Learning to not focus on the scale, with exercise and lifting weights

[Anonymous]

After losing a lot of weight and maintaining for a while, I started regularly incorporating weights and strength training into my other workouts (more cardio focused) 3x a week. I've noticed that the scale is now regularly measuring me 3-4lbs up from where I've hovered.

It shouldn't bother me, but it does, especially knowing the work I went into to lose a lot of weight (roughly 1/3 of my entire body weight!).

I don't think it's fat. I do feel like I look slightly more muscular. My clothes are not tight. But I do appear to be gaining weight.

How do you learn to not get down by the number on the scale?

[Anonymous]

It's hard. When you begin weight-lifting, your muscles retain a lot of water, FYI. That's probably it.

[Anonymous]

I recently threw my scale away. I had stepped on it after a month of not getting on, I felt good, my clothes fit well...scale was up 5 pounds. I threw it away. That number isn't worth knowing if it's going to make me crazy. I lift weights, I can do real push ups, I can run 5 miles. Eff the scale.

[Anonymous]

I don't own a scale.

I have weighed the same (1-4 lbs fluctuating) since I was 25. I am 45 now and a size 2-4--but very muscular and curvy.

I never weigh myself. If I do it's a vicious cycle.

I wear fitted clothes.

I have always worked out hard daily 6 days per week. I have never "dieted'.

I eat fairly healthy Mon-Thurs and relax on the weekends. Wine, steak, chocolate.

Whenever things get a little tight or I feel a little loose--I just tighten up my diet slightly and increase exercise until I am back to myself.

I think this is the best strategy. Don't be a slave to the scale or the calorie counting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:After losing a lot of weight and maintaining for a while, I started regularly incorporating weights and strength training into my other workouts (more cardio focused) 3x a week. I've noticed that the scale is now regularly measuring me 3-4lbs up from where I've hovered.

It shouldn't bother me, but it does, especially knowing the work I went into to lose a lot of weight (roughly 1/3 of my entire body weight!).

I don't think it's fat. I do feel like I look slightly more muscular. My clothes are not tight. But I do appear to be gaining weight.

How do you learn to not get down by the number on the scale?

OP give us some numbers here. How much did you weight when you started losing weight? How much did you weigh when you started strength training? Has your diet changed at all?

Also, did you take some body measurements?

[Anonymous]

I have not been on a scale in almost 14 years!!! I NEVER go by my scale but by my clothes, as long as I fit in my size 6 or 8 I am a happy girl. I let me clothes do the counting, not the numbers on a scale that can fluctuate for a whole host of reason far beyond my control.

Best advice I ever got from a renowned nutritionist was to throw away my scale. Never looked back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After losing a lot of weight and maintaining for a while, I started regularly incorporating weights and strength training into my other workouts (more cardio focused) 3x a week. I've noticed that the scale is now regularly measuring me 3-4lbs up from where I've hovered.

It shouldn't bother me, but it does, especially knowing the work I went into to lose a lot of weight (roughly 1/3 of my entire body weight!).

I don't think it's fat. I do feel like I look slightly more muscular. My clothes are not tight. But I do appear to be gaining weight.

How do you learn to not get down by the number on the scale?

OP give us some numbers here. How much did you weight when you started losing weight? How much did you weigh when you started strength training? Has your diet changed at all?

Also, did you take some body measurements?

OP once I was upset because in the span of a month, despite working out a lot and eating well I hadn't lost a pound.

But then my body fat was tested and I had dropped two percent. I had gained a respectable amount of muscle. That's the day I realized that the scale, without measurements or body fat, tells you nothing of value. The whole point of lifting weights is to get stronger. To get stronger you need more muscle. More muscle will make you slightly bigger (though it also torches fat off so it goes in cycles).