losing inches but not weight

[Anonymous]

I know this is probably basic, but I've been overweight all my life and I'm confused. I started in January at 291 and my pants are literally falling down now, but I've been stuck at 275 for weeks and sometimes it'll jump back up to 280 overnight. I have new hollows in my belly, so I keep thinking I'm losing weight, but...no. Gaining, actually, so I guess the hollows are from more fat filling in around? I'm an emotional eater with no self-control, so this is incredibly discouraging. What can I do?

[Anonymous]

5 lb fluctuation is perfectly normal. If I eat a high sodium dinner/week before my period/am constipated/have a heavy lifting session/and other reasons, my weight goes up a few pounds.

Don't live and die by the scale. Your pants are falling down. Celebrate the win. Feeling defeated will lead to quitting.

The scale is trending down and it's only been 3 months. Progress is not always completely linear and it's normal to go up before going down. Keep going!!!

[Anonymous]

The scale is a trap I weigh daily but its really just out of habit. Snap a selfie and compare over time and track how clothes fit. The initial weight loss you had was partly just water. Workouts also matter you could gain muscle negating a number on the scale. Keep up the good work!

[Anonymous]

Weight fluctuates, it is totally normal. These daily fluctuations are not fat. You can not gain 5 lbs of fat overnight. Weight fluctuates due to water intake, salt, hormones, constipation, water retention after a hard workout. The thing that matters is the trend over time and it sounds like you have lost almost 20 lbs this year which is incredible progress! Don't let weight fluctuations frustrate you.

FWIW I weigh myself daily and even when I know I am in a calorie deficit and eating well the scale fluctuates. If I hop on and it it has gone down a lot overnight I know it will usually go up the next day.

and stop labeling your self an emotional eater with no self control. You emotionally eat, you are not an emotional eater. Shift your mindset and talk to yourself like you would talk to a friend.

[Anonymous]

Muscle is denser than fat, therefore you may weigh the same but have more muscle which ways the same but takes up less space than your fat did. You have lost fat, and gained muscle. This is good!!!

[Anonymous]

"weighs the same" sorry for that typo

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The scale is a trap I weigh daily but its really just out of habit. Snap a selfie and compare over time and track how clothes fit. The initial weight loss you had was partly just water. Workouts also matter you could gain muscle negating a number on the scale. Keep up the good work!

That's what I figured. Depressing. I don't think this is good work.

[Anonymous]

Try not to get discouraged. When I lost a significant amount of weight, sometimes it would take the scale a few days to 'catch up'.

[Anonymous]

Don’t get discouraged! Think about it. You’ve lost 10(+) pounds in 10 weeks. That’s about a pound a week. Think about where you will be in 52 weeks. And then 52 more. Slow and steady is sustainable. Going balls to the wall won’t get you the long term results.

[Anonymous]

OP, don't think of it as emotional eating. It's more like inattentive eating. Try to be intentional with your meals and food prep. If you put thought into what you buy and make for each week, it will help you avoid reaching for something easy. The best tactic is to just not bring anything in the house that you know is "easy" like potato chips, ice cream, bread, candy, soda, etc. Then start planning your meals and cook for yourself. I make salads or soups and portion them out and store them in refrigerator so I have something ready to go that is healthy.

Try a few small changes and stick with it. Small changes add up and you WILL see the difference. Don't give up

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, don't think of it as emotional eating. It's more like inattentive eating. Try to be intentional with your meals and food prep. If you put thought into what you buy and make for each week, it will help you avoid reaching for something easy. The best tactic is to just not bring anything in the house that you know is "easy" like potato chips, ice cream, bread, candy, soda, etc. Then start planning your meals and cook for yourself. I make salads or soups and portion them out and store them in refrigerator so I have something ready to go that is healthy.

Try a few small changes and stick with it. Small changes add up and you WILL see the difference. Don't give up

No, it's definitely emotional. Life hasn't been great for a really long time, and I'm only happy when I taste something good.

I have a college athlete/military officer husband and two teenage DS's, all of whom have a metabolism I would die for. Trust me, I WISH I could keep that crap out of the house, but no. I do IF, but they always offer me their evening snacks, and while it's easy to decline most of the time, not always. And yes, I've asked them to stop offering. Also working from home makes the kitchen way too accessible.

[Anonymous]

Take some measurements and keep at it. You’re doing great, all of this sounds normal. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

OP- please please stop weighing yourself.

I started my weight loss journey at 5’9, 185 pounds and a size 12. I am currently 174 and a side 8 is falling off my butt. I had this goal of being 155 but I think my body is happiest around 170. I look great in pictures and I love my wardrobe.

FWIW, I just had a friend die in a freak accident and I’ve decided that I am not going to spend the rest of my life trying to lose 10 pounds. It’s a number in a scale that literally no one else ever needs to know. I have muscular legs and big boobs, I am never going to have the svelte body type that I picture.

[Anonymous]

OP I am just a stranger on the internet but I hate to hear that your life is not going well. It may be things out of your control, but please think of the positives and love for your family. You have a strong body that birthed and raised children!