Hi everyone! A little background on me first before I ask my question. I have been lifting weights since Jan 1st (New Year's thing ) I do not do the BFL but I work out every day except for Sunday. I work say on Monday (abs, shoulders, chest and back), Tuesday would be (Triceps, Biceps, Lunges) you get the idea. Its basically the same idea as Jorge Cruise's 8 minutes in the morning. I do 4 sets of 12 reps with a heavy enough weight to fatigue the muscles. I also do cardio about 3 - 4 times per week (walking, eliptical trainer the odd workout tape but mostly walking now that it is nicer outside). I think I finally overcame my obsession with the scale but curiousity got me and I weighed myself this morning. On January 1st I was 145 lbs (I am 5'7") with a body fat percentage of 34%. I am now 153 lbs with a body fat percentage of 29%!!! I realize that I am maybe gaining muscle and it is good to lose the body fat but a gain of 8 lbs!!! Although my clothes are fitting a little looser, I am still feeling discouraged!!!! I think I am eating fairly well (the odd treat now and then but have definetly been eater better that I started all this). What's your thoughts??

Hi there Schwartzie!

WOW you sound like me on my first challenge, when I almost ditched the program after getting on the scale after a week or two and discovered I had only lost one or two pounds, then the next week I was up a pound...also, how are you getting the BF%? Is that from a Tanita Scale? Tanitas are notoriously inaccurate - the readings go all over the place. My advice would be to focus on your clothes size and tape measurements.

Here's my theory on how the weight training works (especially for newbies):

1) You start weight training.
2) You begin to build muscle (which as Lanaii's signature so eloquently states, is HEAVIER and takes up less space than fat), before you start burning a lot of fat - this will show up as a gain on the scale.
3) Once you start building muscle, the muscle starts burning your fat - the more muscle you have, the more fat you burn! After awhile the scale will start moving down.

I gotta tell ya - I haven't weighed myself since who knows when (when I go to the doctor's, I don't look at the scale when they weigh me). But...I probably lost maybe 12 pounds scale weight, tops, between April 2001 - December 2001....HOWEVER - I went down in clothes size from a 10 to a size 4...

My thought is give yourself a GREAT big hug and keep GOING! You're making FABULOUS progress! Keep working those weights..that fat will take care of itself and throw the scale out!

Hi Schwartzie!

Welcome!

I'm 100% with the gals ....

Throw the scale fa' fa' fa' away!!!!!!

AND keep up the great work!!

(Don't be shy to post on our weekly thread)

Schwartzie -

I agree with what everyone else here has said about building muscle - keep going, you're doing great. But IMO if you want to see fat start coming off quicker, bump up your cardio alot...you may want to pick up the BFL book just to read the part about 20MAS method of cardio.

Walking, elliptical, workout video, etc. are all good heart healthy type cardio exercises, but if you want to see fat melt do 20 minutes hard rather than 40 minutes moderately. My opinion.

And I second Ilene's message, jump on board the Main Thread! You are welcome at LWL!

BethO

Thanks gals for your insight! Mrs. Jim, yes I believe the first time I did my BF was with a Tanita scale - I actually bought one and returned it a couple of weeks later. Very inaccurate. I basically took an average of all the different readings I was getting and that is were I got my 34% from. The second time I did my BF I went to the Safeway store and beside the Pharamacy there is a BF machine. I asked the pharmacist how accurate these things were and she said very accurate. Apparently, a nurse from the hospital comes every so often and checks it with the hospitals BF machine and is comparable. So, that is where I will be going to get it done. I really don't want to go to a gym and get it done because I don't belong to one and would feel uncomfortable. I can't believe how lousy my day has been today just because of the stupid scale!!!! I am, however, had a shining moment when I walked by the Cadbury Easter Cream Eggs and didn't grab one. This is a miracle because whenever I am down about something, sweets are my comfort food. I guess I will just keep going and hopefully will see better results. I did take a before photo on January 1st but I think I will take a picture the end of June which will be the 6 month mark. I am scared if I take a picture right now I may be very disappointed and get discouraged. Sorry for babbling your ears off - thanks for listening!!

No problem...I just have one question...

What IS it with those Cadbury Cream Eggs today???

Also...bodyfat testing is something that is VERY subjective and really, it all boils down to just a number, just like the scale...it can vary according to time of day, how hydrated you are, the time of month...etc...etc...

My advice is to go by "look and feel". Take progress photos at regular intervals...tape measurements...check your clothes for looseness...THAT's what really counts IMO!