Look different but scale stays the same

divyatew
divyatew Posts: 28 Member
edited November 22 in Health and Weight Loss
Is it possible for the scale to stay at the same number for a month, but for one's body to look slimmer?

Replies

  • wkwebby
    wkwebby Posts: 807 Member
    Yup, it's called water weight masking your actual weight loss. Taking body measurements would help you to determine if this is real or not. OR feel the difference in the way your clothes fit you.
  • 1shauna1
    1shauna1 Posts: 993 Member
    Depends; if you're working out a lot, I think yes. My scale hasn't gone done that much but I feel smaller, as I'm working out 4-6 times a week.
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    Inches trump pounds.
  • divyatew
    divyatew Posts: 28 Member
    I'm working out 5-6 tines a week for 60 minutes! But I'm also eating 1700-2000 calories a day, to net 1400 a day! I feel thinner and my clothes fit looser, but seeing no progress on the scale honestly makes me feel down about myself :(
  • DeguelloTex
    DeguelloTex Posts: 6,652 Member
    divyatew wrote: »
    I'm working out 5-6 tines a week for 60 minutes! But I'm also eating 1700-2000 calories a day, to net 1400 a day! I feel thinner and my clothes fit looser, but seeing no progress on the scale honestly makes me feel down about myself :(
    Why? You're obviously making progress.

  • rybo
    rybo Posts: 5,424 Member
    Do not let a number on the scale dictate your happiness. If you look and feel better that's 10x more important
  • divyatew
    divyatew Posts: 28 Member
    I feel like the scale is validation that I' m doing things correctly. Like I can feel improvements, but I can't help doubting the results sometimes because I'm so used to one number
  • wkwebby
    wkwebby Posts: 807 Member
    edited August 2015
    DeguelloTex wrote: »
    divyatew wrote: »
    I'm working out 5-6 tines a week for 60 minutes! But I'm also eating 1700-2000 calories a day, to net 1400 a day! I feel thinner and my clothes fit looser, but seeing no progress on the scale honestly makes me feel down about myself :(
    Why? You're obviously making progress.

    +1

    Who actually knows what you weight unless you tell them? I would be way more excited about clothes fitting better and looking hotter than weighing a few pounds less! Just look at it as you're making progress. End of story. Change that attitude to not caring about your scale and use a clothing size as a goal instead. It sounds like you're doing great! :smiley:
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    divyatew wrote: »
    I'm working out 5-6 tines a week for 60 minutes! But I'm also eating 1700-2000 calories a day, to net 1400 a day! I feel thinner and my clothes fit looser, but seeing no progress on the scale honestly makes me feel down about myself :(

    so, some arbitrary number on some scale is more important to you than clothes fitting loser, etc...

    I will never understand the obsession with some arbitrary number that is derived from any number of things beyond fat...it's fecking ridiculous.
  • divyatew
    divyatew Posts: 28 Member
    @wkwebby @rybo @DeguelloTex Thanks guys! I'll try to stop focusing on the scale as the main measurement of weight loss! I've lost 15 and gained 15 pounds in the last 3 years twice, and I'm on my way to losing the extra 15 pounds now. I guess each time you lose weight, you lose it differently.
  • DeguelloTex
    DeguelloTex Posts: 6,652 Member
    edited August 2015
    divyatew wrote: »
    I feel like the scale is validation that I' m doing things correctly. Like I can feel improvements, but I can't help doubting the results sometimes because I'm so used to one number
    The scale doesn't know the difference between fat and muscle. You could, theoretically, gain a substantial amount of muscle and weight, but be thinner and healthier.
  • mbaker566
    mbaker566 Posts: 11,233 Member
    yes, I was stuck at the same weight for a month or so. loss over an inch on my waist and 2 inches on my chest
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    edited August 2015
    DeguelloTex wrote: »
    divyatew wrote: »
    I feel like the scale is validation that I' m doing things correctly. Like I can feel improvements, but I can't help doubting the results sometimes because I'm so used to one number
    The scale doesn't know the difference between fat and muscle. You could, theoretically, gain a substantial amount of muscle and weight, but be thinner and healthier.

    exactly...or bone or water, or varying levels of waste, etc...
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    edited August 2015
    look at this...

    http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/

    Screen-Shot-2011-07-21-at-9.23.11-AM1.jpg

    Believe it or not, she’s 11 pounds HEAVIER (142 pounds) in the picture on the right (May 2011) compared to the picture on the left (131 pounds, October 2010).

    She's actually heavier...and looks way more rockin'

    Scale is but one singular tool, it is not the be all and end all.
  • divyatew
    divyatew Posts: 28 Member
    edited August 2015
    Hmmm I guess I've never thought of the scale like that! I didn't even think about muscle, bone, water, etc factoring into the numbers
  • divyatew
    divyatew Posts: 28 Member
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    look at this...

    http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/

    Screen-Shot-2011-07-21-at-9.23.11-AM1.jpg

    Believe it or not, she’s 11 pounds HEAVIER (142 pounds) in the picture on the right (May 2011) compared to the picture on the left (131 pounds, October 2010).

    She's actually heavier...and looks way more rockin'

    Scale is but one singular tool, it is not the be all and end all.

    Wow she looks amazing!!! That's awesome!
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    divyatew wrote: »
    Hmmm I guess I've never thought of the scale like that! I didn't even think about muscle, bone, water, etc factoring into the numbers

    Put duct tape over the display of it and walk away.
  • lindaloo1213
    lindaloo1213 Posts: 283 Member
    I've been at the same weight for 1 1/2 months but have lost several inches. Try not to let the scale bother u. I'm happy it hasn't gone up!
  • ashypashy7
    ashypashy7 Posts: 50 Member
    Deff! My weight has been the same for three weeks, (which is when I started to bump up weight training and cardio) however I have gone down a full pant size. Inches are great!
  • divyatew
    divyatew Posts: 28 Member
    @Liftng4Lis lol that's actually a great idea! @lindaloo9331 @ashypashy7 That's great that you guys have lost inches! I'm glad there are other people who know what I'm going through and are seeing results :)!
  • ValerieMartini2Olives
    ValerieMartini2Olives Posts: 3,024 Member
    I have only lost about 4 pounds recently but I had 3 different people in a week and a half ask me if I've lost weight.
  • apollinav
    apollinav Posts: 22 Member
    You may want to try a hand-held body fat analyzer. If you're working out at a gym, they may have one you can borrow. That could give you a better idea of your progress.

    For example, I know a girl who did a 6-week boot camp program, she was horrified that she gained weight until the body fat analyzer showed how much fat she'd lost. She gained seven pounds of muscle.
  • ASKyle
    ASKyle Posts: 1,475 Member
    apollinav wrote: »
    You may want to try a hand-held body fat analyzer. If you're working out at a gym, they may have one you can borrow. That could give you a better idea of your progress.

    For example, I know a girl who did a 6-week boot camp program, she was horrified that she gained weight until the body fat analyzer showed how much fat she'd lost. She gained seven pounds of muscle.

    These are notoriously inaccurate... they fluctuate depending on your hydration level (they use an electrical current that passes through your body, slower through fat, quicker through muscle) and how hard you grip them. There is no possible way a woman could put on 7lbs of muscle in 6 weeks.
  • apollinav
    apollinav Posts: 22 Member
    ASKyle wrote: »
    apollinav wrote: »

    These are notoriously inaccurate... they fluctuate depending on your hydration level (they use an electrical current that passes through your body, slower through fat, quicker through muscle) and how hard you grip them. There is no possible way a woman could put on 7lbs of muscle in 6 weeks.

    Thanks for the tip, ASKyle!
  • Verdenal
    Verdenal Posts: 625 Member
    edited August 2015
    divyatew wrote: »
    Is it possible for the scale to stay at the same number for a month, but for one's body to look slimmer?

    As has been said, you might be less bloated on some days because of loss of water weight and if you've been working out consistently for a while you may have added some muscle.

    You should try to estimate your body fat percentage in addition to your straight weight.

    I must say that if I'm vigilant about reducing calories to create a deficit, I see a scale loss as well.
  • divyatew
    divyatew Posts: 28 Member
    @Verdenal Thanks for the advice!
  • GaleHawkins
    GaleHawkins Posts: 8,159 Member
    When I had to get off of sugar and grains for pain management I did not lose even one pound for the first six weeks but I lost an inch at my belt. At week 8 I was down 10 pounds.

    10 months after being off sugar and grains I have lost 30 pounds but looks more like 50 to most people. By the way my general health is starting to recover nicely and the pain is now well managed without Rx/other meds.

    Losing inches but not pounds I did not know was physically possible. I expect it was not muscle replacing fat in my case that fast for sure.
  • Fujiberry
    Fujiberry Posts: 400 Member
    Ditch the scale. You're making progress, so why does your weight matter? I weigh around the same in these two pictures. I'm slightly heavier on the right by a few pounds.

    0rpq5spd93k3.jpg


    I weigh myself maybe once or twice a month (if that) just because I get curious, but that's about it. I take progress pictures instead. As long as I look better and I'm still in the weight class I want to compete in powerlifting, then my exact weight isn't important to me.
  • Fujiberry
    Fujiberry Posts: 400 Member
    Take lots of progress pictures instead. I think it's much more motivating to see small changes in your body over time. :)
  • divyatew
    divyatew Posts: 28 Member
    @Fujiberry @GaleHawkins Thanks for the advice! Both your transformations are incredible!
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