Ladies help

She probably isn't "building muscle", as that is actually really difficult to do. Her initial weight loss may well have been water weight, or she may have been creating a calorie deficit that she has since bridged. But obviously if she's losing inches and gaining mobility, her workouts are successful! Is she watching her calorie intake as well? Exercise alone isn't usually enough to effectively lose weight, it is much more about how much you are eating. Exercise definitely burns calories, but if you aren't monitoring your intake, most people will automatically start eating them back without realizing it. If losing weight is her goal, she's going to need to track her food somehow and make sure she is eating at a deficit. But if her goals are to look better and feel better, remind her that those things ARE happening and encourage her to look at the tape measure rather than the scale.

She is doing great! You might want to tell her that rapid weight loss is not something to which she should aspire anyhow as that can backfire. You can also tell her that the scale is a dirty *kitten* that lies (seriously, the scale is NOT the best indicator of weight loss and improvements to health). The inches, the mobility, the energy, the improvements to posture, et cetera are all really good measurements. Weight fluctuates from day to day and is impacted by water retention and hormones.

While it's probably true that Zumba doesn't "build" muscle in the strictest sense, she's toning her core (abs and back) in a big way and getting a good cardio workout.

I think it's awesome that you're supporting her and getting her into the food diary is a great idea, just to make sure she's eating a healthy diet. A virtual pat on the back to both of you!

I find that when I drink two liters of water during the day, I see a weight loss the next day. Do I like drinking water like this on a daily
basis? No, I hate it, but I get results--never fails. Hope this works out for her

Your wife seems to be doing an amazing job already. I felt the same way she did when I started working out and trying to change my eating habits and then I gave up and I regret stopping. Zumba doesn't really build muscle it burns calories. Zumba is a great cardio workout, one mistake is to keep getting on the scale each week. She has to watch what she eats and drink a lot of water. I would also suggest switching up her work out. Maybe every other day throw in another work out that way she will confuse her body. Just tell her to keep up the good work, just because she doesn't see the results as fast as she would like, does not mean what she is doing is not working... Keep in mind it takes time to get the pounds off that we worked so effortlessly to put on.

My wife is going into her 3rd week of Zumba the 1st week she lost 3.5 lb and then didnt lose anything the second week but has lost 6 inches off her waist and inches everywhere else and her mobility has increases 100%. I told her she is building muscle and not to worry as the pounds will eventually come off, she was very frustrated on the scales any suggestion i can pass on to her.

First week she probably lost 1lb fat and 2.5lb water.
2nd week she lost 1lb fat and kept off 1.5lb water
3rd week she'll lose 1lb fat and keep off .5lb water
4th week she'll lose 1lb fat and see a result of .5lb loss.



It won't happen overnight but it will happen.