Inches vs. LBs.... FRUSTRATING!!!

Hi all!

I have a dilemma I need some help with....

Height: 5'3" or 5'4"...depends who you ask ;-)

Body Type/Weight: Curvy/150 

Age 22

So "officially" I started my serious dieting on June 6th, before that, I have been semi-dieting (if there is such a thing) since December.  I am taking a Zumba class Tuesday nights for an hour.  The rest of the week I decide whether I want to do the elliptical for thrity minutes or some weights for the upper body. I also use metro to commute both to and from work so there is walking and stair climbing, along with "office walking".

I know you are only supposed to lose 1/2 - 2 Lbs per week.  But I have not lost even 1/2 Lb...the scale continues to tell me 150.  I can tell that my body is taking on a different shape and looking healthier, but I am starting to get discouraged.

Should I just keep working and focus on how my body is looking instead of putting most of my focus toward a number?

Thanks for any help.

Totally!  If you're body is feeling and looking better then you're accomplishing something great for yourself!  All of the exercise is probably just building great muscles while helping to burn calories to get rid of the fat.  After all a pound of fat and a pound of muscle may weigh the same, but the muscle looks a ton better on you.  Sounds to me like you're doing a wonderful job :) 

I totally wish everyone would concentrate on measurements rather than the scale.  You can often lose inches without any change in the scale.

Also, if you are very new to your exercise regimen, it is VERY common for your muscles to retain water as they adjust to the increased activity.  If you are sore, you are retaining.   It seems to take anywhere from 2-3 weeks for this water retention to go away, so not to get your hopes up too high, but you may see a pleasant surprise on the scale pretty soon.

I am your exact hieght and weight and have been "officially" dieting as long as you have. I actually lost and then gained again. (SOAB!) But I know I'm doing it right cause all the times I lost right away and kept loosing it came back after I stopped the diet. A diet is different from a lifestyle. You go on a diet for a wedding or a party or a photoshoot. You change your lifestyle to loose weight. Do you know?

If you and possibly others are noticing (as is happening for me too) that you are looking better, trimmer....screw the scales, right? I mean, the main reasons (aside from our thighs rubbing together or still having a girlish shape when you sit down instead of a roll of fat in your lap) that we loose weight is to feel better and to look better...not so that the scales will grow a mouth and tell us how light we are....seriously.

You're doing a good job. Don't give up. Think of how much healthier you are now that you've started exercising and stopped overeating! That's amazing! Way to go...you deserve to pat yourself on the back on not to feel discouraged.

Original Post by madamebones:

If you and possibly others are noticing (as is happening for me too) that you are looking better, trimmer....screw the scales, right? I mean, the main reasons (aside from our thighs rubbing together or still having a girlish shape when you sit down instead of a roll of fat in your lap) that we loose weight is to feel better and to look better...not so that the scales will grow a mouth and tell us how light we are....seriously.

Ohh, I like that way of putting it, though I bet people would buy scales with mouths if they made them ;P

Hey, i've currently been doing major cardio and strength training, while eating properly and i've gained 4lbs since i've started, however; i've dropped in inches.

muscle weighs more than fat period.

so don't being weighing yourself once a week, weigh yourself once a month, but more important take measurements of your waist, and hips. Those are the numbers that count (including bodyfat %)

people are shocked to know that i weigh 140lbs, to them i looked more 120lbs just because i've been building muscle while losing fat. So again important that you do cardio (try do HIIT(high intensity interval training), 5min warm up, 1 min fast, 1-2 slow, 1 min fast etc - do this for 10-20mins (never want to go more than 30mins on HIIT)).

the purpose of HIIT is (yes it burns calories but not as much as LIT (low intensity training: 30min +)) to keep your metabolism up throughout the entire day.

and strength training will help tone the body - when you build muscle, the muscle will help to burn fat also.

for food, make sure to try to limit refind sugars - try having small amounts of protein with all your meals, this is because protein will help you feel fuller, and apparently if you have protein for breakfast you're more likely to eat about 300 calories less than you would if you didn't.

Get a water bottle (500ml -1L) and keep it with you everywhere you go, if you get hungry and it hasn't been 3 hours since you last ate, drink it. drink it if your thirsty, drink it if you're bored. It'll only help flush out your system and help increase youre metabolism.

if you must have chocolate, have dark chocolate instead of milk or white.

hope this helps, if you've got more questions feel free to ask me :)

ugh I'm in the same boat as well.

I started logging my food on June 6th and my weight's just been fluctuating between 204-202 since then. (started at 204)

My workout is 3 days cardio 30 mins-1 hour (usually lap swimming), 3 days strength training (1 day legs, 1 day chest, last day a pilates class or shoulders and arms). I seem to be consuming on average 1400 calories.

People around me have been noticing I look fitter and my clothes do fit better, but that number on the scale is starting to get to me.

Today after my swim i weighed myself and I was 205 lbs. it's just so frustrating and I'm feeling a bit discouraged right now.

I'm really hoping, Yomie, that what you say is true.