The mystery of the scales...

[Gill08]

Hello everyone. I just wondered if anyone can explain why the scales don’t always reflect the discipline and effort of food planning and exercise. I have been really ‘good’ since the start of this month and have kept to the lower end of my calorie allowance and upped the daily exercise by quite a lot . But not only have the scales not reflected this, but my weight has actually gone up a pound! I am so disappointed and the trouble is, it reduces my motivation to carry on. What’s going on?

[moreless Administrator 7 stone]

Hi Gill,

I'm afraid weight loss isn't linear and can be quite a puzzle, but without seeing what you're eating, on a regular basis, it's difficult to see why you're not losing weight. I would advise you join the Daily Diary.

You may be eating too little, and here's an explanation for that

healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

Or you may be eating too much of the wrongs things, even though you're eating within your calorie allowance.

Never give up!

[fitbyjuly 7lbs]

Ignore them they lie! lol No really water Bmi and body salts all a factor, do what your doing keep away from the scales for a week and push on through !!

[Morgancando]

Definitely up your calorie allowance Gill08 at least for a week and see how that goes. You've got nothing to lose but weight!

[Gill08 2 stone]

Thanks, moreless and morgancando, I will hang on in there, though upping my calorie allowance does seem very counter-intuitive... But I don't think I am eating the wrong things as I have cut out all the bad stuff except for one weakness - a daily Hartleys fruit in jelly (67calories) at the end of my evening meal just to give me a sweet taste (fruit doesn't always 'do it' for me). Thanks too to fitbyjuly - I shall keep away from those scales for another week and see how I go. Actually my actual weigh-day is Monday so will need to return then... It's quite demoralising when your weight goes up by two pounds literally overnight, but perhaps I am watching those scales too closely.....

[IndigoBlue61 in reply to Gill08]

Please don’t be too disheartened Gill08 Scales are not the only way of measuring fat loss, inches, clothes and general fitness and stamina are just as good. I’m the exact same weight I was a year ago but have lost inches and am wearing a dress size smaller 😊

[Gill08 2 stone in reply to IndigoBlue61]

Thanks, Anna61 - that's very encouraging and well done to you for getting into a dress size smaller. I have gone down a size in trousers since May but would so like to lose the weight more quickly especially as I am in the obese category (hate that word!) and need to lose at least 3 more stone to get to a healthy weight. I thought it was meant to be easier for the obese to lose weight but am just not finding it easy at all, and with Christmas looming, am really hoping I can stick to it as the desire to lose is certainly strong but my social life revolves around eating and drinking so it's tough at times, as everyone here knows!

[IndigoBlue61 in reply to Gill08]

Have a look at your calorie intake Gill08 read the link Morelss suggests and also join in on the Daily Diary. Eating too little really can be counter productive 😕

But I feel your frustration, I was obese and only ever lost 1lb a week (on a good week!) and I’m still about 2 stone over the middle of my healthy BMI weight.

But much fitter and healthier, and smaller overall.

Keep smiling, you can do this 😊

[Gill08 2 stone in reply to IndigoBlue61]

Thanks for the encouragement! I haven’t given up and will see what an increase in calories does for me. I guess I am just impatient but given that I have got so heavy over many years, I suppose I should have known it wouldn’t go too quickly. I feel heartened that despite still being so heavy, I haven’t been ‘down’ at my current weight since 2004. So that’s encouraging in itself and I do feel generally much healthier.

[IndigoBlue61 in reply to Gill08]

Thats excellent Gill08 and you have been on plan for almost 6 months, and are creating good long term habits 😊

all studies show the longer you stick to a plan, the better the chances of long term success, 6 months being something of a ‘magic’ number

[HubbysMissMouse]

I had all this same problem when I first joined all my life because I had never managed to lose weight before. I found out that I had to up the amount of calories I ate as I only ever ate around 1000 calories and when I done this and upped calories I started losing weight. My weight loss has currently come to a sort of halt for some reason although it is going up and down between 10st 5lbs and going up to 10st10lbs every week, but this is probably because I did only eat the lower amount advised by the bmi myself and I am soon further upping my calorie intake again, I just don’t know wether I should do this straight to the top of the bmi or go up gradually to find an amount to go to. Hopefully it won’t take too long to find the right amount though.

[Gill08 2 stone in reply to HubbysMissMouse]

It is SO tricky to get it right, but we’ll done on your 2 stone 7 badge! I would love to be in the 10-11 stone bracket but it’s obviously going to take a while....

[Gill08 2 stone]

Thanks, Anna61. I’m still ‘on message’ and keen to shed more and your comments today have been a definite boost. I might have given up without the support of you and others on this forum x

[kiwikyd-nz]

You still have that shiny 1 stone badge Gill08, so all is not lost

Maybe just write down everything you eat and go through it later to see if there are some tweaks you can do. e.g If you are having bread/rice/pasta/potato at each meal try cutting them out for one meal and upping the vege or protein instead. Might be worth a try.

Like you say - it's just finding the right balance for you

[Gill08 2 stone in reply to kiwikyd-nz]

Thanks and yes I am proud of my badge. I wasn’t going to bother with badges but decided to request it earlier this week in the hope it would be a positive boost, and it has been!

You’re right, I do need to tweak my diet and perhaps leave out the pasta and potatoes in favour of other veg. in future. I have already stopped eating bread (weeks ago) and never have eaten much rice. I am also going to increase the exercise though find that difficult due to arthritic joints.

Ho him, onward and downward as someone else just said!

[Nevic84 Visitor]

I was in same situation at beginning of year spent two months been great no treats lots of exercise and nada, I felt bigger if anything then all the sudden as if over night I dropped from a 18 to a 14 and I had a month where it melted off then it went back to been bear impossible. But think your body just tests your dedication so trust me 100% it may look crappy now but it will come and it’ll come in a big drop & you’ll feel so much better for sticking at it. Xxx

[Nevic84 Visitor in reply to Nevic84]

Near not bear 🤣

[Gill08 2 stone in reply to Nevic84]

Well done to to you for that dramatic change all at once! Fantastic! I live in hope for something similar.....

[Nevic84 Visitor in reply to Gill08]

I am too 😒 back here again I’m realising the more times you lose weight and put it back on the harder it gets to lose ..... 😟