Weight Loss and scale

mahar81
mahar81 Posts: 13
in Health and Weight Loss
I am so frustrated by my lack of progress. I was down 148 in Feb. 2011 and now up to 165.6. I have only dropped 1.2 lb since the end of June, but I exercise at least 5 x/week. My husband and I cut back on dining out and he drops 13lbs! Trying not to let the scale dictate how I feel or my state of mind, but it's hard when I work so hard and don't see results like he does.

Replies

  • Rainbowrabbit
    Rainbowrabbit Posts: 12
    I am finding the same problem! Down 28lbs with 8 more to go but the scale is not moving anymore. Have joined here in the hope of losing this remaining weight. Would you like to be friends?
  • mahar81
    mahar81 Posts: 13
    I just sent you a friend request. I think I'm going to start focusing on getting stronger and my health to avoid letting the numbers stress me out too much.
  • IronPlayground
    IronPlayground Posts: 1,594 Member
    Have you taken any other measurements or do your clothes fit any better than before?

    ETA: What about the pounds/week you are trying to lose? You only have a 11 lbs you are trying to lose, based on your ticker. What are you deficit settings?
  • mahar81
    mahar81 Posts: 13
    I haven't taken measurements, but my clothes fit better than before. I'm trying to get down to 150lbs so I have about 15lbs to lose, which is always the hardest!
  • IronPlayground
    IronPlayground Posts: 1,594 Member
    I haven't taken measurements, but my clothes fit better than before. I'm trying to get down to 150lbs so I have about 15lbs to lose, which is always the hardest!

    It sounds like you are making progress if your clothes are fitting better. Don't let the scale dictate your success. In my opinion, it shouldn't be used more than once a month. And, measurements are a much better indicator.

    With only 15 lbs to lose, you may benefit from adjusting your MFP settings to lose .5 lbs per week.

    What do your workouts consist of? Cardio, strength training, both?
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    I'd you were offered a wish by a genie that you would weigh 140 lbs but your body wound be fat and squishy would you take it?
  • beachlover317
    beachlover317 Posts: 2,848 Member
    Toss the scale (it's the devil), measure/weigh everything that goes in your mouth, & remember that exercise and calorie deficits are a stress on the body. Don't over-stress. Take pictures and make the tape measure your new best friend. Good luck.
  • mahar81
    mahar81 Posts: 13
    IronPlayGround to answer your questions: With only 15 lbs to lose, you may benefit from adjusting your MFP settings to lose .5 lbs per week. What do your workouts consist of? Cardio, strength training, both?

    How do I adjust the MFP settings to lose .5lbs per week? What would that do? I run 2/week, go to bootcamp and it's an intense cardio and bodyweight exercises, pilates 2-3x/week, and yoga 1/week.

    Taso42 - I want my body to be strong, lean, and healthy! I'd rather take the strong body than the 140lbs weak body.
  • IronPlayground
    IronPlayground Posts: 1,594 Member
    IronPlayGround to answer your questions: With only 15 lbs to lose, you may benefit from adjusting your MFP settings to lose .5 lbs per week. What do your workouts consist of? Cardio, strength training, both?

    How do I adjust the MFP settings to lose .5lbs per week? What would that do? I run 2/week, go to bootcamp and it's an intense cardio and bodyweight exercises, pilates 2-3x/week, and yoga 1/week.

    Taso42 - I want my body to be strong, lean, and healthy! I'd rather take the strong body than the 140lbs weak body.

    LIke beachlover said, eating at a deficit is stress on the body. By going to .5 lbs per week, you're creating a 250 calorie per day deficit. Still at a deficit, but more energy to fuel your workouts.

    Looks like you have a heavy dose of aerobic workouts in your week. I would highly recommend incorporating weights into your training. I know you are getting some resistance training with your boot camp and body weight exercises, but you may benefit more from the increased resistance work that heavy weight lifting will provide for you. That will help you achieve the strong, lean, healthy body you are looking for.
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    First - stop comparing your results to others. It's a sure fire way to instant frustration. Just stop.

    Second - your clothes fit better, so you are seeing very good, very real progress. Focus on that, not some highly variable number on some highly variable scale.
  • mahar81
    mahar81 Posts: 13
    IronPlayGround - I agree with you on adding weights to my routine. I thought the bodyweight exercises we do in bootcamp would help, but heavier weights are the way to go to your point. Would you recommend adding weights 1-2x/week?

    Jacksonpt - you are right. I need to stop comparing myself!
  • Rainbowrabbit
    Rainbowrabbit Posts: 12
    I just sent you a friend request. I think I'm going to start focusing on getting stronger and my health to avoid letting the numbers stress me out too much.

    I would rather be toned and healthy than skinny and perhaps 112 is an unrealistic goal for me.
    Are you planning on lifting weights? I lift water buckets and hay nets but that is all!
    I am going to keep a food diary and see if that gives me some insight but I am wary of counting calories and feeling I have failed if my numbers turn red in my diary :sad:
  • mahar81
    mahar81 Posts: 13
    Rainbowrabbit - yes, I'm going to start lifting weights again. I used to lift more a couple of years ago when I lost 60lbs and did see success (that's when I dropped to 148). When you go in the red, take a look at what "empty calories" you could have cut out that day e.g. that soda, glass of wine, extra slice of pizza if it's a cheat day, etc. I'm not perfect at it, but have been learning.
  • IronPlayground
    IronPlayground Posts: 1,594 Member
    IronPlayGround - I agree with you on adding weights to my routine. I thought the bodyweight exercises we do in bootcamp would help, but heavier weights are the way to go to your point. Would you recommend adding weights 1-2x/week?

    Jacksonpt - you are right. I need to stop comparing myself!

    You could do a full body routine 2x/week and continue to do some of your other routines.
  • jljshoe1979
    jljshoe1979 Posts: 325 Member
    You may want to determine your body fat % too. A few weeks ago, I had hit a slump of not losing weight and eating 1200 cals a day. I adjusted my calorie goals based on my TDEE and where I want my body fat % to be. I now am eating 300 more cals a day, and starting to see weight loss again. At first, I got headaches and was hungry all the time (something I didn't expect because I was eating more). My body had to adjust to that change, and now, it seems to be working for me.

    Also, somewhere on MFP a person posted a pic of 5 lbs of fat compared to 5 lbs of muscle (if you do a search for it, I think the post will come right up). With all the workouts you do, you may have gained muscle and lost fat (which can show up on the scale as no loss at all). Therefore, your clothes will fit better and body measurements will go down, but the scale won't budge.

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