Another monthly weigh in

[GosportNancy]

Don't know what happened but when I did my personal monthly weigh in Thursday I have gained 9lbs in August and my family have said I am losing weight?????

[Knotty]

You are looking at the scales: they are looking at you.

Have you been doing exercise? That can build muscle and muscle weighs more per cc of volune.

[RiverWalk]

I really commend you for doing monthly weigh-ins. I am not sure I would have the discipline to wait a month to check my weight.

When I get a 'gain' reading, I always remind myself to trust in the process. In the long run, if you are eating less, moving more, you will get to your goal weight.

Could it be that you pack your scale away between weigh-ins? Or that you are pre-menstrual? Or gaining muscle from weigh-lifting?

It is not always important what the weight on the scale reads. Sometimes, for myself, it is about knowing that I am healthier, in control of my food consumption choices and that I can run up a flight of stairs without consideration.

[Hidden]

Check your measurements, waist etc, and maybe reweigh in 2 days time in case this was a blip. Your family obviously think you look great - take the compliment and store it away in case you need a boost at some point

[Barne in reply to Hidden]

Hi GosportNancy, you must be disappointed. Ruth_canal_runner has a good point. up until last week I had lost just over 5lb, but almost 7 inches from my bust, waist and hips!! It did not compute with me - but I am delighted any how!

I need to weigh myself weekly to keep myself in check though!

Good luck!

[IndigoBlue61]

Oh GosportNancy 😕 I feel for you 😕 You've had some excellent advice there and I hope you find an answer 😊

You are very brave weighing monthly, I weigh twice s week but only really 'count' the monthly one, and can easily go up or down by 2 or 3 lbs, 😕 I have noticed if j move the scales or they get tipped up they weigh heavy for a few hours.

Good luck 😊

[moreless Administrator 7 stone]

There could be a number of reasons for this anomaly Nancy:

Just a result of normal weight fluctuations, which, if you're only weighing monthly, you won't see.

As a result of fluid gain, due to medications, which again, monthly weighing won't highlight.

A shift in how you're carrying the weight, which measuring will be able to follow.

The zealous support of your family, wanting to be positive and not demoralise you.

If you look better and feel better, then you must be better, so don't try to rationalise it, go with the flow

Keep up the good work

[PedallingMinstrel Restart April 2024]

Are you doing exercise? It may be muscle going on which weighs more than fat. Your body weight will be increasing but your body shape changing so you look slimmer . I am cycling really hard at the moment eating sensibly but losing weight. I wouldn't mind advice on this as well? How do you know at which point you increase weight rather than burn off fat to reduce weight which is my intention.

[Hidden in reply to PedallingMinstrel]

Hi Jeff, I think the only way to catch yourself putting on muscle weight is to be a guinea pig in one of those sports laboratories where they can measure all your bodily processes as they happen!

However, the scales in Boots that measure your body fat % as well as your total weight are good to show you if you have fat to lose. For men, I think it is a max of 20% body fat, so whatever your weight, if your fat % is 20% or below, then you are OK. Obviously your body fat % can go down by burning fat off, or by increasing muscle through weight training and other weight-bearing exercise. But the main thing is to keep the overall % within the healthy range.

Hope that helps.

[Hidden]

If you hgave gained 9lbs in a month it is most likely that you have been eating too much and have gained fat.

Sadly, it is most unlikely that you have gained muscle - it takes huge effort to build muscle, so unless you have spent the month in the gym every day lifting heavy weights, that 9lbs is more likely to be fat, not muscle.

One other possible reason for such a big gain could be if you ate a lot starchy food the day before weighing in, as starches will make you hold water, which, of course weighs heavily.

I expect you really know the reason for the gain - if you haven't stuck to your diet during the month, then the weight gain is the result of that.

Sorry if this sounds harsh, but we do need to face facts if we are to tackle our weight problems!

I wonder if you would be better weighing yourself every week rather than just once a month? You might find it easier to adjust your food intake week by week, and a weekly gain is going to be less than a monthly gain and therefore easier to come back from.

Re families, sometimes they will say you are losing to cheer you up - or, sometimes unfortunately they don't really want you to change so will tell you "you are getting too thin". But, again, I am sure you know if they are being truthful or not.

[GosportNancy in reply to Hidden]

I haven't mentioned to any of my family that I am trying to lose weight so I believe they are reacting genuinely to what they can see.

I am wearing smaller clothes than I was wearing in July and I do muscle strengthening exercises (specifically suggested by my physiotherapist) every day.

I cannot do many kinds of exercise right now or any time soon as I have cardiac issues and have been advised to do only very gentle exercise. I had booked to do a Starlight Stroll in September but have had to cancel as I am not mobile enough now to train.

[DartmoorDumpling Restart Feb 2024]

Always use the same scales in the same place, at the same time of day. Weight can fluctuate between 3 and 5lbs over the course of a day depending on how much you have drunk, eaten, whether you have been to the bathroom or not....

Certain foods make you retain water (particularly carbs like pasta, bread, rice) and you will weigh more the next morning. Exercise will make you perspire and lose weight, but a drink will put it back on again.

Take measurements too, as this will show if you are building muscle and re-distributing the weight from fat to lean muscle hopefully!

[GosportNancy]

Problem sorted....it looks like a flare up of chronic heart failure symptoms was behind the weight gain as I am now having symptoms of fluid retention in my digestive system and my lungs. It could be that the hot weather has set things of so I am using a cool fan constantly and drinking lots more water.

[Barne in reply to GosportNancy]

Look after yourself!!