inches vs lbs

lauraleenaft
lauraleenaft Posts: 58
edited September 29 in Fitness and Exercise
So i have been doing M f P for 25 days now. I lost 3 lbs right away,but i think i have gained them back. People say my waist line looks smaller,and i do see that also. So i feel like i am just loosing inches. which i am happy about that,but i want more results and faster. Am i being to impatient,or should i have lost more lbs?

Replies

  • jipper44
    jipper44 Posts: 111
    If you're keeping up with your exercise and diet, at least one (scale or tape measure) should keep showing progress. At the right point, the number on the scale starts to be less important because you know you're doing healthy things for your body. Patience is not my strong suit, but I'm definitely learning it's okay if this takes a while and to appreciate the small victories. They are surely worth celebrating :)
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,984 Member
    Impatience is the main reason why people on diet plans fail. As a Certified PT, I ALWAYS get people who's expectation is that they can lose like the Biggest Loser contestants once they hire a trainer and clean up their diet. Nothing further from the truth! The majority of my clients lose about 1-2lbs a week on average and if they need to lose just 10 lbs, that's at least 5 weeks. And that's taking into consideration that their caloric intake I set for them is consistent and spot on. But life doesn't always go that way and little get togethers and parties can throw a wrench into the plan.
    Main thing is to be consistent. Most people aren't. They may do good one day, then bad 2 days later and still hope they lost weight.
    If you're losing inches, that is a much better indicator than weight since weight fluctuates so much based on hydration, sodium and even hormones.
  • most of the time i am in my calorie goal,but i dont always eat the best stuff! It is hard for me,because my hubby does not share my interest in health eating! Maybe i am totally off,but 25 days ago i ate prob over 2,000 calories,and no exercise. Now i am counting calories,exercising when i can prob 2-3 times a week. I guess i just though i would see better results! But maybe you have to be stricter. I know i can do better,it is just hard esp when you have a toddler and you work.
  • So i have been doing M f P for 25 days now. I lost 3 lbs right away,but i think i have gained them back. People say my waist line looks smaller,and i do see that also. So i feel like i am just loosing inches. which i am happy about that,but i want more results and faster. Am i being to impatient,or should i have lost more lbs?

    i'm actually relieved someone else is going through the same issue i am!! i was so frustrated this morning when i got on my scale to see that i had gained all the weight back i had lost, which was only 3lbs back.. but i've been really trying to lose this extra baggage!! i've exercised everyday and am watching what i eat.. and to see the lbs back on..i started to cry!! my boyfriend then started to comfort me and tell me that i've definatly am looking better, and i feel great.. its just that stupid number on the scale that is getting me down..

    i guess i should just go out and get a tape measure to track my inches lost!
  • glenr79
    glenr79 Posts: 283 Member
    muscle weighs more than fat... maybe you are turning into muscle. Also make sure you are doing weights, cardio, and a good diet. If you aren't doing all three then you won't be able to lose the weight.
  • So i have been doing M f P for 25 days now. I lost 3 lbs right away,but i think i have gained them back. People say my waist line looks smaller,and i do see that also. So i feel like i am just loosing inches. which i am happy about that,but i want more results and faster. Am i being to impatient,or should i have lost more lbs?

    i'm actually relieved someone else is going through the same issue i am!! i was so frustrated this morning when i got on my scale to see that i had gained all the weight back i had lost, which was only 3lbs back.. but i've been really trying to lose this extra baggage!! i've exercised everyday and am watching what i eat.. and to see the lbs back on..i started to cry!! my boyfriend then started to comfort me and tell me that i've definatly am looking better, and i feel great.. its just that stupid number on the scale that is getting me down..

    i guess i should just go out and get a tape measure to track my inches lost!


    [/quote



    you know that is not a bad idea! and it will keep ppl motivated and less frustration! ]
  • muscle weighs more than fat... maybe you are turning into muscle. Also make sure you are doing weights, cardio, and a good diet. If you aren't doing all three then you won't be able to lose the weight.
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  • when i do my work out ,it is jillian frontside for beginners. it is circut training with some weights but i am only using 3 lbs. I do feel that i could go higher now. when i dont do Jillian i walk outside or on the treadmill. Should i do more weights??
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,984 Member
    muscle weighs more than fat... maybe you are turning into muscle. Also make sure you are doing weights, cardio, and a good diet. If you aren't doing all three then you won't be able to lose the weight.
    Actually muscle takes up less space than fat if equal in poundage. A pound of muscle and a pound of fat are equally a pound.
    You could lose weight just dieting, or just doing cardio, or just doing weights. Caloric deficit is what is needed for weight loss. Doing all three equally is just a better way of doing it.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,984 Member
    when i do my work out ,it is jillian frontside for beginners. it is circut training with some weights but i am only using 3 lbs. I do feel that i could go higher now. when i dont do Jillian i walk outside or on the treadmill. Should i do more weights??
    Way too low for intensity. If an exercise calls for 10 repetitions and you bang those out with no problem, then the resistance is too low. Rule of thumb, the last 2 reps of set for any exercise should be challenging. Meaning you should be gritting your teeth and having a somewhat difficult time completing them. That challenges your muscle.
  • when i do my work out ,it is jillian frontside for beginners. it is circut training with some weights but i am only using 3 lbs. I do feel that i could go higher now. when i dont do Jillian i walk outside or on the treadmill. Should i do more weights??
    Way too low for intensity. If an exercise calls for 10 repetitions and you bang those out with no problem, then the resistance is too low. Rule of thumb, the last 2 reps of set for any exercise should be challenging. Meaning you should be gritting your teeth and having a somewhat difficult time completing them. That challenges your muscle.



    Thank You for your Help!!!:bigsmile:
  • shevyface
    shevyface Posts: 46
    I think the best way to know for sure is to actually measure yourself with a paper/plastic tape measure. I was stuck on a certain weight not long ago, I was exercising, eating the amount of calories I needed to, and drinking lots of water. I was very much in the same WHAT IS GOING ON?! arena. So I measured myself (hips, waist, neck, legs, upper arms) and just kept on keeping on, adding more cardio to my workout. Cardio being the thing that really kick starts your metabolism and gets your heart rate going so you're burning the fat. Turns out I was losing inches, even if the scale hadn't moved yet. Soon after the inches, the pounds followed suit.

    So yeah, get your measurements down (MFP even has a place to keep track of them!) and maybe look at your fitness regimine and more closely at what you're eating (sodium counting really helps) and you'll start noticing a staying difference soon enough. Best of luck!
  • pauterson
    pauterson Posts: 65
    Stay consistent with yourself and eating clean... try lowering yoru carbs and increasing your protein intake, that works for me when I need to see quicker results. :-) Also, be sure you're weighing yourself in similar circumstances each week or bi-weekly... for example: same time of day, same food in belly, same restroom visits, etc... that way you're getting a true measurement.

    The most important thing is to keep your eye on the prize and focus on all the progress you've made already not how far you still have to go. And - try to find new ways to measure your success, are you lifting more weight aka getting stronger? are you able to run/walk or stay on the elliptical longer or increase resistance? little things like that will help keep you motivated.

    You can do it!
  • Blueberry09
    Blueberry09 Posts: 821 Member
    I can certainly relate to this - my 'diet' started January 1 but I didn't join MFP until March. Since the beginning of the year, I've only been able to lose 12lbs - that's only half a pound a month - when eating 1200 calories they tell me I should be losing 2 a week! But I have gone down two dress sizes so I'm trying to focus on the positives.

    When the scale doesn't seem to move at all - or even goes up after days of being good - it's so frustrating. I know that darned thing has made my cry in frustration many a morning. I only would weigh myself once a day - get up, have a pee, jump on the scale - every day. It would go up more often than it would go down. I've tried zig-zagging, I've increased my calories, mixed up my workouts, adjusted the nutrition goals - nothing seems to make that scale go down. But my clothes are way looser! Almost time for a new wardrobe looser :)

    So to solve that problem, last week I had my husband hide the scale so I can't get on it anymore! It was like an addiction for me! One that made me cry every other day. I'm still weaning myself off it. You know when you've had a good, clean week and you want to see those results - the first instinct is to jump on the scale! I don't think I'll give it up completely but I think I'll try once a month weigh-ins to see what, if anything has changed. I never took my measurements when I first started so I don't know how many inches I've lost for sure, but judging by my clothes it's a least 2" each from the waist and hips.

    Being patient is the hardest thing in the world - I've found harder than the willpower to change your diet. I don't know how many times over the last six months I've been so close to dumping the whole thing and head to Mcdonalds!

    For some reason, that number on the scale means more to us than the inches we've lost. It's just a mindset we need to get away from. I'm not there yet, but I'm trying! Good luck on your journey - that's what it is :) Some just take longer than others.
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