadn't bothered with the first, the second wouldn't have been an issue, right? That's when I DID throw the scale out the window. Well, it would have been the window had I had one in my bathroom. But I did throw it out.
I have no scale at home now. I only ever use the one at the gym or the doctor's office. That means it's never first thing in the morning. I've almost always had breakfast, etc. before I weigh. So, fluctuations will abound. I'm okay with that. Do I still weigh in daily? Well, that just depends on how often I work out now, doesn't it?0 -
How can you be 192 one day and the next be 196 or one day 195 then the next be 198. But my clothes feel looser on me , once tight clothes now fit better. I want to throw in the towel on these days! Help me stay strong..................
hey you gain muscle. remember....muscle is heavier than fat so if you fell your clothes fitting less but you are up a pound...its muscle. its time to rejoice not sulk!!!0 -
those fluctuations are enough to make you mad. But don't let 'em. They're just that-fluctuations. I remember a time, no about 12 times, per year that is, when I used to get on the scale one day and be suddenly down by about 4 lbs from the day before. Then the next day I'd be up by 8. Every time. Now if I hadn't bothered with the first, the second wouldn't have been an issue, right? That's when I DID throw the scale out the window. Well, it would have been the window had I had one in my bathroom. But I did throw it out.
I have no scale at home now. I only ever use the one at the gym or the doctor's office. That means it's never first thing in the morning. I've almost always had breakfast, etc. before I weigh. So, fluctuations will abound. I'm okay with that. Do I still weigh in daily? Well, that just depends on how often I work out now, doesn't it?
LOL :happy: Yes it does........Thanks!0 -
How can you be 192 one day and the next be 196 or one day 195 then the next be 198. But my clothes feel looser on me , once tight clothes now fit better. I want to throw in the towel on these days! Help me stay strong..................
hey you gain muscle. remember....muscle is heavier than fat so if you fell your clothes fitting less but you are up a pound...its muscle. its time to rejoice not sulk!!!
I will remember THANK YOU! 0 -
I give the advice only after 2 years of crying over what the scale was saying. Once you stop relying on the scale to give you a pat on the back, and you pay attention to the fact that you actually LOOK much better, weight loss becomes so much more enjoyable.Why do so many people need the scale to tell them they're on the right track.
You said it yourself. Your clothes fit better, yet you want to give up just because a machine says otherwise?
Mkay then.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ GREAT ADVISE I NEED TO TAKE THAT!
Good Advice! I started my weight loss journey only looking at the scale. After 4 weeks I've only lost 5 pounds but my boyfriend keeps telling me that he can see a difference in my shape. I finally got out the tape measure last week and I'm eager to see what it says pretty soon here!0 -
:flowerforyou:0
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The mistake people make is to view this journey as one that is completely dependent on a numeral value. That is WRONG!! The scale does not tell you if you are succeeding or failing, your body does. If your clothes are looser and your feel better, whatever you are doing is working! The first 2 weeks I weighed myself every week, then realized that was stupid. I now REFUSE to weigh myself. I follow my plan(both eating and workout wise) and notice what changes I SEE. My clothes are looser(i'm wearing clothes from over a year ago!) and I'm stronger and faster in the gym. THAT is all the proof I'll ever need.0
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I dont step on the scale anymore, i measure inches and go by how my clothes feel. Since then, I am actually making more progress. The scale made me crazy!!0
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Three thoughts:
First, step on and off your scale several times in a row and see if it reads the same. If all you are doing is stepping off and back on, there should be no fluctuation. If there is a fluctuation - you are correct, your scale is a liar. Get a new one if you decide that watching weight is helpful to you.
Second - the way I use my scale is solely to measure progress (not fluctuations). I step on the scale the same time every day. If it is lower than it has been on this journey, I do a check in. If it is higher, I don't. I know my weight is going to fluctuate on a daily basis as water weight, weight of what I ate the previous night, BM or not (and more) all influence it. What this does is tracks the envelope of the fluctuations in a way that is most supportive (the lower curve). If I really mess up for more than a few days I might consider tracking upswings - but generally not. when I look at my graph, I see a steady downward progression, with gaps between data points which tell me how quickly I'm losing. I find that helpful - so I track it. If it frustrated me I would use NSV data points instead.
Third - my grandmother used this and I have, with some (but less) success. Once I reach where I want to be, I'll still weigh myself daily - and if I am high several days in a row, particularly if I have been eating in a less healthy manner, I use being above as a short term signal that I need to switch back into losing mode unless I want to continue back up.
I don't think everyone should be focused on the scale - and I don't really have a specific numerical end goal in mind (even though I have one on my tracker). I'll transition from losing to maintenance with NSV things tell me I've arrived. But once I've arrived, I do use the scale to track maintenance. Both from a motivation to continue the downward trend - and the signal for flipping back into losing from maintenance - numerical values are helpful to me because they are more concrete and less easy for me to ignore when I need to pay more attention during maintenance than slightly snugger clothing (for example).0 -
How can you be 192 one day and the next be 196 or one day 195 then the next be 198. But my clothes feel looser on me , once tight clothes now fit better. I want to throw in the towel on these days! Help me stay strong..................
You shouldn't weigh yourself everyday, set a certain day (usually Friday) to weigh yourself. You will just frustrate yourself! Don't let it get to you!0 -
How can you be 192 one day and the next be 196 or one day 195 then the next be 198. But my clothes feel looser on me , once tight clothes now fit better. I want to throw in the towel on these days! Help me stay strong..................
You shouldn't weigh yourself everyday, set a certain day (usually Friday) to weigh yourself. You will just frustrate yourself! Don't let it get to you!
From the post - it sounds like you may be correct for this person.
But - as a general rule - I disagree. I do far better weighing myself daily. It is a conscious reminder that I need to pay attention to what I am eating. In addition, when I see the daily fluctuations (and know I have been eating properly), I mentally adjust to that just being part of the normal variation. On the other hand - if I am weighing only once a week - and know I have been having a challenging period - I am far more likely to put off stepping on the scale for a week...or two...or 10.
Everyone is different - and I have seen too many suggestions to ignore the scale, don't weigh yourself for a week, for 5 weeks, etc. recommended as "best practices" not to suggest that the best practices for one person may be the worst for another.0
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