Men's Weight Loss - Or Not

Hello MFP Community,

This is my first ever post as I am "devastated" that I've gained a few pounds over the past 2 weeks even after working out like mad. I love MFP and how it promotes a healthier lifestyle and with so many people finding success in it, I doubt 'it" is the problem. I think that I gain muscle incredibly fast and that that, perhaps, is the reason for my weight gain, along with water retention.

Any other men, or women for that matter have issues with the scale and using it as THE source of measurement?

I was thinking of ignoring the scale for a while and instead, concentrating on my Body Fat percentage and measuring inches.

Thanks.

Replies

  • uurbann
    uurbann Posts: 2
    I know your devastation. Over the past six weeks I have continuously lost weight and today when I weighed in, that *kitten* scale told me I was 1.6 pounds heavier than last week. I talked to my nutritionist and he said it is likely water retention and its nothing to worry about, but still, I am frustrated. He said if next week the weight had gone back down or went up more, he would recommend a diuretic to get rid of the water. But you are also working out (seemingly) a lot more than I have. Muscle weighs more than fat, so you could actually be offsetting the weight with the muscle you've gained. Are you using any muscle growth supplements (i.e. creatine)? I haven't done much strength training yet because I know if I saw the scale jump up or not decrease as fast as I'd like, I would lose motivation and give up.

    Keep up the good work. You'll get to your goal!
  • Yeah, that scale is a sorry mofo.. Ha, but yeah, I don't do THAT much, but definitely a lot more than the nothing I've done for the past couple years. On Tuesdays and Thursdays I go and see a PT for 30 min INTENSE sessions and Mon.-Wed.-Fri. I've been doing the Hundred Pushups program. I think strength training is really beneficial, albeit a possible weight gainer; which honestly doesn't bother me as much since lean muscle burns calories. My mind is set on simply measuring my neck & waist for a Body Fat percentage rather than shedding lbs. I'm sure that with more muscle, exercise and calorie counting, I'll lose fat lbs, which is what we all really want.

    There are plenty of BF% Calculators on the web and you can search how to take proper measurements as well. So, hopefully I'll be a 1/2" thinner next time I measure.

    Good luck with your goals as well.

    BTW, I am going to GNC to buy some whey protein for a post workout shake.
  • wackyfunster
    wackyfunster Posts: 944 Member
    Too much variance in water weight. Track weight and body fat daily and look at the trend line once a week IMO
  • rjmwx81
    rjmwx81 Posts: 259 Member
    You didn't gain pounds of muscle over two weeks, I'm quite sure. It's most likely just water weight. These fluctuations happen. Don't sweat it, you're doing the right things and the results will show eventually.