Fitter but not thinner

I have been exercising 3x a week for 6 months. I eat pretty healthy and stay within my calorie budget on most days also. While I am losing inches the scale hasn't changed. I know your frustration. My husband constantly reminds me that I should not care so much about a number. to concentrate more on getting the body I want. He is right. If you continue to work hard toward your ideal figure, you will eventually get where you want to be. Don't give up!

Would love to hear comments on this one, as I am in the same boat. I am overweight though (5'2" 175lbs) but I work out 5-6 days a week, for an hour each day, sometimes doing two work outs a day. Have lost no inches and juggle the same few lbs. Lots of strength training too.

I am in a very similar situation, love working out, eating healthy, do great most of the time, weekends are tough because I do like to enjoy life and have drinks, and I have been battling the same 4-6 pounds since the begining of the year, I know I can be 129 -132 because I was this time last year too, if you want to add me maybe we can get through these weekends

I was going through the same routine. It sucks, and I didn't want to hear it either, but if you can continue what you do during the week, through the weekend, I bet you will start to see the lbs drop.

I've found out that when I work hard all week and then do/eat/drink whatever I want on the weekends, I maintain. As soon as I start to add the workouts and eating proper through my weekends, I lose.

Perhaps this will be the scenario for you as well. Good luck!

I like to use my body as a guinea pig now and then to try out different foods. Unfortunately I got too attached to Japanese candy and other stuff I should have moderated better. In addition to this, I intentionally set my TDEE too low to see the effect it had on losing the final 2% BF. I wasn't surprised that over 2 months I stayed the same. Once I upped my TDEE to what it should be, and substituted for better food choices, my body was being fed adequately and was capable of optimal performance while working out with sustained energy levels throughout the day without the occasional hunger I had.

Actually, being at 5'10, you are already at a GREAT weight.

^^This.

Juggling 3 lbs. or so isn't abnormal, especially if you're doing strength training--muscles retain fluid for a bit after working out, from what I understand.

But what someone above said about minimizing the weekend splurge is a good idea. If you can plan ahead, you might be more successful at working this within your calorie budget.

Deffo can relate - and I have concrete proof that *for me* I "gain weight" when I work out on low calories.

Truth.

In my normal week, I workout anywhere from three to six times a week - dedicated workouts, not cleaning or walking the dog or whatever, but cardio/ weights/ classes/ et cetera. I am always within 30 calories of my weekly average "calorie allowance." (I keep a weekly average spreadsheet so I can keep an eye on trend lines and whatnot. Also because I am a giant dork :P)

I recently went on vacation to a festival - didn't track bupkis, didn't work out at all, ate what sounded good (this included - truth! - FOUR bacon-wrapped, deep-fried hotdogs slathered in cream cheese over the trip, and SIX chili-cheese pups from Krystle in a single sitting). Came home and was another pound down from my previous lightest weight.

got back into my usual workout routines and am coming in UNDER my calories... and have gone up THREE POUNDS in the last week.

But the pants I wore the week before I left are MUCH bigger on me than they were at the lower weight.

Muscle has a much higher density. My shape is changing. And if my muscle mass is up, and my lean body percentage is higher... Then I'm ok with the scale telling me I'm heavier. It's because I'm gaining muscle and the fat is leaving.

This is a MAJOR inspiration when I get hung up on the number on the scale:
http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/

I'm 5'9" and 151 - so I completely feel you! But I'd rather be able to kick butt than be skinny. It's all a matter of what you want - if you just want to be thin, stop the working out. You can diet your way to skinny. or you can work your way to being fit. Depends on your goals.

This doesn't mean that you don't need to be more moderate on the weekends, of course, but I suspect a lot of that weight gain on Mondays is water retention--I'm guessing that you probably eat more sodium over the weekend. Alcohol might make you retain a bit of water, too, I'm not sure.

It does sound like you're stalling yourself out with the weekend benders. It's hard, I know! I get together with several girlfriends every Monday for "girls' night," and historically we eat a lot AND drink a lot. I'm working on ways to allow myself that fun in a more reasonable way. Fortunately, most of my friends are also feeling the need to do the same, so we're in it together!

Feel free to add me.

OK - i've finally done it - my diary is now open to friends. Hopefully that will hold me more accountable at the weekends!!

In regards to me eating to little, I think I have the opposite problem hehe. My calorie goal is set to 1660 per day (as per MFP to 0.5lbs per week) and I also eat back my exercise calories. The problem is that at the weekend, I go over by LOADS, a few drinks here and there, eating out etc etc. So even though I do my long run on a Saturday, I can't possibly make up the calories. Friday mornings I weigh the least, Monday mornings I weigh the most! I'd be quite happy to continue in this routine of up down the same 3lbs IF only I was 14lbs lighter!

you've hit the nail on the head here: 'even though I do my long run on a Saturday, I can't possibly make up the calories. "

DING DING DING. You can't out-train a bad diet!

honestly, that's why I began keeping my spreadsheet - the daily is a mess for me, going back and forth, but if I keep a weekly average, I can get a clearer view of where I'm up and down and have a better understanding of what I need to plan for the weekend. So, if I know I've got a day at Ascot coming up, or a birthday dinner with friends, maybe I do a bit extra in a workout to "bank" the calories (as in WW or other programs) and keep my numbers in line. If that makes no sense, feel free to message me - I'm not always as clear outside my head as I am in it! *laugh*