Don't Understand :(

katieannd
katieannd Posts: 66 Member
edited September 22 in Health and Weight Loss
For the last 6 months I have fluctuated from 192-198 lbs, one day I would be 192, the next 195, the next 198, and back and forth and all over the place. The day I decided to make a change was when I stepped on the scale and it read '199'. So, for the past 2 weeks I have been eating 1200 calories a day, and going to the gym daily. I haven't had a cheat day, and have been going increasingly harder at the gym. I stepped on the scale this morning for my weigh in and the scale said 192.6. I understand that I have lost 6 lbs from my highest weight, but a couple days before I was 199, I was 192. How is it that I can go from eating 2000+ calories a day, and never working out to 1200 cals and busting my *kitten* at the gym with such a minimal change?

I guess I was just expecting a lower number. It seems like everyone else talks about losing 8-10 lbs within their first week, and I can only manage 6 lbs in two weeks? Ugh. Feeling discouraged.

Replies

  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    Google "Why the scale lies."

    Your weight fluctuates. Choose one day and time each week to weigh yourself and stay off the scale the rest of the week.
  • mfkfoster
    mfkfoster Posts: 331 Member
    I feel the same way! So, your not the only one. I go up and down 3-4 lbs in a couple of days and I haven't changed anything. It's very frustrating. I heard that if your close to your goal weight, like within 10 lbs, you should measure yourself because you might be losing inches instead of lbs. That doesn't apply to me I still have over 100 lbs to go!
  • netter43
    netter43 Posts: 110 Member
    I weigh a lot more than you (265 currently) so I thought with eating healthier and exercising I would literally melt off 10 pounds in at least a month. Well I have been at this 4 weeks now and I have lost 5 pounds, but my jeans that I could not breath in before are comfortable and even starting to get a little room in the back end. I feel better and people have even commented that I look like I feel better. Yes, I'm going at a snail's pace, but I take pride in my daily accomplishments and the fact that I have actually stuck with "my plan" for a month now and have no plans on stopping for anyone!! - Keep up the great work and be proud of your little successes!! - :wink:
  • jessemerson86
    jessemerson86 Posts: 174 Member
    Make sure you're getting enough water too. Some of that weight "gain" might just be your body retaining water.
  • katieannd
    katieannd Posts: 66 Member
    I haven't stepped on the scale in 2 weeks, and have already decided to weigh myself every 2 weeks first thing in the morning. I guess it just feels like my weight just fluctuated like it always used to and that I haven't actually lost ANYTHING!

    I still have 33 lbs to go, so I am definitely not close to my target weight!
  • katieannd
    katieannd Posts: 66 Member
    Getting plenty of water!

    I have noticed my clothes fitting a little less tightly, which is what lead me to believe that I had lost a significant amount.

    I am wondering if because I am in the middle of my period it has maybe affected the scale? I don't want to try and make excuses, but can that make a difference?
  • mayclai
    mayclai Posts: 12
    Watch your salt intake and make sure you drink lots of water, to avoid water retention weight. Don't be too hard on yourself. The scale is going in the right direction. Be patient. You didn't put on the extra weight in 2 weeks, so it will just take time to take it off.
  • ohwhataday
    ohwhataday Posts: 1,398 Member
    I haven't stepped on the scale in 2 weeks, and have already decided to weigh myself every 2 weeks first thing in the morning. I guess it just feels like my weight just fluctuated like it always used to and that I haven't actually lost ANYTHING!

    I still have 33 lbs to go, so I am definitely not close to my target weight!

    I feel your pain! I have recently lost 30 lbs with 30 still to go but these last 3-4 have been coming and going in the past week. I weighed myself today and realized I'm about back to where I was, a lot of it has to do with how much I eat and how often I go to the bathroom. I need to eat better for sure, my digestion is terrible. And it is frustrating... especially because I had finally made it half way then I gain some of it back. But I know that I over indulged.. so that was my mistake. Just stay positive and know that it isn't going to be extremely easy but it'll be worth it to put forth the effort.
  • gillleeman
    gillleeman Posts: 397 Member
    If you still have 30lb to go then I think your calories are too low. Try setting your goal to eat more calories, you'll probably find your body will shed weight quicker this way. I had my goal set at losing .5 lbs a week (I only have 4 to go to goal) and it wasn't shifting, so I decided to go to maintenance (extra 300 calories a day before exercise) and I lost 1lb last week. My calories were too low before.
  • erikazj
    erikazj Posts: 2,365 Member
    I am wondering if because I am in the middle of my period it has maybe affected the scale? I don't want to try and make excuses, but can that make a difference?

    It can. I can gain about 5 pounds during that time of the month. It will come down again if that is the issue. Keep an extra strict eye on your sodium too.

    Also, if you have started exercising in the last two weeks your muscles may well be retaining extra water to help with their repair. Give your body a chance and it will reward you. The thing to remember is that you are looking for a long term downward trend over several weeks/months/years. Unfortunately we don't often get results as quickly as we might like.

    Hang in there!

    Erika
  • mfkfoster
    mfkfoster Posts: 331 Member
    Being in the middle of your period can definately make a difference! I gain anywhere from 2-7 lbs during my period. You also retain water during that time so give yourself a break and blame mother nature.
  • katieannd
    katieannd Posts: 66 Member
    Thanks everyone.

    My sodium is always way under, so I don't think that is the problem. I guess I will try eating more calories, going harder at the gym and drinking more water. Hopefully when I do my weigh in 2 weeks from now I will be in the 180s. I did tell myself I was going to take it 10 lbs at a time...so 6/10 ain't half bad :P
  • katieannd
    katieannd Posts: 66 Member
    Thanks everyone.

    My sodium is always way under, so I don't think that is the problem. I guess I will try eating more calories, going harder at the gym and drinking more water. Hopefully when I do my weigh in 2 weeks from now I will be in the 180s. I did tell myself I was going to take it 10 lbs at a time...so 6/10 ain't half bad :P
  • jsecret
    jsecret Posts: 606 Member
    1. Realize water weight can account for up to 5lbs.

    2. Your time of month will effect weight. My weight seems to up a little on week 1, up alot on week 2 (actual period), down a little on week 3, and a massive drop on week 4 when all the water weight and hormones leave my body.

    3. TAKE MEASUREMENTS, I cannot stress this enough. When you have those weeks where you feel your clothing getting loser, are feeling "fitter", and yet the stupid scale isn't dropping it's nice to see those measurements going DOWN DOWN DOWN!

    Good luck and keep up the hard work, it will pay off... I promise!
  • ahoward76
    ahoward76 Posts: 21
    I am feeling your frustration. I am currently in the same situation and I am getting discouraged fast. I started MFP 4-5 weeks ago and have lost about 7 lbs but was consistently losing 1.5-2 lbs a week....until last week that is. Last week I was up almost a pound and so I thought maybe I was eating too many calories (1400-1500) daily. Yesterday I only ate 1200 cals and today I am up 8oz over yesterday's weight. I am exercising 5-6 days a week and drinking 8 glasses of water daily. My husband seems to think that even at 1400-1500 cals a day, I am eating too few cals. I think what I may try to do is to increase my cals back to what MFP originally suggested which was like 1600 + based on weight and what I wanted to lose and see what happens. Maybe you too should increase your cals to at least 1400-1500 and see what happens. Good luck to you...it's so completely frustrating but we can't stop because then we will be back to where we started. :)
  • MisdemeanorM
    MisdemeanorM Posts: 3,493 Member
    6 lbs in 2 weeks, fluctuation or not, is a great jump on the scale! Don't let the fact that you are not getting extraordinary results get you down because those are still great results! Really, so long as the scale is moving down, don't worry about how fast it is. Some people lose slower, 1-2 lbs a week might work now, but know it will slow down and as you lose more and get closer to your goal expect to be seeing 1/2 lb a week or 1/2 lb every other week. It's all still a loss and know you're doing it healthily, so don't worry about how long it takes!!!
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