Lucybell33's Journal, 05 April 2008

You did everything right and the fact that your scale doesn't see fit to reward your efforts is just WRONG! But I have faith that it will work itself out if you just stick with it. The laws of the universe sometimes don't appear to work with weight loss but they do. They do take their time sometimes, though! Your team is behind you 110%. Don't ever worry that you are letting us down. You are trying so hard! Keep the faith. The scale will have to stop its silly game before long and show what's really going on!  

Thanks Evelyn - I feel so down today, and all over the results from those demon scales. I honestly feel like crying (and eating cake, lots of cake), which is ridiculous, but that's how upset I am at the moment. :( However, I'm going to try to stay positive, because I'm too close now to give up. 

If you did everything right, then you know it's not a "real" gain. It is most likely water retention (too much sodium, hormones, stress, change in exercise routine). Just keep doing what you are doing and it will all equal out eventually. Good luck! 

Thanks Suzi - I'm now sitting down with a nice cup of tea and trying to get a grip! I've just been thinking about the crowd of girls I had round my desk yesterday (my first day in the office for a week), who were all cooing over my lovely new red dress and telling my how fantastic I look and what an inspiration I am. I know this gain can't be real - it's mostly the fact that I've let down my team in the challenge that upsets me, but I'll just have to make up for it next week!! 

Leanne, trust me when I say that you have not let anyone down! You are working hard and building muscle. My take on this challenge was that it was more about getting us up and exercising so that our muscles are not wasting away as we lose weight from the dieting. Our muscles also weigh more than the fat because the muscles hold water. So my theory is that if you are sticking to your diet, have increased your exercise then you are a winner no matter what the number on the scale showed this week! You are reshaping your body. The muscle that you are building now is going to burn more calories for you in the long run. I just started exercising with this challenge and even though my scales are moving slowly I know I feel better and have already improved my health. You also have to take into consideration that women in your age group are going to fluctuate. Embrace the beautiful woman that you are and flont that new red dress! I think you are awesome! 

Do not let this set you back or get you down! I slight gain, is nothing more than that. You will recover in no time! Tea is a great helper,... it'll fill and satisfy you and will help things fall into place next week. Chin up and YES... YOU do look GREAT And have come a long way!! WAy to GO! 

I was just reading about not getting results b/c of too much exercise and not enough caloric intake!! Can you believe your eyes?? I have wondered in the past why I couldn't lose when I KNOW my cals were down and I exercised my butt off ... and now they tell me this. I guess practice makes perfect though... you'll find that balance, I believe in you.. and too, you could be retaining water.. or gaining muscle. Take a glance at your progress and see if maybe one of those fit your situation. Good Luck to ya!! 

Wow, if this was my journal I can only imagine what you would say to me. You are one of the most inspirational and supportive people on this site and I know it would only be positive, uplifting words. CherBru said it all in her post. I agree with her 100%. This is a life change that we are making. The scale is going to bounce around, especially when you have increased your exercise so much. Besides that, look at how far you have come. You have done incredible! It gets harder and harder as we get closer to our goals. I am so proud of you. Stop feeling like you let anyone down. If anything, you have lifted us all up a few notches with your spirit and support. 

Thank you for your kind words and very welcome support. As you've probably noticed, I do normally try to stay positive, but this unexpected gain just got me down yesterday. I'm feeling much better today, although still no downwards movement just yet! xxx 

You are working out.....all likelihood is that you are gaining muscle. Do your clothes feel good on you? That's the true tell - if they fit or are a little loose, then you're doing more than fine. 

Thanks - you are right to get me to focus on that. In fact, I was only thinking this afternoon that my new jeans (that I only bought two weeks ago, at which time they were pretty "fitted") are already looking quite baggy around the bottom. Now, this will be due in part to being a bit more worn in - but is still a very positive sign! 

Don't worry what those scales say Leanne... clothes honestly are a better indicator of how we are doing. It's fantastic you've noticed that the jeans that you bought the other day are already getting baggier, as I have noticed that with clothes too. So don't let those scales get to you, as we'll hit that goal eventually and probably be a lot skinnier than we ever were at that weight previously!!! ;o) I'm more than certain that it's the extra muscle that were carrying retaining water... but on the positive side, those nice muscles are taking up less space. :o)