Not sure how to gauge progress at this point..

datsundriver87
datsundriver87 Posts: 186 Member
edited November 22 in Health and Weight Loss
I've lost 72 pounds in 7 months and can say I'm very pleased with how I've done, I'm a huge numbers guy and my biggest motivation for losing weight was stepping on the scale and seeing numbers drop and trying to beat my previous week. I'm at a point now where I want to start weight training and trying to keep the little muscle I have left while burning fat but I feel like That will be at the expense of scale numbers. Should I buy a bmi reader to base progress or what else could I do? I know some of it will be just seeing the physical change in my body but I don't feel like that will be a drastic enough change on a weekly basis to keep me motivated

Replies

  • DeguelloTex
    DeguelloTex Posts: 6,652 Member
    It's not really going to be at the expense of scale numbers.
  • datsundriver87
    datsundriver87 Posts: 186 Member
    DeguelloTex wrote: »
    It's not really going to be at the expense of scale numbers.
    So eating more protein (supplements) and lifting weights are not going to cause scale spikes? I know i won't gain much muscle at all while eating within a deficit but I feel like I would gain some, the weight lifting process is completely new to me thou
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    The jump you'll see on the scale will only be temporary as your muscles hold water to repair. It will go down again within a few weeks-a month.
  • DeguelloTex
    DeguelloTex Posts: 6,652 Member
    If you eat more protein, whether supplements or not, your weight loss will slow. If you replace protein from food with protein from supplements, it won't matter because the final amount will be the same.

    You'll probably get some water retention from starting a new exercise program.

    The amount of muscle, if any, you gain in a deficit will be small. For that matter, it will be pretty small even when eating in a surplus.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    When I still had a decent amount of weight to lose, lifting did not really stop the scale much. There was always a downward trend. And if you're a numbers guy, perhaps you are using another program to track your weight where you can watch this.

  • GeddesFit
    GeddesFit Posts: 75 Member
    I weight train 4 times a week and am still losing about 2 pounds per week.
  • datsundriver87
    datsundriver87 Posts: 186 Member
    thank you all for the replies I have allot to learn. So Should I continue to eat about my same defecit just add the weight training or should I go for a small surplus since I'm burning more calories and trying to gain some muscle mass of possible even thou number one priority is fat loss which I imagine will yield the "toning" that I'm looking for
  • nordlead2005
    nordlead2005 Posts: 1,303 Member
    There are lots of numbers to track.

    Weight, body fat %, waist, arm, neck, chest, how much you can bench, squat, deadlift, ect....

    Just pick whatever works for you.

    Besides, lifting weights won't slow down a loss at all. If you are eating at a deficit you will lose weight at that rate. I'm at ~1000 calorie/day deficit and I'm losing ~2lb/week. I'm working on slowing that down as I'm almost half way to my goal.

    I started tracking weight loss and strength gains. As I'm get closer to my goal I'm now measuring waist and neck. When I get even closer I am going to buy body fat calipers and measure that. Of course I'm still weighing myself and tracking strength gains, but weight loss isn't the primary goal, fitness is.
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    malibu927 wrote: »
    The jump you'll see on the scale will only be temporary as your muscles hold water to repair. It will go down again within a few weeks-a month.


    ^this
  • DeguelloTex
    DeguelloTex Posts: 6,652 Member
    datsundriver87 wrote: »
    thank you all for the replies I have allot to learn. So Should I continue to eat about my same defecit just add the weight training or should I go for a small surplus since I'm burning more calories and trying to gain some muscle mass of possible even thou number one priority is fat loss which I imagine will yield the "toning" that I'm looking for
    If you're trying to lose, stay in a deficit.

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