[washati]

So, 3 weeks ago I completely changed my diet, began lifting weights 4-5 times a week for an hour, and doing some hardcore cardio 4-5 hours weekly. I have since gone down a size in my jeans, but when I weighed myself today the scale read exactly the same as my starting. I know everyone says not to go by the scale, but I can't help feeling I should have lost at least something. Pretty bummed out. Any advice to keep from feeling I am stuck here? Thanks

[astrophe]

I have since gone down a size in my jeans.

Celebrate this. It is the inches, NOT the lbs that changes clothing size.

when I weighed myself today the scale read exactly the same as my starting. I know everyone says not to go by the scale, but I can't help feeling I should have lost at least something.

You probably did. Remember scale only shows WEIGHT. Not from WHAT. They are "stupid" that way.

You have probably lost some fat weight. Say X pounds of fat tissue lost. And the exercise added some muscle. Say X lbs of muscle tissue put on.

So the weight CHANGE is showing as zero on the scale but the inches lost tells you SOMETHING is going on in there.
Muscle tisse is more dense/sleek than fat tissue -- hence the inches showing a trimmer you.

So yay! You are having success and results.

Don't let the scale become your mood meter just because it has limitations as a tool. It's only a tool.

A.

[sparklegirl07]

i totally agree. I don't own a scale, so I only check my weight when I visit my parents (once every 4-8 weeks). I find it extremely freeing. This way my "mood meter" is how well I stuck to my diet and whether I met my exercise goals every week rather than what the scale says.
As a result, I don't feel like I can take a break or get depressed about no change.

[tessendicott]

Start measuring yourself and maybe go for the photo approach?
I really love seeing photos of how much my body is changing! I think it helps a lot.

[chickadee32]

You've thrown a ton of changes at your body the last 3 weeks, and it just needs a little time to catch up to all that added activity. I'd be willing to bet that you've lost fat (hence going down a size in clothing), but it's not showing up on the scale yet due to water retention in your muscles and other tissues. That's a LOT of exercise, especially the lifting. You probably know this already, but just in case - don't lift using the same muscle groups on consecutive days. Your muscles need a day in between to repair. It's fine to lift on consecutive days if you're alternating muscle groups (e.g. legs one day, arms the next).

[JohnP]

I'm not too sure about your goal weight. If you want to actually weigh so little you probably should ditch all the exercise.

I suspect, however, that you true goal is not to look down at the scale and see a particular number. I suspect your true goal is to look in the mirror and be excited about what you see.

If the latter is true you need to forget the scale. Keep doing what you're doing it is obviously working. Take pictures every couple weeks and if you're feeling particularly motivated take measurements too.

Seriously, forget the scale.

[washati]

Thanks to all of you who took time to answer my post. Your thoughts made me realize I am looking for the wrong thing. I am working toward the goal of fitness and muscularity, but choosing an unreasonable goal wait for this end. I AM STAYING OFF THE SCALE. I am working too hard to let a number undo being proud of myself. Thanks so muck. It really sinks in when I hear it from those on the same journey and not some random website.

[lm3898]

Do you like the way you look after adding weights and cardio? If so - then celebrate that!! I'd rather be 15 lbs heavier on the scale and look amazing then have a number on the scale and a bunch of flab b/c I don't carry muscle. I think you should focus more on how you look/feel rather than the number unless the number is more important. If it is, then perhaps straight diet is better than attempting to gain muscle through cardio/weights.

[DietVet]

This is one of the many awesome things about lifting weights: your scale weight stays the same, but you get smaller and smaller. That means that you get to look as though you weigh 110 (or whatever) but you get to eat like a person who weighs 125. That's something to celebrate!