Is it worth it when you aren't losing weight?
kristinrayerootes
Posts: 21 Member
Fridays are my weigh in day. I started Insanity a month ago. Since then, I have gained two pounds. I know, I know, this can be common when starting a new program. But for this long? I am close to tears because I am eating at a deficit and getting up early to bust my butt every day and the scale isn't going down. If I wanted the scale to be stagnant, I wouldn't be doing this. So I am just feeling like the hours I put in each week to figure out my food and get in my workouts would be better spent on something else. 
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Replies
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Fridays are my weigh in day. I started Insanity a month ago. Since then, I have gained two pounds. I know, I know, this can be common when starting a new program. But for this long? I am close to tears because I am eating at a deficit and getting up early to bust my butt every day and the scale isn't going down. If I wanted the scale to be stagnant, I wouldn't be doing this. So I am just feeling like the hours I put in each week to figure out my food and get in my workouts would be better spent on something else.
What about your body measurements?0 -
Ignore the scale. It's not your friend. How do you feel? Do you feel stronger/faster/lighter/happier/etc?0
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Is your body changing? Measurements? Looser fitting clothes?
If YES, then the scale doesn't matter.0 -
There is no such thing as free energy, If you are truly operating at a calorie deficit than you are burning fat. Try measuring yourself on your Friday weigh in days to see your loss. The scale is not the only scorekeeper.
Eventually, if you are doing what you are supposed to be doing, the scale will catch up.0 -
Definitely start measuring. I'm doing the same. The thing is...you could be replacing fat with muscle...so you may not lose weight but you may lose inches.0
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I haven't lost any weight since August, and I have went down clothing sizes... so yes! not only is it worth it becuase you will see your measurements change if you are exercising BUT you are living a more healthy, active lifestyle and that brings a lot of positives too. More energy, less sickness, less chances of health issues, etc.
And, in the end you will find your balance and lose weight. Just keep your chin up.0 -
Hi, I am in the same boat. I also use Fitbit and it calculates that I should be loosing 2.5lb per week and I have stayed the same now for 4 weeks. I am up at 6.30 am doing Jillian Michaels and keep myself active all day. I weigh all food and count every calorie. What else can it be? it is disappointing when I weigh in on a Saturday but I am always excited and hopeful again on Friday as I have tried hard and done well all week!0
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I've been maintaining for about 2ish years. Even though I'd like to lose more, if I wasn't still doing all the things (watching what I eat and exercising regularly), I'd be gaining weight and losing the strength, flexibility, and health I have because of my efforts. In my mind, it is worth every minute.0
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Don't focus on the scale. Take measurements. And how do you feel???? You must feel better and have more energy and sleep better at now. Stick with it! The scale will soon follow
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Are you doing the same workout each morning? I've had the same issue (still do sometimes). My body got used to the same activity. Switching it up seemed to help.0
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You sound exactly like I did yesterday. I lose and gain, lose and gain lately. Out of curiosity this morning I pulled my favorite jeans out and tried them on. They fit again!!!!! While the scale is not going down as I would like, I must be doing something right. So to answer your question, yes, it's worth it. Let's both keep on keeping on and we will do this!!0
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How many calories are you eating? You might not be creating the calorie deficit you think you are. If you are eating back your exercise cals, try eating back only half of them and see if that helps. Calculators only give you a rough estimate of calories you should eat. You need to use trial and error to find the level that works for you.0
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I do feel good. The workouts are becoming easier, do obviously something good is happening. I haven't taken measurements, but I know I need to. I just get busy and forget. Maybe I should set a reminder on my phone. I have heard of people not having results from Insanity, but it seems that is a vast minority of people. I am 5'8" and weighing in at 186 right now, so I definitely have the fat to give up. And....onmygod45 I also use Fitbit and am coming in with what its calorie goal for the day is too. It is just frustrating when you are doing everything you know you should and not seeing that darn scale budge! I wasn't even going to weigh in this week and maybe I shouldn't have. Who knows, I am not going to count my calories on Sunday this week and maybe that will help me get a good drop! Thanks for all the supportive feedback!0
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It looks like you've already lost a fair amount of weight! Be proud of THAT! When you start getting closer to your BMI and below, it becomes harder to lose. I'm set to losing a pound a week and it took almost 3 weeks to lose 1.5 lbs. It just slows down. People plateu. One of my friends got just below her highest possible BMI, and was stuck for about 2-3 months, then 5 more lbs just MELTED off! Be patient, work hard, and watch your measurements for a while. You're doing great things for your self and maintaining a great lifestyle!0
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You need to eat more than you are burning, so if this is what you have been doing it's the reason you aren't losing. If you are under then the body is storing what you eat. Try throwing in something new 2 or 3 days a week to change up the routine. Just like food, feed the body something different so it's confused. Also, like everyone else has said, if you feel better, have more energy, more endurance, the clothes are fitting better then the scale is JUST a number.
Keep going! It WILL be worth it.0 -
So you haven't seen any other benefits to a month of working out? You don't feel better? You don't move better? You aren't eating healthier? Weight is only one singular way to measure progress and quite often it's not even a good one. you should be doing measurements, you should be taking pictures, you should be noticing other changes with and within yourself.
Personally, I haven't lost weight in a few weeks now, but dropped a pants size. what have you noticed changing? Get out of your rut of thinking the scale defines you0 -
What else would you be doing? If I just stopped, the only thing that would happen is that a year from now I'd have 50 pounds to lose instead of 20.
Time will pass either way. May as well make it count.0 -
How many calories are you eating?
Quoting this, because this is - after height and weight, which OP has answered - the most important piece of the puzzle.
edit: Well, this, and how much are you trying to lose at at time? For a woman @ 5'8", I'd guess you wanted to get to 150-160.0 -
If you looked the way you wanted to, fit the clothes you wanted to, are much more physically fit then you were before, and people think you look fabulous, then how much does weight REALLY matter?
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Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
Yes. I never want the lifestyle I had before.0
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If you are changing your life, your body, and your spirit, if you are making yourself able to do things now that you were unable to do before, then it is absolutely worth it.0
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Yes! I just broke through a plateau myself, so I have asked myself this question several times the last few weeks! You are healthier for doing these things, whether the scale cooperates or not!
Have you been tracking everything? Weighing and measuring everything? If not, that is your first step.
If you have been weighing, measuring and tracking, try giving your body a break. Calculate your maintenance calories for your current weight and eat that for a week or so.
But mostly, just be patient and remember that yes, it is worth it!0 -
You have to learn to ignore minor fluctuations, and 2 pounds is minor. Weight isn't as stable as you think. I can vary 161-167 IN A SINGLE DAY, and I assure you none of that is any change in fat or muscle.
Keep it at. Watch the big picture.0 -
Chin up! You gained two pounds most likely of muscle, don't cry! Muscle is a great thing, it makes the body stronger and it weighs more then fat. You did Insanity, and that is a muscle building work out. Have faith in yourself, because you are doing this for yourself. Don't lose sight of the prize and that is to be healthy, to be comfortable in your own body, and to fit clothes you want to. If you gained 2 pounds it isn't the end of the world. Chances are in a week or two, you are going to see something fat and gross disappear and something else very cool appear in it's place, like muscle definition. When that happens, cheer! You can do this, have faith!0
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The scale is a good tool for determining totals, but if you don't know your measurements or BF% the scale is basically useless.
I.e., I've been bulking for two weeks now eating a surplus, I know when I started my BF% was 14% and I'm still lifting. I've gained two pounds since, and my arms have grown .25 inches while my BF measurements have not climbed.
Result: I've probably not gained much fat, and I HAVE put on muscle.0 -
That's probably muscle weight! You lost the fat weight and gained the muscle weight Muscle is heavier than fat, btw. How about measurements? Good luck! 0
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Most likely it's fluid retention. Women can fluctuate a lot throughout the month plus a new workout routine is a recipe for scale issues.
Start taking measurements now and track those. Also, if you haven't already, set yourself up with some non-scale fitness goals and start making progress towards those also.0 -
I ran into that when I first started 'again' back in December. I went a full 6 weeks of exercising every day along with logging diet and maintaining deficit before I finally saw results. I would slip a pound or two, then retrieve it, then drop and so on.... Totally frustrating for sure... No real change in measurments either... only positive was that I felt good...
Once it broke and started to come off, things changed.... weight started dropping, measurements shrank, body fat % decreased...
Don't give up! I almost gave it the old heave ho, but thanks to a couple of friends on MFP I stuck it out and together we continued our journey with similar results.
Keep after it! Results will come!0 -
could it be you gained muscle weight?0
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Totally worth it for me. When I see people that I haven't seen in a while, the reaction is priceless. People's jaws literally drop! And, while it is totally narcissistic, looking at those six pack abs in the mirror is pretty gratifying.
Don't sweat individual weigh-ins on the scale. I bounce up and down by about 5 lbs on any given day. But bouncing in a range of 169-174 is a lot better than bouncing in a range of 245-250!0
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