Doing everything "right" and the scale bounces all over the place!

jessvdm
jessvdm Posts: 9 Member
edited November 22 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi All,

I am an avid runner, healthy eater, but trying to get to a lighter "racing weight." I am 5'5" and started off at 131.6lbs. I realize that is within healthy range, but I want to tone up and lose about 5 or 6 pounds to help with my race times.
Over the past two months or so, I have been logging food religiously, some days going over my net calories of 1340. I typically gross 1700-1800 a day due to hunger from running, but it always seems to even out around a net of 1200-1400. Looks like it all should be "working" right? Well, I started off great, even got down to 126.5 at one point. Today the scale says I am back up to 131.4. WHAT GIVES? I have been trying to get under 130 for a long time (I realize it is my base weight that my body resists going under). I am frustrated and need some good advice or knowledge about what to do.

Thanks in advance!

Replies

  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    edited August 2015
    My weight will fluctuate 1-6 pounds day to day. I just record my weight each day and focus on the trend.

    But it sounds like you've gone two months without seeing a reduction in even the trend? This might be a logging issue. If you open your diary, you will probably get some good advice. I believe that "base weight" is a myth. If you are truly eating at a deficit, your body isn't going to resist going below 130.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    Set MFP to lose 0.5lbs per week, ensure you're getting plenty of protein, add some strength/resistance training to your routine, be veeeeeery patient.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    Water weight fluctuations - sodium, change up in diet, hormones

    You don't have a fixed weight, you have a scale weight range which is generally around 5lbs a specific weight

    Want proof? Here ...me in maintenance and doing everything right

    zlywjxku23ps.jpg
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    And yeah, base weight isn't a thing.
  • strong_curves
    strong_curves Posts: 2,229 Member
    edited August 2015
    This thread might be able to help you.

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/113609/relatively-light-people-trying-to-get-leaner/p1

    Also want to add, you should look into some type of strength training, if you haven't already.
  • SueInAz
    SueInAz Posts: 6,592 Member
    strong_curves wrote: »
    This thread might be able to help you.

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/113609/relatively-light-people-trying-to-get-leaner/p1

    Also want to add, you should look into some type of strength training, if you haven't already.

    Agreed. Strength training is very helpful for running. I've gotten a bit faster since I started lifting last year.

    Our weight is not a static number, it's a range. I bounce up and down every day. Water retention and release is the reason and your uptick in weight may be due to water. How long have you been back to 131? What's the situation right now? Have you added a new or strenuous exercise? Is it that time of the month? (I gain 5 pounds of water during mine.) Have you been eating more sodium than usual?
  • jessvdm
    jessvdm Posts: 9 Member
    HI everyone. Thanks for the input. Yes, I strength train, do HIIT workouts in addition to my running. I run on average an 8 min/mile. I switch up my running workouts to include hills, long runs, and speed work. I've been at this a long time. I do think that I could weigh my food more often. The frustration comes from being at this weight for years after having kids, and not being able to break past it for more than a few weeks.
    It is a frustrating process because the truth of the matter seems that I am just getting too many calories in and have to face the fact that I will have to cut back if I want to get where I would like to be. Which sucks. Because I don't believe in being hungry. But thanks, everyone.
  • SueInAz
    SueInAz Posts: 6,592 Member
    jessvdm wrote: »
    HI everyone. Thanks for the input. Yes, I strength train, do HIIT workouts in addition to my running. I run on average an 8 min/mile. I switch up my running workouts to include hills, long runs, and speed work. I've been at this a long time. I do think that I could weigh my food more often. The frustration comes from being at this weight for years after having kids, and not being able to break past it for more than a few weeks.
    It is a frustrating process because the truth of the matter seems that I am just getting too many calories in and have to face the fact that I will have to cut back if I want to get where I would like to be. Which sucks. Because I don't believe in being hungry. But thanks, everyone.

    I definitely feel you. It's a tug-of-war we play with ourselves.... we want to be thinner but have difficulty doing what we know needs to be done to accomplish that. Keep in mind, though, that there's really no reason you need to be hungry while losing weight. There's no reason to go on a 1200 calorie crash diet. You really don't need to cut that many calories if you don't mind losing more slowly. Just aim for 250 fewer calories per day than your maintenance. Because, frankly, losing slowly is better than not losing at all.
  • SergeantSausage
    SergeantSausage Posts: 1,673 Member
    The body can't "resist" the laws of physics, right?

    Get those shenanigans out of your head right now.
  • Char231023
    Char231023 Posts: 700 Member
    I run, but not competitively. I am having trouble with "race weight". What is that? For me if I want to run faster I train harder and lift heavy to improve muscle strength. Don't skip leg day. I don't think losing those 5 extra lbs aren't going to have that much effect on your race times.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    Char231023 wrote: »
    I run, but not competitively. I am having trouble with "race weight". What is that? For me if I want to run faster I train harder and lift heavy to improve muscle strength. Don't skip leg day. I don't think losing those 5 extra lbs aren't going to have that much effect on your race times.

    Look at it the other way, if you had to run holding an extra 5lbs don't you think it'd make you slower? Not by loads, but over a long distance....
  • Char231023
    Char231023 Posts: 700 Member
    TavistockToad wrote: »
    Char231023 wrote: »
    I run, but not competitively. I am having trouble with "race weight". What is that? For me if I want to run faster I train harder and lift heavy to improve muscle strength. Don't skip leg day. I don't think losing those 5 extra lbs aren't going to have that much effect on your race times.

    Look at it the other way, if you had to run holding an extra 5lbs don't you think it'd make you slower? Not by loads, but over a long distance....

    I she were talking about say 20lbs I could understand, but 5lbs is not going to shave a lot of time off her 8 min mile. That comes with training.

  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    Char231023 wrote: »
    TavistockToad wrote: »
    Char231023 wrote: »
    I run, but not competitively. I am having trouble with "race weight". What is that? For me if I want to run faster I train harder and lift heavy to improve muscle strength. Don't skip leg day. I don't think losing those 5 extra lbs aren't going to have that much effect on your race times.

    Look at it the other way, if you had to run holding an extra 5lbs don't you think it'd make you slower? Not by loads, but over a long distance....

    I she were talking about say 20lbs I could understand, but 5lbs is not going to shave a lot of time off her 8 min mile. That comes with training.

    According to one study, five pounds made a 5% performance difference in a 12-minute time trial. It doesn't have to be huge amounts of weight to make a difference.

    http://www.active.com/running/articles/what-is-your-ideal-racing-weight
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