Well THAT was discouraging!

EmmaOnTrack
EmmaOnTrack Posts: 425 Member
in Motivation and Support
Was all amped up to weigh myself at the gym this morning and track the progress of my second week of good eating and lots of working out...and I haven't lost an OUNCE!

Sure, I'm starting to feel fitter and stronger (not to mention incredibly virtuous for staying at or below my calorie allowance for 2 weeks straight)...but why isn't it being reflected on the scales yet?!

Yours in quiet exasperation,

Emma.
«1

Replies

  • Iron_Lotus
    Iron_Lotus Posts: 2,295 Member
    For starters you are going to have to open your log
  • MyChocolateDiet
    MyChocolateDiet Posts: 22,281 Member
    Was all amped up to weigh myself at the gym this morning and track the progress of my second week of good eating and lots of working out...and I haven't lost an OUNCE!

    Sure, I'm starting to feel fitter and stronger (not to mention incredibly virtuous for staying at or below my calorie allowance for 2 weeks straight)...but why isn't it being reflected on the scales yet?!

    Yours in quiet exasperation,

    Emma.

    Are you sure this wasn't ENcouraging?
  • EmmaOnTrack
    EmmaOnTrack Posts: 425 Member
    Done. Go on, let me have it. :tongue:
  • Contrarian
    Contrarian Posts: 8,138 Member
    Two weeks? You need to be a bit more patient. Focus on your health and strength. The rest will follow.
  • MinMin97
    MinMin97 Posts: 2,674 Member
    Good job! You are healthier and are on a good track!
  • EmmaOnTrack
    EmmaOnTrack Posts: 425 Member
    Was all amped up to weigh myself at the gym this morning and track the progress of my second week of good eating and lots of working out...and I haven't lost an OUNCE!

    Sure, I'm starting to feel fitter and stronger (not to mention incredibly virtuous for staying at or below my calorie allowance for 2 weeks straight)...but why isn't it being reflected on the scales yet?!

    Yours in quiet exasperation,

    Emma.

    Are you sure this wasn't ENcouraging?

    Well yes, intellectually of course I can understand the benefits of what I'm doing, but it would be nice to be rewarded with a decreasing number...particularly at the beginning of my journey. Would just be a motivation boost.
  • rhinesb
    rhinesb Posts: 204 Member
    Let's see when I started I stayed the same for 2 weeks, then gained two pounds the next two weeks, then lost 4 lbs in the next two weeks for an over all only being down two pounds in 6 weeks. Seriously depressing if it wasn't for the fact that I was also measuring and measuring showed me that I'd actually gotten smaller by quite a bit during those 6 weeks.
  • CoderGal
    CoderGal Posts: 6,800 Member
    Was all amped up to weigh myself at the gym this morning and track the progress of my second week of good eating and lots of working out...and I haven't lost an OUNCE!

    Sure, I'm starting to feel fitter and stronger (not to mention incredibly virtuous for staying at or below my calorie allowance for 2 weeks straight)...but why isn't it being reflected on the scales yet?!

    Yours in quiet exasperation,

    Emma.

    Are you sure this wasn't ENcouraging?
    This. And it's 2 weeks. Give it time. I appreciate the slower approach. You tend to lose less water weight and more fat, hurray. With that said, exercise causes glycogen to go around the body repairing muscles. There's a lot of water in glycogen, and it weighs stuff. It's helping you look better. That's what I'd blame it on. You'll see this temporary weight fluctuations because of this. Trust me, it's a good thing. You'll be looking a lot better then the alternative of not going to the gym.
  • dunnodunno
    dunnodunno Posts: 2,290 Member
    Do you weigh out your food? I bought a food scale & now weigh out everything I eat including stuff that says you can have so many chips, so many cookies, etc.
  • MyaPapaya75
    MyaPapaya75 Posts: 3,143 Member
    As someone mentioned above using a food scale also using a HRM monitor when working out and also start tracking your sodium intake....just suggestions
  • jljshoe1979
    jljshoe1979 Posts: 325 Member
    When I first start a new workout, I always gain weight. Then one day, it just starts dropping. Every person's body is different, so don't give up. When this first happened to me, I was just as upset as you. Some people posted saying that I might be retaining water. I didn't know it at the time, but when we work out, we are making little tears in our muscles. Then after our workouts, our body repairs itself (that's how we build muscle, which is a good thing). Part of the repair process is that our bodies surround the muscle tissue cells with water to help. This extra fluid retention comes across to us as a weight gain on the scale, but soon enough our bodies adjust to the work we are doing and water goes away resulting in a weight loss.

    After getting that explained to me, I quit relying on the scale value so much (even though I do weigh everyday - I'm looking for overall trends like gaining weight everyday for a week), and got a tape measure and took all over body measurements. Since you just started a few weeks ago, I would encourage you to get a tape measure and do that. Another thing I wish I had done at the beginning was get a body fat % measurement (BF), as I have heard that was a good indicator to watch too (for when the scale seems "stuck" or going up).
  • EmmaOnTrack
    EmmaOnTrack Posts: 425 Member
    Do you weigh out your food? I bought a food scale & now weigh out everything I eat including stuff that says you can have so many chips, so many cookies, etc.

    Hi. Yes, I have a food scale. I don't have a HRM but have read enough threads here to know that MFP over estimates calories burnt working out so don't eat my calories back just in case,

    I'm never hungry and try to stick mainly to whole foods. It's definitely something I can sustain but my confidence was knocked a little today is all.
  • EmmaOnTrack
    EmmaOnTrack Posts: 425 Member
    Let's see when I started I stayed the same for 2 weeks, then gained two pounds the next two weeks, then lost 4 lbs in the next two weeks for an over all only being down two pounds in 6 weeks. Seriously depressing if it wasn't for the fact that I was also measuring and measuring showed me that I'd actually gotten smaller by quite a bit during those 6 weeks.

    Thank you for this, just what I needed.

    I'm measuring too and my lovely partner said only yesterday I'm looking like its working so I know I don't really have anything to ***** about...just knew this was a safe forum to express my (possibly unwarranted) disappointment and hear from others who have had similar experiences.
  • lsuz
    lsuz Posts: 74
    That's good to know. I totally get this thread. You work the program and do it for all the right reasons and make great choices and the stars align and daisies pop up in your path and you step on the scale and it spits up no loss or better yet -- a gain! I know life is not always fair, but geeze. LOL.

    So, great thread. And if anyone would like to add me as a friend, please do, I find such strength and encouragement from seeing how it all works from real people and real experiences -- all different but still educational and inspiring.
  • EmmaOnTrack
    EmmaOnTrack Posts: 425 Member
    When I first start a new workout, I always gain weight. Then one day, it just starts dropping. Every person's body is different, so don't give up. When this first happened to me, I was just as upset as you. Some people posted saying that I might be retaining water. I didn't know it at the time, but when we work out, we are making little tears in our muscles. Then after our workouts, our body repairs itself (that's how we build muscle, which is a good thing). Part of the repair process is that our bodies surround the muscle tissue cells with water to help. This extra fluid retention comes across to us as a weight gain on the scale, but soon enough our bodies adjust to the work we are doing and water goes away resulting in a weight loss.

    After getting that explained to me, I quit relying on the scale value so much (even though I do weigh everyday - I'm looking for overall trends like gaining weight everyday for a week), and got a tape measure and took all over body measurements. Since you just started a few weeks ago, I would encourage you to get a tape measure and do that. Another thing I wish I had done at the beginning was get a body fat % measurement (BF), as I have heard that was a good indicator to watch too (for when the scale seems "stuck" or going up).

    Thanks heaps...very helpful!
  • StaticNomad
    StaticNomad Posts: 37
    Building muscle can add weight... burning fat loses weight. Between the two, sometimes it's hard to see a loss happening. So - try measuring your chest, thighs, upper arms, hips, waist, and neck. Then go back in 2-4 weeks and measure again. This is a great way to see change happening, even if weight isn't really showing anything.
  • Contrarian
    Contrarian Posts: 8,138 Member
    Building muscle can add weight... burning fat loses weight. Between the two, sometimes it's hard to see a loss happening. So - try measuring your chest, thighs, upper arms, hips, waist, and neck. Then go back in 2-4 weeks and measure again. This is a great way to see change happening, even if weight isn't really showing anything.

    She hasn't built muscle if she is eating at a deficit, but it's always good to try to see a bright side.
  • mahanaibu
    mahanaibu Posts: 505 Member
    Relative to many MFPers, you are pretty close to your goal weight. It's going to go slower for you. You're on the right track; give it time. As others noted, when you first start working out, you get some water retention from the sore muscles; that goes away and suddenly you'll see a drop.

    If there's any suggestion I would make on what you're doing, it would be to reduce the refined grains--muffins, rolls and the like--and use the calories to amp up your protein.
  • estatitra
    estatitra Posts: 80 Member
    Usually I notice that I have gotten smaller and after few days I lose weight. I don't know why. Don't get discouraged. You might be gaining some muscles, retaining some water etc. Thanks heaven we women go through so many hormonal stages that it's hard to know when we are retaining and when we are dehydrated.
  • crazybookworm
    crazybookworm Posts: 779 Member
    Why go right for the negative? Stay positive, girl! Yes, it may be a tad frustrating that you didn't lose, but there was no gain either. Don't get so hung up on the scale. You will create a vicious monster! :P

    Give yourself a very big pat on the back for all the amazing hard work you've been putting into making yourself healthy. Patience is key, and you WILL get there!

    Keep up the wicked hard work! I know we will be reading about your success story soon enough!

    Stay positive! :flowerforyou:
  • danofthedead1979
    danofthedead1979 Posts: 362 Member
    sometimes it makes a difference when you weigh yourself, at one time of the day you have magically gained 2lbs but weigh yourself later and those 2lbs have magically disappeared and then the following morning you weigh something else. do you have scales that can measure your body fat? if so, i would measure your BF every weekend and i'm sure you will see a steady drop. good luck
  • EmmaOnTrack
    EmmaOnTrack Posts: 425 Member
    Why go right for the negative? Stay positive, girl! Yes, it may be a tad frustrating that you didn't lose, but there was no gain either. Don't get so hung up on the scale. You will create a vicious monster! :P

    Give yourself a very big pat on the back for all the amazing hard work you've been putting into making yourself healthy. Patience is key, and you WILL get there!

    Keep up the wicked hard work! I know we will be reading about your success story soon enough!

    Stay positive! :flowerforyou:

    You're right of course...but after a few weeks of feeling nothing but positive and hanging out to see the results manifested in a stupid number I did feel a little down, it's only human.

    Not going to deter me from knocking 'em dead on my 40th though!
  • EmmaOnTrack
    EmmaOnTrack Posts: 425 Member
    Relative to many MFPers, you are pretty close to your goal weight. It's going to go slower for you. You're on the right track; give it time. As others noted, when you first start working out, you get some water retention from the sore muscles; that goes away and suddenly you'll see a drop.

    If there's any suggestion I would make on what you're doing, it would be to reduce the refined grains--muffins, rolls and the like--and use the calories to amp up your protein.

    Good point re: the muffins. To be honest I never, ever eat breakfast (first meal of the day has been after 12:30pm for years) but thought I'd better start so looked up some recipes on here and found that one. It just has oats, banana and peanut butter so I thought it would be a better option than nothing at all.
  • R_Queenie
    R_Queenie Posts: 1,224 Member
    The scale is only ONE measure of health / improvement.

    Check your measurements as well.

    The scale will get there if you stick with it.

    Hang in there! "No progress times" happen to the best of us!
  • l0vedim0
    l0vedim0 Posts: 42 Member
    Don't get discouraged you are just starting out. This is a life time journey we are all on and progress will come in time. I started about a month ago with a starting weight of 215 lbs. After the first week I dropped to 212.8 lbs and at the end of the following week I weighed 218 lbs. Fast forward 2 weeks and I'm at 212 lbs when the week before I was 210. The body fluctuates up and down, at least mine does, and if all goes according to plan my losses are greater than the gain. I know a few guys who have been stuck at the same weight or even gained a couple pounds for an entire month with a very strict diet before their weight starting dropping again. These guys were cutting to 10% BF so its not exactly an apples to apples comparison. The most important thing is that you feel good and healthy. Purchase some calipers or measure specific parts of your body and see if those numbers are going down because what we are all ultimately trying to accomplish is losing FAT. I wish the best for you. Keep your head up and keep working at it the results will come.
  • Ely82010
    Ely82010 Posts: 1,998 Member
    Was all amped up to weigh myself at the gym this morning and track the progress of my second week of good eating and lots of working out...and I haven't lost an OUNCE!

    Sure, I'm starting to feel fitter and stronger (not to mention incredibly virtuous for staying at or below my calorie allowance for 2 weeks straight)...but why isn't it being reflected on the scales yet?!

    Yours in quiet exasperation,

    Emma.

    Are you jumping in the scale (the same one all the time) without clothing, after using the bathroom, and before you eat and exercise? If not, then expect weight fluctuations or not downward movement of the scale. In addition, two weeks may not be enough time to see a difference in the scale or with the measuring tape.

    Keep it up, it will work!
  • knightdwk6
    knightdwk6 Posts: 2
    Hang in there! Patience really is the key...

    I personally started getting discouraged after about 4-weeks when I hit a plateau... I just stopped weighing myself quite so often and kept with the program and it has steadily come off...
  • gdrmuzak
    gdrmuzak Posts: 103 Member
    Keep focused on doing the right things and eventually you will reap what you so. I remember several years ago when I started going through a divorce after making some discoveries about my now ex. I worked out hard 6-7 days a week and only lost 3 pounds in 6-8 weeks time. (I wasn't overeating or doing anything unusual.) Then BAM...I lost 17 pounds in 2-3 months.

    Do the right things, you'll get the right results because as dad used to say, "Son, time and truth go hand in hand."
  • kkdelduca
    kkdelduca Posts: 73
    http://www.sparkpeople.com/blog/blog.asp?post=why_the_scale_goes_up_when_you_start_a_new_workout_plan

    Actually just read this article today. It kinda relates to new workouts.
  • mferoli
    mferoli Posts: 13 Member
    I'm so glad you posted this, I have been going through the same thought process. I started by cutting my calories and added exercise a couple weeks later. Now I am 5 weeks into this and I know I have lost 5 pounds, but with so far to go, I feel like it should be more. I am working so hard and eating a hundred times better, it just would have felt good to see a smaller number. I don't plan on becoming a slave to the scale or stuck with a number in my head, I just want to see the needle go down!!

Categories