Frustrated - the scale WON'T move!

hgillesp
hgillesp Posts: 46 Member
in Motivation and Support
I am on my third week of real commitment to weight loss. My first week I was trying to net 1,000 cals per day but after reading some of the new posts about calories I realized my cals were too low. Now I net about 1200-1300. I eat all my exercise cals and exercise at least 45 minutes every day. Lots of cardoi (running, stationary bike, walking, ellipticla) and some weight resistance - pilates reformer and starting back up with kettlebell. I eat well overall. 5"9' and 159lbs. Since Ihave been doing this the scale hasn't moved and stayed moved. I lost one or two pounds but they didn't stay off. My clothes DO fit better - jeans that were tight are getting baggy so I know something good is happening, but I just don't understand why no weight loss. If I hadn't exercised before I would just say "muscle weight" but I have exercised all my life so it;s not like I was total flab before. I was lots of muscle and some flab.

I know that having clothes fit better is great, but I really want to lose weight. I don't want to weigh nearly 160 lbs. I have been 150 and that is minimally where I want to be. I would prefer 145 but will take small steps. I really never thought it would be this difficult to do this. I had anticipated that by April 13, when I run in a race, I would have lost at least 5 lbs. At this rate, I won't even come close. Has anyone else had a similar experience and what did you do to push through? Also, why am I seeing pretty big changes in the fit of my clothes but nothing on the scale? I know that I am not a number, I really do, but... I also know that I am not setting unreasonable goals and that the scale should be moving by now. At least a little bit. I am really nervous that as hard as I am trying to stay committed this lack of scale movement will push me over the edge. :sad: Thanks for any ideas and for allt he great support these boards provide.

hg
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Replies

  • BflSaberfan
    BflSaberfan Posts: 1,272
    I probably wouldn't expect much in 3 weeks. Give it a good 12 weeks.
  • bear73000
    bear73000 Posts: 52 Member
    Just keep doing what you are doing. The scale will start taking care of itself if you keep up with your changes.
  • trogalicious
    trogalicious Posts: 4,584 Member
    the scale isn't moving because you aren't eating enough.

    and obsessing over 5lbs, whether that's where you want to be or not, isn't the end of the world.
  • Catherinenistler
    Catherinenistler Posts: 3 Member
    I have the same frustration. I decided to wait until May-June to really get frustrated. My clothes also fit much better, however, the scale is the same. i told myself now, not to weigh myself every week.
  • leanneakaliz
    leanneakaliz Posts: 229 Member
    You are probably retaining muscle if you are doing a lot of new types of exercise your body isnt used to. Once I did a workout dvd and held 3lbs of water weight for a week then all of a sudden it all come off again plus more ! Give it a little time frustrating I know but you will see differences soon :)
  • dstroman
    dstroman Posts: 2
    Good morning, I alway tell my friends that have this problem is not to focus on the weight loss but rather the inches loss. We measure the areas we like to improve usually weekly or bi weekly; arms, thighs, waist, hips and calves. We stick to this and when we see results we really feel good. I'm tall also so weight does not drop easy for me but for my friends that are shorter and heavier it peels off quickly. So be encourage to stay the course and celebrate the small successes, you're doing a great job!
  • lambch0ps
    lambch0ps Posts: 79 Member
    Keep doing what your doing; you know its working because your clothes are fitting better - 3 weeks ain't nothing as far as the scale is concerned - especially when you just start. 90% of the people that comment are going to tell you to eat more - but they are probably much younger than you. Give it time and then you can experiment with going up or down.
  • wtw2254
    wtw2254 Posts: 3 Member
    stay positive keep working it will happen:smile:
  • momma3sweetgirls
    momma3sweetgirls Posts: 743 Member
    Scale won't move? Follow these 4 easy step: 1. Open window. 2. Bend down. 3. Grab scale with both hands. 4. Throw scale out open window.
  • emmello
    emmello Posts: 2 Member
    I agree with dstroman but I know how you feel. I was annoyed this morning because I have put on weight (I'm on my period) but I have actually lost inches so I guess that's the main thing. I have also become a lot more mindful of what I'm eating, even though I am far from perfect some days I try and make up for it the next day. It sounds like you are doing everything right and the main thing is what you feel like and how clothes fit not what the scale says.
  • graciepecie
    graciepecie Posts: 135 Member
    Scale won't move? Follow these 4 easy step: 1. Open window. 2. Bend down. 3. Grab scale with both hands. 4. Throw scale out open window.

    LOL:laugh:
  • Reneetamiam
    Reneetamiam Posts: 1
    Look at the sodium content of your food choices. My body is super sensitive to sodium and even eating healthy foods with too much salt stops the scale from moving for me. You could be losing weight but water retention is stopping this from showing up on the scale.
  • KAbena
    KAbena Posts: 50 Member
    Keep going. Consistency is the key if you want results...maybe put the scale away for a bit too? I tend to obsess with scale weight and it is really demotivating at times. Measure yourself, and focus on other changes (increased energy, better skin, fitness levels) to keep you on the right track :)
  • graciepecie
    graciepecie Posts: 135 Member
    You're still eating too few calories. 1200 kcal and that much exercise? Really, that's not good at all. Your body is going into starvation mode and rather store fat instead of burning it.

    Read and do everything this thread says. it works, because this is how our body works:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12
  • hookilau
    hookilau Posts: 3,134 Member
    the scale isn't moving because you aren't eating enough.

    and obsessing over 5lbs, whether that's where you want to be or not, isn't the end of the world.

    I'll have to agree here. When I was netting 1200 cal, not a damn thing happened, 'cept me getting really frustrated. I upped my calories and activity accordingly and bang!....weight started coming off.
    I probably wouldn't expect much in 3 weeks. Give it a good 12 weeks.

    At the 3 wk mark is where I decided something further needed to be done, I personally wouldn't wait 3 months to make a change. To be fair and in the interest of full disclosure, I do strength training & no purposeful cardio. I'm also 5' tall, sw: 160, cw: 153 gw 120ish. :drinker:
  • trogalicious
    trogalicious Posts: 4,584 Member
    You're still eating too few calories. 1200 kcal and that much exercise? Really, that's not good at all. Your body is going into starvation mode and rather store fat instead of burning it.

    Read and do everything this thread says. it works, because this is how our body works:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

    Yes. OP. Listen to this. Calculate your BMR. Don't eat less than that. It isn't a "keep eating at too large of a deficit and expect weight to drop again" thing.
  • hookilau
    hookilau Posts: 3,134 Member
    yes, do check out the road map post....I just wanted to add that I needed to make sure I stayed active as I tend to be sloth-like in order to net 15-1700 cal per day.

    You, by comparison, are already very active with your exercise and all, so simply increasing you calories is all you have to do. Calculate your TDEE, take a modest deficit of less 20% and use that as your caloric daily allowance.
  • abluhm
    abluhm Posts: 1
    Your Height 5 feet, 9 inches. Your Weight is 159 pounds.

    Your Calculated BMI is: 23.5

    BMI Categories:
    Normal weight = 18.5-24.9
    Overweight = 25-29.9
    Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater

    So you are not overweight for your height...?? :bigsmile:
  • efranz12
    efranz12 Posts: 46 Member
    Take pictures! My scale hasn't moved since January but boy has my body changed. But I know that without the pictures I wouldn't have realized how much of a change there has been.
  • tryinghard71
    tryinghard71 Posts: 593
    Good morning, I alway tell my friends that have this problem is not to focus on the weight loss but rather the inches loss. We measure the areas we like to improve usually weekly or bi weekly; arms, thighs, waist, hips and calves. We stick to this and when we see results we really feel good. I'm tall also so weight does not drop easy for me but for my friends that are shorter and heavier it peels off quickly. So be encourage to stay the course and celebrate the small successes, you're doing a great job!

    ^^^^^
    Agree. The first two months my scale hardly moved at all. But I was losing 1/2 inch to an 1 inch a week. I would measure weekly.
  • trogalicious
    trogalicious Posts: 4,584 Member
    Your Height 5 feet, 9 inches. Your Weight is 159 pounds.

    Your Calculated BMI is: 23.5

    BMI Categories:
    Normal weight = 18.5-24.9
    Overweight = 25-29.9
    Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater

    So you are not overweight for your height...?? :bigsmile:
    Except BMI is just not that accurate. Body fat % > BMI.

    The OP and a lot of other folks just aren't picking up on the fact that the OP is existing at too large of a caloric deficit.

    THAT is why the scale isn't changing. Sure, sodium levels will cause water retention.. so will all of the working out..

    but the thing is, they aren't eating enough. If they focus on ANY magic number ... it's their BMR. They're likely eating way under that number.
  • budgester
    budgester Posts: 6 Member
    Photos, take photos in you underwear, at the start.

    Then once a month.

    Do you look at people and say they are a lovely 85kg or do you say what a lovely figure they have.

    So I'd go with photos.
  • lauren3101
    lauren3101 Posts: 1,853 Member
    Everyone is saying she eats too little based on her exercise, and seems to have missed the part where she says she eats back all her exercise calories. :huh:

    Based on your stats:

    BMR - 1445
    TDEE (based on moderately active) - 2240

    You don't want to lose much, so you only need a 10% deficit which will put you at about 2000 cals a day. Is this around what you are eating? (total calories, not net). If so, you are doing it right, so keep it up. If not, up it to that and DON'T eat back your exercise calories.

    Having said that, I don't understand your mentality at all. You are at a healthy weight, your clothes are looser, yet you are obsessing over a tiny amount of lbs. You don't want to weigh nearly 160lb. Why? Do you walk around with a banner stating your weight on it?

    My advice to you is throw your scale away.
  • lauren3101
    lauren3101 Posts: 1,853 Member
    Oops
  • likitisplit
    likitisplit Posts: 9,420 Member
    Ways to lose scale weight:

    - Cut your hair
    - Use the rest room
    - Take off your clothes
    - Amputate a limb
    - Spit
    - Shave
    - Take the change out of your pockets
    - Cut your finger nails
    - Remove your jewelry
    - Carry some balloons

    However, if you are more concerned with losing fat/growing muscle...well, sounds like you're doing that already. Keep up the good work!
  • JaneStanley8
    JaneStanley8 Posts: 27 Member
    First three weeks were the same for me - nothing happening on the scales at all, but keep going - it will happen - it did for me - I'm now 18lbs down ....
  • hookilau
    hookilau Posts: 3,134 Member
    Now I net about 1200-1300. I eat all my exercise cals and exercise at least 45 minutes every day. Lots of cardoi (running, stationary bike, walking, ellipticla) and some weight resistance - pilates reformer and starting back up with kettlebell. I eat well overall. 5"9' and 159lbs. Since Ihave been doing this the scale hasn't moved and stayed moved.

    Sorry, but I'm still stuck on NETTING 12-1300 cal per day with all that activity. I don't think it balances out. I also agree that focusing on a certain number on the scale is a bit left of center as well. Shrug. :flowerforyou: OP, I hope you find what works for you.
  • JaneStanley8
    JaneStanley8 Posts: 27 Member
    Scale won't move? Follow these 4 easy step: 1. Open window. 2. Bend down. 3. Grab scale with both hands. 4. Throw scale out open window.

    This is DEFINITELY the BEST advice !!!! :laugh: :happy: :tongue:
  • mndamon
    mndamon Posts: 549 Member
    the scale isn't moving because you aren't eating enough.

    and obsessing over 5lbs, whether that's where you want to be or not, isn't the end of the world.

    could have ended the thread with this comment, it about sums up what needed to be said
  • curlygirly80
    curlygirly80 Posts: 176
    No one sees the number on the scale but you. Everyone will notice how baggy your clothes are getting. You should feel great about your accomplishments thus far. Keep it up obviously what you are doing is working. Just remember the scale holds nothing but a number that no one but you will see, so stop downing yourself because of it. Try another form of measure to track and watch your accomplishments from there. Proud of you and don't give up!

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