Venting

I know that all of you will think that I am being irrational, and I am not going to argue with your point of view because you are probably right, but this is really ticking me off. 

I have been exercising like a fiend for the past three weeks and I am eating well overall, but my weight is trending up.  I hit 107 today.  I talked to my trainer about it and she told me to stick out my arm and look in the mirror.  Yes, I have definition where there was nothing there before.  My biceps, triceps and shoulders look really different in just three weeks.  Then she had me roll up my shorts and look at my thighs.  They too look like they  might have a hidden muscle now, and although I can't see my butt, it hurts like the dickens, so it too must be building muscle.  I am still wearing the same clothes as I did before, but that number on the scale is driving me crazy.  You might think I was already crazy before this, but this is not helping matters.  Sigh.  This has scared me off exercise before and I know that I need to keep going and that it's good for me, but ....

I just don't know if I can emotionally handle the scale moving up.  I told my trainer I was going to go back to eating my soups for a few days, and she didn't want me to do it.  She wants me to increase my protein and keep my calories at about 1800.  I am going to talk to Dr. Cirangle on Wednesday, but I just needed to vent here to my friends.  Thanks for listening, I think I need a glass of wine. 

I totally understand. I started exercising in earnest when I had my Stupid 7 Pound Regain, about a year and a half ago. I started 2X a week with the trainer and 3x aerobic--no weight loss, but I figure I actually DID lose weight, since I was losing fat and gaining muscles and my clothes were fitting better.

While I wouldn't increase calories to 1800 (we're not normies, after all!), I would give the weight training a while, say 3 months, or perhaps 5 extra pounds, and see what happens on the scale and your clothes. You may find that you look better with an extra 2 or 3 pounds if they are muscle...At this stage, it's probably water retention and those new muscles. PLEASE, try not to stress too much. You can always control ALL of this!!

XOXO,
Lizanne

Thank you.  You are right of course, but it still makes me uneasy.  My trainer keeps telling me that I will be around 110 lbs. at three months out and more or less maintain there.  It just seems like a big jump.  I know I could always lose it, it's just the constant upswing in the scale that has me second guessing my eating.

 give some serious thought to not getting on the scale. I know what you are going to say, but it's worth a try. if you would learn to go by how you look and feel it would be healthier.

good luck!  and congrats on the muscle definition: wish you could enjoy it!  

Maybe you should look at it as a trade off.

You're loosing the Fat and Gaining lean muscle. Therefore your weight may be going up but your body fat % may be going down.

Are you trending body fat? have you looked into a body fat test like the Bod Pod?

Maybe you're at the point where you need to throw the weight scale out the window in favor of the lean body mass scale.

I think Mikey Mike hit the nail on the head. If you can see that you're actually losing fat but gaining muscle, perhaps the number will seem less intimidating. May be time to invest in a body fat scale.

Elina, when I run at 4-5 miles at a time I always put on a pound or two. It's definately water/muscle.
I make a point of drinking a LOT more water on days that I run and the next day as well. I'll even pu**** a third day if I ran a full 5 miles because the more I use my muscles the more they hang onto the fluids to heal.

In three weeks you are using and abusing muscles like never before. They are going to need a lot of protein and fluids like never before.

I hate it when the scale goes up too. But I like being able to eat more calories in a resting state because I have a lot of muscle now. I haven't increased in size even one inch and in fact I lost a couple inches on my thighs.

Try drinking the diet cranberry juice as some of your fluids on the day after your workouts. It helps me shed the retained fluids that I dont need anymore and the scale will move back down.

Keep it up. It really feels good have some muscles.

donna

Elina,

I understand you entirely, see my post from yesterday.  It's very disconcerting to see the scale move up even when it's in a 'good' way.'  If I struggle with my head, it's over this particular point. Just to put this in perspective, however, we are the same height (5'2") and I outweigh you by 24lbs while still being a size 2-4. I don't have a particularly large frame, my body fat % is in the low 20's.I carry almost as much lean mass as you weigh. Can I take off 10lbs that's on my hips and thighs? Yes, but  I'll still outweigh you by 15lbs and have the body fat % of an athlete.

Here's something else to consider. No only are you/will you be gaining muscle, but you will also be gaining bone mass through exercising.  Weight bearing exercise plus muscles tugging on the bones and ligaments will make your bones denser and they will weigh more along with the muscles you're building.  That's part of the reason I get described as 'tiny' when I weigh as much as I do. My bone density is excellent even post-WLS.

You can do this!

No real advice, just wanted to let you know that you are amazing. And while I'm sure it's muscle building that is causing the scale to go up, I understand the fear that goes along with the number on the scale creeping up.

You are loved, no matter what the number on the scale says. And know that you are and continue to be a source of inspiration for many on these boards.

I have every faith that you will be just fine and work out whatever you need to, emotionally or otherwise.

Much love Elina!

Exercise did that to me also. I finally had a trainer at the gym take my BFP and so I could compare if I gained anymore. So I would know even if I did gain weight in the next 6 weeks I could get it done again and see if my fat percentage was up or down and voila....I wouldnt be able to argue with that.

This scale thing is insane. We are so used to seeing and getting a certain number that even if it is good weight (muscle) we have a conniption and our crazy heads start doing their thing.

Get your body fat percentage and in 6 weeks do it again. It wont lie to you.