"Muscle weighs more than fat" no? and scale not moving

runninguntilparadise
runninguntilparadise Posts: 33
in Fitness and Exercise
It kinda bothers me when people say 'well muscle weighs more than fat!' It's like the old trick you play on people, "which weighs more: a ton of bricks or a ton of feathers?" They weigh the same because they are both A TON. So just like muscle and fat. A pound of fat weighs the same as a pound of muscle, BUT muscle does take less space than fat, yes. Sorry, mini rant.

I'm just frustrated because it's been two really good weeks, but no change in the scale. I definitely feel and look slimmer, fitter, tighter. I do have to say that I've much less focused on the number than on how I look and feel. That's where body measurements come in handy. I need to find a place where I can measure my body fat percentage instead of trying to figure it out online. Anyways, it's just a bit discouraging when I step on the scale after a couple weeks and see I'm still the same weight. :/ Anyone else going through this?

Replies

  • yoyoma3
    yoyoma3 Posts: 15
    I hit a plateau for over three months and it hasn't stopped me from busting my *kitten* exercising and watching what I eat. I have FINALLY broken thru it. During those months I dropped a size, despite not dropping on the scale. Measurements are the way to go, but I have to say I don't do measurements-too lazy. I say go with how you feel. I went to see a dietician to see what other changes I could possibly make to my eating. She said to keep in mind that your body is going to continue to fight to go back to the way it was and to not go by the scale or by BMI because everyone is different-a 200 pound person who doesn't exercise doesn't look the same as a 200 pound body builder. I thought it was a good point. Keep up the good work and keep going!! :happy:
  • clareyoung80
    clareyoung80 Posts: 177 Member
    I think that's like a standard thing in the weight loss journey, and could be down to any number of factors. The fact that you look and feel slimmer is the main thing. Scale pounds are meaningless in this context when you are actually losing fat!

    Me, at the moment, I'm the same but I'm losing weight in places I'm not measuring. I can't figure out where! I can see I'm slimmer in some places, but my waist and hips etc... are the same. It seems I'm losing weight in my...mid-hips?! Who knows...
  • helenlp83
    helenlp83 Posts: 67
    Thank you thank you thank you for posting this!! I did weight watchers for 7 months but didn't really concentrate on the last month. That was because I started running and found that it was too restrictive for me to feel like I had enough energy. WW is all about the number on the scales going down as is all weight loss plans so we have it in our head that we're not doing well unless the scales show a loss. I have recently started to weigh myself a lot less. I started off 20 months ago at 14st 2lb and a size 16 (UK) I'm now a size 10 and the scales hover between 11st and 11st 6lb. Now ordinarily I would be devastated that the scales aren't going down week in week out and that I haven't hit my "goal weight" of 10st but you know what, I'm the happiest I've been for a long time. I'm making wise choices with food, I go out running 3 times a week (following the c25k on week 6) and I fit into size 10 clothes. I'm 5'7" so that's a good size for me. I'm the same size as I was when I was 20. I don't ever remember being any smaller so maybe this is my comfortable body weight. I'm trying to concentrate on what my clothes tell me and while I'll still get on the scales every now and then to make sure the number isn't going up dramatically I'll be checking the waist bands of my jeans first
  • Dfracassa
    Dfracassa Posts: 318 Member
    It kinda bothers me when people say 'well muscle weighs more than fat!' It's like the old trick you play on people, "which weighs more: a ton of bricks or a ton of feathers?" They weigh the same because they are both A TON. So just like muscle and fat. A pound of fat weighs the same as a pound of muscle, BUT muscle does take less space than fat, yes. Sorry, mini rant.

    I'm just frustrated because it's been two really good weeks, but no change in the scale. I definitely feel and look slimmer, fitter, tighter. I do have to say that I've much less focused on the number than on how I look and feel. That's where body measurements come in handy. I need to find a place where I can measure my body fat percentage instead of trying to figure it out online. Anyways, it's just a bit discouraging when I step on the scale after a couple weeks and see I'm still the same weight. :/ Anyone else going through this?

    The only way I have been able to lose weight in the past three years is by doing 5:2, which I've been on for six weeks. I've lost only four pounds (lame, I know, and I am disappointed) but it's a step in the right direction. I have been working hard since January, and while I wasn't exactly sedentary before that (working out 4-5 times a week, combination cardio and weights) I have only noticed a difference in the last few months. Oddly, though all my clothes are looser and people have commented on such changes, my measurements and weight have barely changed. Like, barely. I lost an inch off each thigh (but I'm wary of that measurement -- it could have been the wrong part of my thigh) and every other spot has stayed the same. I don't know, man. There are forces at work, here, and it's apparently not for us to fully understand them. Like you, I feel and look slimmer, but if proof is what we're both looking for, like with numbers and all that crap, then I don't think we're going to get it. I say we just trust our eyes, and believe the things that other people tell us. And if it happens that the size jeans you've always worn is becoming slightly too big, just roll with it. It'll happen, but for people like you and I, it might happen much, much more slowly.
  • runninguntilparadise
    runninguntilparadise Posts: 33
    yoyoma3:
    Wow, three months and NOW you're seeing results? Man, great perseverance! And same here about measurements... I don't wanna, haha. Which is good I think because if I was more eager to do it, I might become TOO obsessive with the number like with the scale (I was sooo obsessive with the scale towards the end of last year, I think my brain was trained to see the numbers drop as an awesome thing because last year I pretty much starved myself for 3-4 months and I saw my weight going down every few days... and now I see that I think I was losing muscle during that time unfortunately). I think I'm finally come to the point where I can start becoming content with a higher weight than I would like as long as I feel good in my body. But man, the body does not like losing weight, you're right, haha.

    clareyoung80:
    Yeah, I had a visual 'whoosh' the other day. Because last week I just looked doughy and gross, but then a few days ago I started tightening up, so I'm definitely lowering my fat, thank goodness! It's so hard to tell where we're losing weight because we see ourselves every day! It's good though that you're losing weight in those places too because it means, obviously, you're losing weight! That's great! And y'know how your body loses weight at different times (like last place you gained, you lose first, that kind of thing), so keep doing what you're doing and the weight will start trickling off other places too!

    helenlp83:
    Wow! That's amazing! Thank you for sharing your story. Woah, week 6! Way to go! I tried using that running plan, but I don't think I finished it. It helped me through in the beginning, teaching me how to run when I first started. I think I'll start using the scale, too, like you said, make sure my weight isn't going UP. Kinda like a check up when you see your doctor, to make sure everything is in line when you've been doing well.

    Dfracassa:
    Never heard of 5:2, looked it up, and woah, that must confuse your body, but it seems in the good direction -- with weight loss! Yeah, I like feeling my skin if that makes sense... after I'm done working out and I'm stretching and such. I can tell that it's less dense with fat (I assume the fat cells aren't as full as they were) and I can pull my skin more. It's a weird obsession, but it's encouraging because I know (hopefully) in a few days it'll tighten up as long as I stay on track. Also, I don't really know how much weight I need to lose. But it's no more than 20 lbs, probably not even 10 lbs, so I'm sure that'll make weight loss a lot more slow. Can I say 'delayed gratification'? I just tell myself that every bite and every step does count toward something. It's either helping me or hurting me. I may not see it, but in a week, or a month, or 6 months from now, will I be regretting this or thanking myself for it?



    Thank you all so much for replying and sharing and for encouragement! I wish you all the same. =)
  • jennrox78
    jennrox78 Posts: 50 Member
    i totally feel your pain.. i just posted about this yesterday on my wall..

    for the past 40 something days, i have been working out mon-fri (cardio) and keeping my cal down.. mostly...
    i went from zero care on eating & exercise to this... the scale is not lining up with all this

    it was suggested that i get a check on my sodium levels.. as i might be retaining water..

    so i have tweeked a few things as of this morning and plan on tackling that area.
  • jennrox78
    jennrox78 Posts: 50 Member
    I'm just frustrated because it's been two really good weeks, but no change in the scale. I definitely feel and look slimmer, fitter, tighter. Anyways, it's just a bit discouraging when I step on the scale after a couple weeks and see I'm still the same weight. :/

    this!
  • JENNTF
    JENNTF Posts: 78 Member
    I have lost 45 pounds since January of this year, and over the last few months the scale has barley moved at all for me, which is very frustrating. I agree a pound is a pound no matter what you are weighting, but muscle does take up less space than fat. A 200 pound person that is full of fat is going to look a lot heavier than a 200 pound person full of lean muscle. I know for women it is all about the number on the scale (at least for this women it is). I have been very frustrated about the scale, but need to remember where I started and where I am now. I have been working out 5-6 days a week over the last two weeks and have noticed some changes in my body even thought the scale is not showing the same. I think we all need to remember to continue to make healthy choices, and continue on our exercise program, and we will get the results that we are aiming for. Keep positive, and remember this is a life journey, and nothing happens overnight. No matter what direction the scale is moving in, if you are developing lean muscle thru fitness than you body will appreciate it in the long run. We are all in this journey together, and will get thru.

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