Trying to stay motivated: Scale wont move

soldiergrl_101
soldiergrl_101 Posts: 2,205 Member
edited November 2024 in Motivation and Support
Its been at least 3 months since I started eating healthy and working out. I eat 1200-1400 cals a day high protein/fat low carb. Cardio & weightlifting. I have lost some weight but lately the scale just wont budge and I am trying to keep myself motivated because I have noticed things like looser clothes and lifting weight NSVs. Why wont the scale move :( When it does is it likely Ill loose a few lbs all at once or am I going to continue this one pound here one pound there trend that I am on?

Replies

  • allanthfc
    allanthfc Posts: 41 Member
    If you are quite new to working out, which if it's been 3 months I'd say you are then you could easily be putting muscle mass on your quads, back shoulders etc which is evening out the loss in fat making it look like you aren't losing anything.

    It's well documented I believe how a noob can make great gains in the early stages of weightlifting cimpared to a seasoned vet.

    Don't be disheartened, just carry on giving it 100 % and use progress pics rather than focusing on the scales.

    If clothes are getting looser then it's obviously having an effect.
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    edited August 2015
    allanthfc wrote: »
    If you are quite new to working out, which if it's been 3 months I'd say you are then you could easily be putting muscle mass on your quads, back shoulders etc which is evening out the loss in fat making it look like you aren't losing anything.

    It's well documented I believe how a noob can make great gains in the early stages of weightlifting cimpared to a seasoned vet.

    Don't be disheartened, just carry on giving it 100 % and use progress pics rather than focusing on the scales.

    If clothes are getting looser then it's obviously having an effect.

    After the first few weeks, it's next to impossible to gain muscle on 1200-1400 calories.

    OP, what are your stats? How much have you lost to this point and how long has it been since you lost? How are you measuring your calorie intake? How are you measuring your burned calories and how much, if any, of them do you eat back?
  • fiddletime
    fiddletime Posts: 1,868 Member
    If you're building muscle then try taking some body measurements to boost your morale. I recently did that as I've been losing only about a half pound a week, but people have noticed and I've noticed my clothes are looser. I don't want to get frustrated at the scale when all else is doing great. Im all in my first two months of intense working out.
  • SueInAz
    SueInAz Posts: 6,592 Member
    edited August 2015
    If you don't have a lot of weight to lose and you're weight lifting, it's going to come off slowly. Personally, I'd rather be losing inches than pounds, anyway. I haven't lost much since I started lifting 16 months ago but I've definitely shrunk. I've had more than a few people notice that I'm smaller and when they ask if I've lost weight I tell them "No, I'm weight lifting." They are usually shocked and ask for details. One co-worker even went so far as to guess my weight. He was nearly 20 pounds under my actual weight.

    Since you still have a ways to go, if you aren't losing weight you may not really be eating as little as you think you are. How are you verifying calorie amounts? Are you using a kitchen scale? A heart rate monitor for cardio calories?
  • soldiergrl_101
    soldiergrl_101 Posts: 2,205 Member
    malibu927 wrote: »
    allanthfc wrote: »
    If you are quite new to working out, which if it's been 3 months I'd say you are then you could easily be putting muscle mass on your quads, back shoulders etc which is evening out the loss in fat making it look like you aren't losing anything.

    It's well documented I believe how a noob can make great gains in the early stages of weightlifting cimpared to a seasoned vet.

    Don't be disheartened, just carry on giving it 100 % and use progress pics rather than focusing on the scales.

    If clothes are getting looser then it's obviously having an effect.

    After the first few weeks, it's next to impossible to gain muscle on 1200-1400 calories.

    OP, what are your stats? How much have you lost to this point and how long has it been since you lost? How are you measuring your calorie intake? How are you measuring your burned calories and how much, if any, of them do you eat back?

    I currently weigh 206 pounds I started at 226lbs I use a Fitbit to justify calories in and out. I eat at a deficit so I can loose the weight. I use mfp and food labels to justify the calories. I keep going on two week splurges I loose a pound or two then it takes two weeks to loose another pound or two
  • soldiergrl_101
    soldiergrl_101 Posts: 2,205 Member
    fiddletime wrote: »
    If you're building muscle then try taking some body measurements to boost your morale. I recently did that as I've been losing only about a half pound a week, but people have noticed and I've noticed my clothes are looser. I don't want to get frustrated at the scale when all else is doing great. Im all in my first two months of intense working out.

    I have been tracking inches but I have only lost one or two since the begging in here and there. Unfortunately no one has said "hey have u lost weight" yet either
  • soldiergrl_101
    soldiergrl_101 Posts: 2,205 Member
    Actually I just checked my measurements again and I did loose 5" in my stomach so that's a plus
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    I would suggest getting a food scale to weigh everything you eat. Twenty pounds in three months is actually fantastic, though! Weight loss isn't linear, especially as women who go through menstruation. Sounds like you're doing fine, but the scale will help you ensure you're eating exactly what you put into your diary.
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