Frustrated ......I hate the scale. Really. I do.

anniejantz
anniejantz Posts: 1 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
So I am 5' 6 3/4" (I have to add that extra height in there. Lol) and I had been maintaining a weight that fluctuated between 125-129 for about 3 years since my 3rd daughter was born, but since december it started rising. I have a muscular build but decided for cardio and muscle tone purposes to up my workouts from 3 times per week to 5 days. I do regular cardio Zumba for 1-2 hours 3 times per week and Zumba toning and sentao classes twice a week for one hour each. It gives a great mix of cardio and high rep weight training. I've seen some amazing transformations of my physique over the last three months.
I joined a 6 week fitness challenge that ended yesterday. My starting weight was 131 with 20% body fat.
My frustration lies with the scale. I weighed myself yesterday for the first time in 3 weeks and I now weigh 135. So in 6 months I have gained 10 lbs!!! I know my measurements have gone down and my body fat percentage has dropped 2% but watching those scale numbers go up is defeating. I don't care about being 125 again but 130 should be manageable and possible.
I just don't know what I'm doing wrong here.......


I should also state that I am a clean eater. I don't eat meat, simple carbs or sugar and I consume enough calories each day to make up the deficit from working out so much.

Replies

  • talisamb
    talisamb Posts: 65 Member
    You are doing nothing wrong. Muscle weighs more than fat but takes up less space. I struggle with the same issue so I try to stay off the scale, and it's very hard for me! I was 125 while doing only cardio, now 130-135 with lifting but I look so much more toned and my clothes fit better.
  • LozDoran
    LozDoran Posts: 1 Member
    Very basic answer: Don't get on the scales. Try taking measurements instead. As has already been said, muscle weighs more than fat, so as you tone up and build muscle you might gain a bit, but your measurements will go down. You said your self that your measurements have gone down, so why are you looking at your weight? It's a non-issue, you're succeeding!
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,043 Member
    If you look the way you want, fit the clothes you want and people you respect admire your physique, why does scale weight matter? Use the mirror. It's the best gauge. NO ONE walks around with a scale in hand checking out people's weights to see if they are fit or not.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • 2013sk
    2013sk Posts: 1,318 Member
    Very basic answer: Don't get on the scales. Try taking measurements instead. As has already been said, muscle weighs more than fat, so as you tone up and build muscle you might gain a bit, but your measurements will go down. You said your self that your measurements have gone down, so why are you looking at your weight? It's a non-issue, you're succeeding!

    Totally agree with the above!!!

    Im in exactly the same boat, I weigh ALOT more now............But do I care what the scales say?

    My arms looks better, Thighs and legs are more toned..... Now need to work on belly ; )
  • anel0721
    anel0721 Posts: 1
    I hate the scale as well! Every time i'm feeling confident i get on it and it ruins everything. I just gave up! because I know that I'm losing because my clothes are fitting better! i can actually run now without getting out of breath so I'm not letting the scale take that away from me!
  • megsi474
    megsi474 Posts: 370 Member
    If you look the way you want, fit the clothes you want and people you respect admire your physique, why does scale weight matter? Use the mirror. It's the best gauge. NO ONE walks around with a scale in hand checking out people's weights to see if they are fit or not.


    I don't think I could love this statement more if I tried.
  • samantha1373
    samantha1373 Posts: 23
    I hit a plateau for about a year, I'm not a horrible eater but I loved diet soda so I gave that up, weather or not the sodium was an issue ever since then I've finally started to loose weight again.could it be possible your calorie burn is being over calculated? or your food calories are not precise? too much guess work? Over all I don't know what causes this but again i stuck at the same weight for a year..maybe our bodies just need a chance to figure it out? for your height your weight sounds normal so I dont think you have too much to worry about
  • arains89
    arains89 Posts: 442 Member
    Don't sweat it. I lost 16 pounds in 3 months when I started trying to get in better shape. The last 3 months I have lost 3 pounds. LOL. I have lost a lot of inches though. It will all catch up.
  • ashlbubba
    ashlbubba Posts: 224 Member
    This all sounds pretty silly... You've been working hard and toning up...you built some muscle and you're looking great..

    Muscle is heavy get over it and enjoy your rockin' bod!
  • ChristinaR720
    ChristinaR720 Posts: 1,186
    Ditch the scale for a while and focus on measurements and progress photos. Measurements have been my source of motivation now that the weight is coming off a lot slower.

    Also, the belief that muscle weighs more than fat is incorrect. Muscle does not weigh more than fat. A pound is a pound. However, muscle is more dense than fat and takes up less space. So, hypothetically, you could be burning a pound of fat and replacing it with two pounds of lean muscle mass. In terms of volume, it may seem that muscle weighs more than fat, but that is simply not the case.
  • evileen99
    evileen99 Posts: 1,564 Member
    As others have said, you're gaining muscle, which is more dense than fat, so you're getting smaller.

    The time in my life when I wore the smallest size clothes was when I weighed the most--because of muscle. People would guess that I weighed around 125 when in fact I weighed around 160.

    And my body was smokin' hot.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,432 MFP Moderator
    Really, weight doesn't matter.. Realistically, you probably gained a little muscle with some additional water. How much are you eating? Did you start eating more calories due to the intense workout... if so, did you add more carbs? Below is a great reason why weight doesn't matter.

    http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/
  • mrs_mab
    mrs_mab Posts: 1,024 Member
    If you look the way you want, fit the clothes you want and people you respect admire your physique, why does scale weight matter? Use the mirror. It's the best gauge. NO ONE walks around with a scale in hand checking out people's weights to see if they are fit or not.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
    This ^^^^^
  • patrickfish7
    patrickfish7 Posts: 190 Member
    The scales cant tell you how you look. The mirror can. I'm 6' and 186lbs and have lost only 15lbs since I started MFP but I look so much better due to increased lean muscle gain vs fat loss. What's your goal?
  • karentcampbell
    karentcampbell Posts: 18 Member
    NO ONE walks around with a scale in hand checking out people's weights to see if they are fit or not.

    I quoted you on my facebook status :) I love this!
  • sweetpea03b
    sweetpea03b Posts: 1,123 Member
    Love yourself. I would saw off my right arm (maybe the left one too) to see 18% body fat on my scale (we're talking 40% over here and I eat clean and workout like a mad woman for a meager 5# loss in 3 months).

    The scale doesn't matter - if your clothes fit well - you feel and look great who cares? Appreciate a young fit body now because in 40-60 years you'll miss it :)
  • jmoliveson
    jmoliveson Posts: 40 Member
    Hi there! I hate the scale too as it is my ultimate enemy yet ruler of my life lol I am 5.0 and by no means look fat but the fact that I weigh so much is the muscle I have built up throughout my lifetime. On the one hand I am lucky to have the muscle because I tone up faster but on the other hand I know that I am going to weigh more and actually want it that way. Back in 2007, a friend told me she liked me better heavier because when I was thin with less muscle tone, I looked twiggy. I have bounced back and forth with about 30 pounds extra over the years, but this time I am focusing on being physically fit, toned and hopefully sculpted. The moral of the story is that the scale is still my enemy but the muscles are my friend and needs to be there to support my bones as I get older. Good job on all your success, so embrace the muscle and forget about the losing weight because now your just becoming the work of art your'e meant to be!!

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