Ok, so maybe that title is a little but dramatic, but it is somewhat apropos to how I’m feeling today.
Let me start by saying that I’m doing really well. I have organized and packed my breakfasts and lunches for the past two days, I’m drinking all my water (and then some), and I completed a tough workout (burned 1394 calories, according to MFP) yesterday after school. I”m eating well, sticking to plan, and not giving in to the cravings for something sweet after dinner that have been plaguing me.
Yet the scale has crept up these past two days. Ugh! I should also mention that it’s TOM time, which usually adds some lbs to the scale due to water retention. Yesterday I was up two lbs from my lowest weight and today I was up 1 (down one from the previous day). So technically I guess I lost a lb yesterday, but I can’t understand why I’m not seeing my lowest numbers yet on the scale.
I know that some of you might say that I’m gaining muscle with my weight training, but I seriously doubt I could put on muscle that quickly. Others of you might say not to worry about 1 pound, that it will eventually come off once my body normalizes. Maybe so. I’m telling myself those same things.
I’m not going to go into a tailspin because of this, but it is frustrating. I just keep telling myself that I’m doing everything right, and if I just keep it up, the weight will come off. The alternative is giving up, and I just don’t have that option.
OOOOH Hang in there!!! I have had a couple of similar posts on my blog… (one this morning, in fact!) it’s soooo friggin hard sometimes. But- this point where you are at, right here, is where most people give up. Remember, no one said this was going to be easy! Just keep going. Pack your meals, remember your water, and keep hitting the gym. You go, girl!
So yep, I’m going to be one of the people to tell you it’s just a pound, SO much easier to tell someone else than to tell yourself. The reason for it though, is something that I have had to come to terms with now that I work out a lot, even though it’s a hard thing to comes to terms with. As you work out, and do any sort of strength training, you get tiny tears in your muscles (which is actually what helps to build muscle.) Part of the body repairing all of those tiny tears is to hang onto water. KEEP going though, after a bit of time, as long as you’re taking in water, your body will start letting that water go. The good news is that as your body lets that water go, you’ve built more muscle, which burns more calories. You become a calorie burning machine
Give it 2-3 weeks, which is an eternity in the weight loss world, and you’ll see that weight gone and you’ll look and feel amazing
Keep going lady, you’ve got this, this is exactly how you are going to get to goal.
Thank you for this! I will keep going, because I know this is the right thing to do. Just keep reminding me of this, will you?!!
Couldn’t agree with the comment above more. I know it’s disheartening, but I also know that doing it right, buckling down, staying the course, for even just a few more weeks straight is going to give you the numbers on the scale you deserve. Try to use it to motivate you more — besides your regular workout tonight, do an extra 15 minutes walking tonight with Sofi just to prove to yourself your determination and that you’re doing it no matter what. Or don’t, but either way, know that everything you’re doing will eventually pay off.
Thanks, Carina. Yes, I will use it to motivate me. I swear that’s how I lost that one pound from yesterday to today! Sofi is going to love the extra walk time, too!
Weighing yourself every single day may not be the best option, always, because of SO MANY FACTORS…but if that’s what you usually do, I’m not going to tell you not to!
HOWEVER — I read recently that when you’re sore, you will probably weigh anywhere from 3-5lbs more because your body is hanging onto water because of the muscle trauma (maybe “stress” is a better word…”trauma” sounds so serious) from major workouts.
Keep it up, lovely girl.
It’s so funny because I used to avoid the scale like the plague, living in denial. So I like weighing every day just to make sure that I stay on track. But then I do give myself a higher chance of being frustrated because of small fluctuations.
Thanks for that tip about the water weight because of the soreness – I hadn’t thought of that. I’m sure that’s part of what’s going on.
You may not have gained a bunch of muscles, but are you sore? Your body retains a LOT of water when it is trying to repair muscles from weight lifting and I know that I started back up lifting last week and immediately gained 3 pounds, but then it came off this week as my body acclimated. Maybe that’s the reason?
I bet you’re right. I really hadn’t thought of the soreness causing weight gain. You guys are SO smart!!
I see everyone else has already come along and said so many good things – all I can add is remember, it is a marathon, not a sprint… and marathons are long, hard slogs. Worth every step, but hard!!
Give yourself a day or two, and it will go down.
You can do it!!!! Try not to focus so much on the number and focus on how you’re feeling! Stronger? Faster?
I feel ya girl. I think in this case it’s TOM. You’re working too hard and well for it not to be!