Confused about my weight loss

ailysys
ailysys Posts: 25 Member
edited September 23 in Introduce Yourself
Last week I lost 3lbs, this week i just checked and it looks like I gained 2 back! I'm so confused, i've been doing the same thing, and going to the gym for 20 min of cardio 4 times a week. Should I increase my workout?

Replies

  • MichelleFirestone
    MichelleFirestone Posts: 212 Member
    Could it be that time of month, or a week before?
    I always gain 2-4lbs about a week before, and then once its over, it disappears, just as it showed up
  • stephaniepill
    stephaniepill Posts: 19
    Have you taken your measurements? You may be losing inches or fat, rather than actual lbs (muscle weighs more than fat). Are you doing the same exercises each time you go (for cardio)? If so, you might consider switching it up a bit! I often go by how my clothes fit and what my measurements are, rather than what's on the scale. If you're losing inches and fat, that's what is most important! Good luck!
  • laurenbausch
    laurenbausch Posts: 146
    I fluctuate ALL the time! It's hard to know what I really weigh. . .Just wait a few days before you weigh yourself again, and make sure that you're drinking enough water!
  • NanBar
    NanBar Posts: 283 Member
    To answer your question- yes.
  • Tmoney1
    Tmoney1 Posts: 1
    I am having the exact same issue! I am limited to 1200 calories per day and I work out 6 days a week. I am going to stop working out and stick to my 1200 cals for about 4 days and see where that gets me. I think I am burning too many cals and my body is going in starvation mode so they say.

    Its tough...just try to stay positive. Let me know if you figure it out.., :smile:
  • wtlw
    wtlw Posts: 10
    I agree that you should take your measurements because I am sure you lost inches. Do this routine another week and see what happens and still no change then I would look more at your diet, salt intake, and add another ten minutes to your workout. Good luck and remember that the fact your doing this change of life is the right step. :)
  • grasp
    grasp Posts: 31
    I can be plus or minus 10 pounds any given weigh in. My own official weigh is once a week Thursdays around 5:30pm. Water consumption is quick weight.

    In my view the scale is for charting purposes over the course of many months. Measurements and percentage of body fat are more indicative of mass loss.

    3500 calories is a pound. Gained or Lost.
  • crissygibson
    crissygibson Posts: 5
    That happened to me too, but I did not stop working out. I don't do cardio. I walk on my treadmill 30 min in the a.m. and 30 min in the p.m., burining 415 calories. Working out is good for your heart, stress reliever, etc. You don't want to stop because you don't see the scale going down. I'm not an expert, but you code be toning up. I eat three meals, and I have a mid-morning snack (like a banana). I have always been told that to speed up your matabolism, you should eat five small meals (which would include that mid morning snack, as well as an afternoon one). Good luck to you!!
  • ailysys
    ailysys Posts: 25 Member
    Wow! thanks all for the great advice!! I'm going to keep trying (I'm feeling so good, even though I'm not seeing results quite yet) . I will try to do some measurements and also increase my workout 10min (i go during lunch at work, so i can't increase it too much). Lets see how next week goes :)
  • ailysys
    ailysys Posts: 25 Member
    Wow! thanks all for the great advice!! I'm going to keep trying (I'm feeling so good, even though I'm not seeing results quite yet) . I will try to do some measurements and also increase my workout 10min (i go during lunch at work, so i can't increase it too much). Lets see how next week goes :)
  • pammilou
    pammilou Posts: 96 Member
    Keep in mind that muscle weighs more than fat. So if you're building muscle than it will at first make you heavier, then the balance will tip and it will burn more fat. You'll see the scale drop when it does tip. Make sure you're getting some strength training in too for that to happen. I generally don't start worrying about what the scale is saying until about 6 weeks in. I know that seems like a long time, but your body is adjusting to the new restrictions and working out. It might even be fighting it a little. Give it a little time before you start making changes, at least 4 weeks, then adjust just one thing at a time until you figure out what works best for you. Also if you're adding 2 lbs of muscle and losing an equal amount of fat, the scale won't tell you, but your clothes will :)

    Also, when it tells you that you've earned x amount of calories for working out, try eating them. IE: I also try to stay at 1200, which is 500 below my BMR (which I actually had tested last year to see EXACTLY how much I burn while sitting on my hind-end doing literally NOTHING but breathing and what they say here is my base calories is accurate - about 1700). So anyway, if I work out hard, say run for 40 mins (okay, jog, cuz I'm pretty slow), then that's between 350-400. I try to eat more to compensate because otherwise if I cut out 500 calories in my eating from my base, then another 350 from exercise, that's almost 900 deficit! Too much and you're right, starvation mode may kick in. As well as it will start eating your muscles you worked so hard for.

    It's a numbers and waiting game :)
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