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Posts: 304
11/18/09 6:13 P

I can't thank the three of you enough for your kind and well thought replies. I struggled all day NOT to beat myself up and succeeded most of the time.

I love the idea of 'sporadic' weigh-ins. It seems to take the power away from that stupid machine and not allow me to set myself up for feelings of failure.

Thanks again.

SparkPoints: (87,280)
Fitness Minutes: (51,975)
Posts: 25,147
11/18/09 8:40 A

Know that you do not have to lose weight every week to be making changes within your body. When I realized that all changes within the body must begin at the cellular level than it gave me a better understanding to this somewhat complex process of losing weight.

Because our bodies are largely made up of water, any deviation in our diet, hydration, workouts, even hormones can lead to a big shift on the scale.

Know that all changes within the body must begin at the cellular level...all the way down to the fat cells need to release the free fatty acids, to the muscle cells making bigger and more numerous mitochondria-these are the organelles within the cells-to give us energy.

It isn't uncommon to see a slight upward shift in weight when we start exercising and eating better. For one the muscles are making more mitochondria which allow for extra glycogen-stored glucose in the cells- therefore, your body hangs on to more water to help with the cooling off process for exercise and for helping process energy. Your muscles will also have an increase in blood volume in order to have better availability to oxygen and removing waste, especially lactic acid. These things coupled with eating higher fiber foods, such as fruits and veggies can show a gain, when in all reality it is just a shift in fluids.

Hang in there and know that you are changing your body “TRUST THE PROCESS."

I wish you well!
Nancy

Edited by: SP_COACH_NANCY at: 11/18/2009 (08:41)

current weight: 125.0

205 184.75 164.5 144.25

124

Posts: 777
11/18/09 8:06 A

If you know you're eating within your calorie range--that is, not eating too much NOR too little to support your workouts so your body "freezes"--then take heart that you're doing the right thing for your body and the scale will catch up eventually. I go through phases where I get on the scale consistently and phases where it stays tucked for weeks and weeks on end in the linen closet (battery yanked out, under some towels--fitting spot for a friend so fickle!), which is where it is presently. For me, the scale can sometimes artificially "reward" me--and undermine my ability to assess myself, to trust myself as being good enough to realistically self-assess, and it undermines my ability to be in tune with my body. But I know people feel differently about this.

I'm sorry for your frustration with the scale. Sometimes the very stress of worrying about what it says causes our bodies to retain weight. Much like a bad friend, if it's not offering you the support you need to keep you going, best to seek your support and validation elsewhere.

Pounds lost: 52.0

0 28.25 56.5 84.75

113

Posts: 655
11/18/09 7:34 A

I can see why that would be frustrating. Some people have a good relationship with the scale and others it's a love hate relationship. If the scale causes you frustration the best thing you could do is focus on measurements or alternatively weigh yourself but do it at sparatic times like a week and a half one time, 2 weeks, 3 days. this way you never have expectations as to if you should be down by 1 or two pounds and cant put expectations on it which will prevent dissapointment. If you keep up with exercising and eating well the weight will come off, just in it's own timing. Hope that helps.

current weight: 220.0

220 201.25 182.5 163.75

145

Posts: 304
11/18/09 6:57 A

and not allow a stupid white machine with WW on it rule my mood. But it does... That dumb scale (which I should have waited to get on tomorrow- my official weigh in day) has not budged. I've done so well and the darn thing hasn't changed. I know I have to be patient, I know that the scale doesn't show everything but I really wanted my weigh in tomorrow to show a loss. I don't think it will...