About to give up.

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Replies

  • Cytherea
    Cytherea Posts: 515 Member
    Muscle weighs more than fat. Do you clothes feel bigger? I take fiber caplets everyday to help move it on through.

    NO NO NO-- please. A pound of muscle weighs a pound. A pound of fat weights a pound. Muscle is more DENSE than fat. So a pound of muscle takes up less space or volume than a pound of fat. A person who has 150 pounds of mostly muscle will be slimmer, more lean, than a person who has 150 pounds of mostly fat.

    I guarantee you, almost all of the time when someone says "muscle weighs more than fat", there is a silent and obviously implied "by volume" on the end of that. That should be especially obvious given the context here where a woman is complaining that her diet and exercise are not altering her weight. You can continue to "correct" people about it if it makes you feel smart, but in the vast majority of cases people do realize this, and your obtuse semantics are simply going to annoy people.

    Thank youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!!!!!!!!!

    NOBODY thinks that a pound of muscle weighs more than a pound of fat. The statement is SO obvious it drives me crazy when people correct it like this and debate about it. That's just the phrase and there is nothing wrong with it. Everybody understands it unless they are a complete idiot that thinks a pound of bricks weighs more than a pound of feathers.
  • Cytherea
    Cytherea Posts: 515 Member
    Minus the wine this is pretty much my story, I started January 3 and have only lost 7 pounds! I think I might switch from P90X to something entirely cardio...I don't know, I'm frustrated too. I did Zumba last summer, twice a week and lost 21 pounds in 2 months. Here I am doing p90 4-6 times per week and only 7 pounds in almost 2 months!!

    Sorry now I'm whining (not trying to steal your attention!) I just know how you feel! But hang in there, it's a daily struggle for me but I'm very very hopeful the end result will be worth it!

    Are you serious? It hasn't been 2 months since January 3, it has barely been over 1! 7 lbs. in a month is a LOT! What is your struggle, exactly? I've never been able to lose more than 5 lbs. a month, ever- I'd be thrilled with 7 lbs! And 21 lbs. in 2 months is unhealthy and unrealistic, by the way.
  • penelepurr
    penelepurr Posts: 204 Member
    I agree that the scale is not the most important gauge of your progress; that said, my bf just got a new scale after having frustrating results that didn't make any sense week after week given his diet and exercise, and just like that, he's been progressively losing weight. If you are going to use the scale, make sure yours isn't on the fritz! :wink:
  • virgomuse
    virgomuse Posts: 33 Member
    Muscle weighs more than fat. Do you clothes feel bigger? I take fiber caplets everyday to help move it on through.

    NO NO NO-- please. A pound of muscle weighs a pound. A pound of fat weights a pound. Muscle is more DENSE than fat. So a pound of muscle takes up less space or volume than a pound of fat. A person who has 150 pounds of mostly muscle will be slimmer, more lean, than a person who has 150 pounds of mostly fat.

    I guarantee you, almost all of the time when someone says "muscle weighs more than fat", there is a silent and obviously implied "by volume" on the end of that. That should be especially obvious given the context here where a woman is complaining that her diet and exercise are not altering her weight. You can continue to "correct" people about it if it makes you feel smart, but in the vast majority of cases people do realize this, and your obtuse semantics are simply going to annoy people.

    Thank youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!!!!!!!!!

    NOBODY thinks that a pound of muscle weighs more than a pound of fat. The statement is SO obvious it drives me crazy when people correct it like this and debate about it. That's just the phrase and there is nothing wrong with it. Everybody understands it unless they are a complete idiot that thinks a pound of bricks weighs more than a pound of feathers.

    I'm in support of the correction, it isn't ALWAYS implied that the non spoken words "by volume" exist. I work in the healthcare industry and educate people all the time on this EXACT CONCEPT. People rationalize alot to excuse themselves of bad behavior and I think by leaving the words "by volume" in silence is one of these examples. It needed to be said and it wasn't said to be mean or in a smarty pants way. It was adding information. People need to learn to say what they mean and mean what they say, it will bring clarity and understanding to the situation, yeah? So just because you have this understanding, doesn't mean everyone does. :O)
  • virgomuse
    virgomuse Posts: 33 Member
    Some of these may have already been mentioned, but I didn't take the time to read the whole thread. Forgive me if I sound redundant on some points.

    1. Watch your sodium intake. Your weight fluxuates from day to day depending on your fluid retention levels. Sodium causes you to hold on to excess fluid possibly making you heavier than you were when you weighed in yesterday.

    2. Don't weigh more than once per week because your weight does go up and down from day to day.

    3. Did you take starting measurements and a before picture? If so, remeasure yourself about every six weeks or so. Sometimes you will see progress in this way even if the scales aren't moving like you think they should be. I would also suggest finding a fitness professional who can take your BMI measurements with calipers (more accurate than height/weight chart), and have this measured every six weeks or so. I would take another photo about every thirty pounds or so.

    4. This is not MYWEIGHTLOSSPAL.com, this is MYFITNESSPAL.com. Set fitness goals for yourself. For example, today is February 9th. Say you went for a three mile walk today, and you completed it in 1:15:00. Set a goal for yourself to be able to walk three miles in 1:00:00 by March 9th. By setting fitness goals, you can measure improvement in your level of fitness, which is another way to measure success.

    5. Set up a complete physical with your primary care physician. They will do a complete blood workup including cholesterol and trygliceride levels. They will also take your blood pressure and RHR (Resting Heart Rate). Keep implementing those healthy habits for one year, then have another physical done to see what has improved. I would recommend having your BP and RHR checked about every three months or so.

    Health and fitness success cannot be measured by scales alone. Also, remember, no matter what the scales say, a healthy lifestyle cannot harm you, it can only help improve your health. Keep at it just for the health benefits if for no other reason. Don't EVER, EVER, EVER give up. :flowerforyou:


    Just wanted to say I really like your post and point number 4 rang home with me. Thanks for adding your two cents! :O) Much Blessings to you and your success!!
  • hexrei
    hexrei Posts: 163
    Muscle weighs more than fat. Do you clothes feel bigger? I take fiber caplets everyday to help move it on through.

    NO NO NO-- please. A pound of muscle weighs a pound. A pound of fat weights a pound. Muscle is more DENSE than fat. So a pound of muscle takes up less space or volume than a pound of fat. A person who has 150 pounds of mostly muscle will be slimmer, more lean, than a person who has 150 pounds of mostly fat.

    I guarantee you, almost all of the time when someone says "muscle weighs more than fat", there is a silent and obviously implied "by volume" on the end of that. That should be especially obvious given the context here where a woman is complaining that her diet and exercise are not altering her weight. You can continue to "correct" people about it if it makes you feel smart, but in the vast majority of cases people do realize this, and your obtuse semantics are simply going to annoy people.

    Thank youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!!!!!!!!!

    NOBODY thinks that a pound of muscle weighs more than a pound of fat. The statement is SO obvious it drives me crazy when people correct it like this and debate about it. That's just the phrase and there is nothing wrong with it. Everybody understands it unless they are a complete idiot that thinks a pound of bricks weighs more than a pound of feathers.

    I'm in support of the correction, it isn't ALWAYS implied that the non spoken words "by volume" exist. I work in the healthcare industry and educate people all the time on this EXACT CONCEPT. People rationalize alot to excuse themselves of bad behavior and I think by leaving the words "by volume" in silence is one of these examples. It needed to be said and it wasn't said to be mean or in a smarty pants way. It was adding information. People need to learn to say what they mean and mean what they say, it will bring clarity and understanding to the situation, yeah? So just because you have this understanding, doesn't mean everyone does. :O)

    Most people do realize this, I'm not sure why you are bringing up rationalization or bad behavior here, it makes no sense in this context.
  • susanswan
    susanswan Posts: 1,194 Member
    A month is NOTHING! Don't believe the 2 pounds per week spiel! YOU are you! I was a very slow start. I ALWAYS gave up after 2 weeks because I was starving to death! Look at my profile for a lot of my history if you are interested. My husband trained with NFL years ago and I even asked him when I started how come my loss was ridiculously slow. He told me don't expect weight loss for at least a month. He was right. My loss was very slow, indeed.

    I know it isn't popular to think this way. But the most important thing is to keep at it. keep doing the healthy changes that you've made and stick with it. your body WILL give in. It is a tug of war right now. Your body does not want to lose weight. It never had to before, right? Please stick with it. I was always a quitter, too. This time I decided not to quit. It took me 5 years, I lost my path for a year or two but I NEVER gave up on myself. I lost 53 pounds, gained back 20 and now am down to the last 3. I've gone through quitting a job to sit at home in front of the computer for work now, I've gone through menopause, and I'm 55 in April God willing! I don't do crazy exercise and I eat whole foods and no sugar, salt, or processed foods. I am aiming for vegan 80% of the time. I am still battling the last 3 pounds. I plan to keep at it for as long as it takes.

    You can do this. Get a tape measure and go by that, too. Give your body a chance. IT MUST LOSE WEIGHT! Maybe not in your time frame that you think it should but IT WILL LOSE.

    Just don't give up. I have the link to my blog on my profile page so read the blogs I wrote about my journey here this time to lose the last 30 pounds. I also started at 205. You've probably watched the Biggest Loser, too. They sometimes have great losses and sometimes gain. Don't let it get you down. You are making great strides in your health.

    Best of luck to you!
    Susan
  • GThinMintG
    GThinMintG Posts: 9 Member
    My diary is always telling that if I eat under 1200 calories I'm forcing my body into starvation mode. Once your body is in that mode it will reserve all fat possible, sometimes that means eating away at muscle mass I'm told. You should always eat 1200 calories a day, but I think it is also possible that you've burned fat and gained muscle at the same time. Are your clothes fitting any better? Have you lost inches? Those are the real indicators of how you are doing : )
  • MacMadame
    MacMadame Posts: 1,893 Member
    The numbers MFP gives are just estimates. You have to go by reality. Maybe it's telling you that you burn more than you do when you exercise, for example. (I mention that one in particular because it's very common.)

    In my case, MFP (and Daily Plate) both told me I should be losing 2x as fast as I was. But I wasn't. They were estimating my BMR too high and giving me too many base calories to eat. I had my RMR (similar to BMR) tested and it confirmed this. I also bought a Heart Rate Monitor and it confirmed MFP was telling me I was burning more than I was. (Okay, except for running -- I was burning more than it said for running for a while.)

    But, as I lost weight, MFP went in the other direction. When I tried to stop losing and maintain, MFP told me to eat 200-500 calories a day less than I was burning based on my BMR. It had my BMR *way* too low. If I had listened to it, I would have been skin and bones!

    In the end, you have to do what works for you and what your reality shows you. If you can get yourself tested and use those numbers instead of MFP numbers, you will be in better shape as you won't be beating your head against a wall.

    One final issue: how accurately do you log? I used to be OCD about logging. I logged EVERYTHING within an hour of eating it, if not before. I logged condiments. If I had 1 bite of something, I logged it! I measured and weighed EVERYTHING too.

    During that time, I found (by wearing a BodyMedia FIT) that if my calories logged were saying I had a 30-50 calorie a day deficit, that I would maintain. I figure that means even with being super strict, I was missing 50-ish calories a day. These days, I'm lazier about logging. And right now I supposedly have a 200 calorie a day deficit. But based on my weight loss, I think it's smaller. I think just by not being quite so neurotic about it, I am losing about 100 calories a day to the wind, either by forgetting or miscalculating serving size or otherwise screwing up. I'm okay with that, but I'm not really trying to lose right now either.
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