Lost inches but no LBS....why?

joangel32 · 10-29-2007, 01:53 PM

Hey, I don't know if this is in the right section, but I'm just gonna go for it anyway.

I started eating very clean and working out 3-5 days a week a little over a month ago, and I am perplexed by something. My weight has stayed the exact same, but I have lost 2 inches around my waist, 1 1/2 inches around my arms, etc. That doesn't make sense to me, because I read on a few of the threads that women can only gain about 1/2 lb of muscle a month, if that. So if I lost 2 inches of fat, wouldn't my weight go down at least a little? I have been doing alot of strength training with weights, but from what I've read, I probably haven't gained more than 1/2 lb of muscle.

Sorry if this is a retarded question....just wanted to know if anyone could give me some insight. Thanks!!

bbbom · 10-29-2007, 04:58 PM

The rule that women can only gain about 1/2 lb of muscle is a generalization and like most generalizations, most people don't fit into it.

I wouldn't stress about it, sounds like you are on the right track. There are several factors that can affect your weight but if you are losing inches and progressing I wouldn't worry about the number on the scale.

Determined2lose · 10-29-2007, 05:21 PM

i am right with you. I did lose weight but stopped. A dead stop. Right around when I started lifting. I have not lose any weight but have seen the inches lower. Keep that head up.

joangel32 · 10-29-2007, 05:36 PM

Thank you for the encouragement. Yah, I have only taken 1 set of progress pictures, (since i've only been actively working out and eating clean for about a month), and before I always dropped weight on the scale really fast, cuz I would do it the "barely eating" way, which I know was really unhealthy. So now that I'm actually doing it the right way, seems like the results are much slower! oh well.....I guess I shouldn't worry about the number on the scale as long as i can see results when I get measured. :-)

Determined2lose · 10-29-2007, 05:42 PM

don't worry. I think you look great now.

We can do this together. LOL I am frustrated too. I have not lost anything in some time.

Stick with me chickie.

bbbom · 10-29-2007, 06:14 PM

Can I join the club? I've been slacking lately because I've been concentrating on riding but now race season is over and riding will be done once the snow flies so it's time to get serious again!

I need to drop some fat so I can fit into my winter wear!

SpaceCakeGirl · 10-29-2007, 08:42 PM

If you're used to unhealthy weight loss, then healthy weight loss does seem to take quite a while. I had *cough cough* unhealthy habits before, so it seems like I'm in the slow lane when I'm losing right where I should be (8 pounds in 2 months, I started out with an 'average' body).

We're addicted to the scale, even though we know we shouldn't be. I weigh myself everyday, sometimes 6 times a day, I move my scale to different spots on the tile to see if that makes a different, and in general act like a freak. But I KNOW that the inches matter more, and I care lots more. I have lost inches, even if the scale seems to not be budging lately.

One thing that helps is looking at the pics of the ladies on here. Seeing "Wow, that woman is my height and has less body fat and looks better than I do - even though she weighs ten pounds more than I do" really helps put body weight into perspective.

wv4x4mom · 10-29-2007, 09:31 PM

I certainly understand that it's hard to not let the numbers on the scales get you down. I weigh myself every morning and don't think that I haven't taken a cussin fit right there in my kitchen on more than one occasion.

I have been somewhat stuck at my current weight for a few months now but I have been losing inches. I even went so far as having my kids to hide my scales and I told them no matter what...do not let me have them back. You can only imagine what I went through to make them tell me where they were.

I guess to sum it up, before I actually started educating myself about health and fitness, I just grew accustom to only measuring success by seeing numbers on the scales. Even though I know now that it's the least truthful way to measure results, I still can't quite cope without knowing what those number are every morning.

Love4Life · 10-30-2007, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joangel32

Thank you for the encouragement. Yah, I have only taken 1 set of progress pictures, (since i've only been actively working out and eating clean for about a month), and before I always dropped weight on the scale really fast, cuz I would do it the "barely eating" way, which I know was really unhealthy. So now that I'm actually doing it the right way, seems like the results are much slower! oh well.....I guess I shouldn't worry about the number on the scale as long as i can see results when I get measured. :-)

First off. What a pretty girl =) Keep doing it the right way, you'll start to notice everything moving in the right direction even if the scale isint showing you what you want. I try not to even bother with the scale, especially since I can visibly see the changes. No sense in getting upset over it.

Keep up the good work!

joangel32 · 10-30-2007, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpaceCakeGirl

If you're used to unhealthy weight loss, then healthy weight loss does seem to take quite a while. I had *cough cough* unhealthy habits before, so it seems like I'm in the slow lane when I'm losing right where I should be (8 pounds in 2 months, I started out with an 'average' body).

We're addicted to the scale, even though we know we shouldn't be. I weigh myself everyday, sometimes 6 times a day, I move my scale to different spots on the tile to see if that makes a different, and in general act like a freak. But I KNOW that the inches matter more, and I care lots more. I have lost inches, even if the scale seems to not be budging lately.

One thing that helps is looking at the pics of the ladies on here. Seeing "Wow, that woman is my height and has less body fat and looks better than I do - even though she weighs ten pounds more than I do" really helps put body weight into perspective.

Haha....yah I tend to weigh myself every morning as well (after the morning bathroom break so I get alot of water weight out). Funny how I think I'll see a huge change from the day before! I don't know why we are addicted to the scale! I should hide it, but my fiance weighs himself every day as well. Haha....only, he has gained like 15 pounds of muscle/fat in the past month and I haven't lost anything! :-( Oh well....I'm gonna try to concentrate less on the numbers and more on what I look like. Good advice!

joangel32 · 10-30-2007, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Love4Life

First off. What a pretty girl =) Keep doing it the right way, you'll start to notice everything moving in the right direction even if the scale isint showing you what you want. I try not to even bother with the scale, especially since I can visibly see the changes. No sense in getting upset over it.

Keep up the good work!

Thank you very much for the nice words and encouragement. I have become a little more motivated already!! :-)

misstransformer · 10-30-2007, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joangel32

Hey, I don't know if this is in the right section, but I'm just gonna go for it anyway.

I started eating very clean and working out 3-5 days a week a little over a month ago, and I am perplexed by something. My weight has stayed the exact same, but I have lost 2 inches around my waist, 1 1/2 inches around my arms, etc. That doesn't make sense to me, because I read on a few of the threads that women can only gain about 1/2 lb of muscle a month, if that. So if I lost 2 inches of fat, wouldn't my weight go down at least a little? I have been doing alot of strength training with weights, but from what I've read, I probably haven't gained more than 1/2 lb of muscle.

Sorry if this is a retarded question....just wanted to know if anyone could give me some insight. Thanks!!

It's very common for newbies, or people who have not trained with weights in awhile, to experience generous muscle gain while losing fat in the beginning...sometimes up to 5 lbs of muscle very quickly. However, things will level off over time. This has to do with the initial shock and stimulus to your muscles. A few weeks ago I posted a message about this. Things will level off in a few weeks, as your body adjusts. The scale is not really important. Congratulations on the progress you've made.

T

joangel32 · 10-30-2007, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by misstransformer

It's very common for newbies, or people who have not trained with weights in awhile, to experience generous muscle gain while losing fat in the beginning...sometimes up to 5 lbs of muscle very quickly. However, things will level off over time. This has to do with the initial shock and stimulus to your muscles. A few weeks ago I posted a message about this. Things will level off in a few weeks, as your body adjusts. The scale is not really important. Congratulations on the progress you've made.

T

Thanks! I've read some of your posts. They are always very enlightening!

Determined2lose · 10-30-2007, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joangel32

Thanks! I've read some of your posts. They are always very enlightening!

You can do it!!! You and I are both stuck! I wish there was someone here to workout with to help motivate me again.

joangel32 · 10-30-2007, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Determined2lose

You can do it!!! You and I are both stuck! I wish there was someone here to workout with to help motivate me again.

you just gotta move out here to Cali! :-)

Determined2lose · 10-30-2007, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joangel32

you just gotta move out here to Cali! :-)

If you pay for us to move I will go.

You will be able to lose it!! Don't worry. I need to start doing more cardio. I think I am doing too much weights not enough cardio.

livingloca · 11-04-2007, 06:32 PM

Your body composition is changing... you are losing fat but yet, you have gained muscle.

In the beginning, for me, the same thing happened. I was sooo perplexed... I wanted that darn scale to SPEAK TO ME!

I had to stop looking at the scale... the scale doesn't tell you whether you have more muscle or more fat. It is total body weight. So stay away from it! lol!

From experience, be patient. Don't jump on the scale... do it maybe every 2 weeks. When it falls, it will fall several pounds, most likely. Don't give up when you haven't "oficially" seen the numbers drop.... more importantly, go by your clothes and the measurements you have taken.. that's the real progress you've made!

Best to you..

Skyden · 11-04-2007, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by livingloca

Your body composition is changing... you are losing fat but yet, you have gained muscle.

In the beginning, for me, the same thing happened. I was sooo perplexed... I wanted that darn scale to SPEAK TO ME!

I had to stop looking at the scale... the scale doesn't tell you whether you have more muscle or more fat. It is total body weight. So stay away from it! lol!

From experience, be patient. Don't jump on the scale... do it maybe every 2 weeks. When it falls, it will fall several pounds, most likely. Don't give up when you haven't "oficially" seen the numbers drop.... more importantly, go by your clothes and the measurements you have taken.. that's the real progress you've made!

Best to you..

x2 very true...

SpaceCakeGirl · 11-05-2007, 09:48 AM

I've started bribing myself to ignore the scale.

If I don't weigh myself for a week and a half, I get a new bra. (The fact that I need a new bra proves that I'm losing body fat, haha, so I know to ignore the scale). I need to think more about myself and less about silly numbers under my feet. I'd like to get on a once-every-two-weeks schedule so I can stop being so crazy in my head.

Except for measurements, those don't lie.

joangel32 · 11-05-2007, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpaceCakeGirl

I've started bribing myself to ignore the scale.

If I don't weigh myself for a week and a half, I get a new bra. (The fact that I need a new bra proves that I'm losing body fat, haha, so I know to ignore the scale). I need to think more about myself and less about silly numbers under my feet. I'd like to get on a once-every-two-weeks schedule so I can stop being so crazy in my head.

Except for measurements, those don't lie.

Haha!! Yah I think I'm gonna need to go bra shopping soon as well! I tried on one of my bras that used to fit perfectly, and I had it on the tightest it would go, and it had HUGE gaps! Too bad boobs are made out of fat! :-( That's always the first thing to go! lol.... oh well...at least it's progress.

Oh btw, lost 3 pounds. LOL.....I think it was the HIIT that I did over the weekend. ;-)