Weighing vs. mirror/fit results?

GratefulParrot · 05-17-2012, 12:57 PM

Hey all. I guess I'm kind of a newbie. I've been following the LC for a while now..of course 8 months of cheating in between.

I see alot of threads about people getting depressed over weight results, and I guess I don't understand this. I've always been larger than average muscular wise do to years of weight training and college sports. So my weight has always been higher than the basic formulas, because they don't take muscle density (which weighs more than fat).

Why I'm getting back into LC is because I've become way out of shape and don't like what I see in the mirror. I don't kid myself, I will never be ripped as I was in my 20's and 30's. I'm still in induction and quickly am losing the beach ball is going away and my definition is coming back. But why is everyone so hung up on how much they weight vs. how you feel, and look, and clothes getting looser, and tons of compliments?

Divinexheirocity · 05-17-2012, 01:02 PM

I personally do a mix of both. I NEVER weigh myself more often than weekly. But i always see a bigger difference in how clothes fit, my energy level, how I'm sleeping, etc. And that's what my barometer is. I'm also very muscle dense so my weight on a scale makes people's jaw drop (including my doctor haha)

Abby · 05-17-2012, 01:43 PM

Everyone has to find reinforcements which work for them. Some may go by compliments, some by weight, others by the feel of their clothes. There no "right" or definitive answer. Speaking ONLY for myself, I like to focus upon daily weights. My scale may be an adversary at times, but it NEVER lies. Sure, I get frustrated by stalls or an occasional gain, but I KNOW that if I'm religiously working my program, the numbers will go down.

I use the mirror at my gym for incentive; I stand in front of it, grab some belly fat, and say, "This stuff has to go".......

.

Good Luck,

Becky · 05-17-2012, 01:59 PM

I can look like a big ball of bloat in the mirror and be down 2 pounds, then liiok like a skinny minnie in the mirror and on the scale shows a 3 pound gain, I do like the mirror (most days) though.

Texas Girl · 05-17-2012, 02:54 PM

I totally agree with you. I probably don't weigh often enough

It does not define me or determine my mood for the day. I think that I have become more like this though as I have aged....early 50's for me and I am definitely not sweating the small stuff. I am close to goal but not there yet, but feel great.

tulipsandroses · 05-17-2012, 03:07 PM

I rarely weigh myself anymore. I rely on how I look and how clothes fit. I keep a pair of skinny jeans that I can't fit into to track my progress. When I fit into the skinny jeans, I buy another pair that can't fit and and repeat till I fit into them.

But to each his own. Some people feel weighing daily keeps them on track. For others, its a distraction. I much prefer seeing those too tight jeans go up an inch at a time over several weeks vs stepping on the scale daily.

Texas Girl · 05-17-2012, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tulipsandroses

I rarely weigh myself anymore. I rely on how I look and how clothes fit. I keep a pair of skinny jeans that I can't fit into to track my progress. When I fit into the skinny jeans, I buy another pair that can't fit and and repeat till I fit into them.

But to each his own. Some people feel weighing daily keeps them on track. For others, its a distraction. I much prefer seeing those too tight jeans go up an inch at a time over several weeks vs stepping on the scale daily.

I love the jeans idea!

Neon · 05-17-2012, 03:50 PM

I'm ones of those that likes to weigh daily. For now it helps me see what I can and can't tolerate or if I need to eat more or less (most often it's more xD).
My first week of Atkins I lost 10 pounds and I felt and seemed like I looked a lot slimmer. The two to three weeks after that I didn't gain or lose any weight and I felt (and looked) fat again.
Just another one of those things that depends per person.

tulipsandroses · 05-17-2012, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neon

I'm ones of those that likes to weigh daily. For now it helps me see what I can and can't tolerate or if I need to eat more or less (most often it's more xD).
My first week of Atkins I lost 10 pounds and I felt and seemed like I looked a lot slimmer. The two to three weeks after that I didn't gain or lose any weight and I felt (and looked) fat again.
Just another one of those things that depends per person.

Just so you know, that is pretty typical. Don't go tweaking things because you didn't lose after that initial drop.

svenskamae · 05-17-2012, 05:39 PM

I've been avoiding looking in mirrors, seeing my reflection in a pane of glass, etc. for years; the only mirror in my house shows only about the top 1/4th of me. Since all I think of when I see my reflection is "OMG, I'm so big!," I don't want to build that experience into my regular routine. If I lose a few pounds, I still look very big to myself in the mirror. I've been using fitting into smaller clothes as my pseudo-scale, but I'd rather use a scale once a week than scrutinize my whole body in a mirror regularly (at least until I get substantially smaller) to monitor weight loss.

05-17-2012, 12:57 PM	#1
GratefulParrot Senior LCF Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Nashville Posts: 376 Gallery: GratefulParrot Stats: Old playing weight of 245 WOE: induction Start Date: 9/12/11	Weighing vs. mirror/fit results? Hey all. I guess I'm kind of a newbie. I've been following the LC for a while now..of course 8 months of cheating in between. I see alot of threads about people getting depressed over weight results, and I guess I don't understand this. I've always been larger than average muscular wise do to years of weight training and college sports. So my weight has always been higher than the basic formulas, because they don't take muscle density (which weighs more than fat). Why I'm getting back into LC is because I've become way out of shape and don't like what I see in the mirror. I don't kid myself, I will never be ripped as I was in my 20's and 30's. I'm still in induction and quickly am losing the beach ball is going away and my definition is coming back. But why is everyone so hung up on how much they weight vs. how you feel, and look, and clothes getting looser, and tons of compliments?

05-17-2012, 01:43 PM	#3
Abby Senior LCF Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Boston Posts: 402 Gallery: Abby Stats: 5'7";197_'09;167/139/132_'12 WOE: LC/VLC	Everyone has to find reinforcements which work for them. Some may go by compliments, some by weight, others by the feel of their clothes. There no "right" or definitive answer. Speaking ONLY for myself, I like to focus upon daily weights. My scale may be an adversary at times, but it NEVER lies. Sure, I get frustrated by stalls or an occasional gain, but I KNOW that if I'm religiously working my program, the numbers will go down. I use the mirror at my gym for incentive; I stand in front of it, grab some belly fat, and say, "This stuff has to go"........ Good Luck,

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05-17-2012, 01:02 PM	#2
Divinexheirocity Guest Join Date: May 2012 Location: Wine Country Northern CA Posts: 244 Gallery: Divinexheirocity Stats: 186/175/170 WOE: Atkins Induction Start Date: 5/21/2012	I personally do a mix of both. I NEVER weigh myself more often than weekly. But i always see a bigger difference in how clothes fit, my energy level, how I'm sleeping, etc. And that's what my barometer is. I'm also very muscle dense so my weight on a scale makes people's jaw drop (including my doctor haha)

05-17-2012, 01:59 PM	#4
Becky Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: MA Posts: 2,899 Gallery: Becky Stats: 175/166/140...47 years old WOE: Trying LC/WW combined...again... Start Date: Start date: June 10, 2013	I can look like a big ball of bloat in the mirror and be down 2 pounds, then liiok like a skinny minnie in the mirror and on the scale shows a 3 pound gain, I do like the mirror (most days) though.

05-17-2012, 02:54 PM	#5
Texas Girl Senior LCF Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Georgia Posts: 206 Gallery: Texas Girl Stats: 174/153/151 - 5'7" WOE: Low carb eating Start Date: March 2012	I totally agree with you. I probably don't weigh often enough It does not define me or determine my mood for the day. I think that I have become more like this though as I have aged....early 50's for me and I am definitely not sweating the small stuff. I am close to goal but not there yet, but feel great.

05-17-2012, 03:07 PM	#6
tulipsandroses Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 3,932 Gallery: tulipsandroses Stats: 206/164/140 WOE: Atkins Start Date: March 2010	I rarely weigh myself anymore. I rely on how I look and how clothes fit. I keep a pair of skinny jeans that I can't fit into to track my progress. When I fit into the skinny jeans, I buy another pair that can't fit and and repeat till I fit into them. But to each his own. Some people feel weighing daily keeps them on track. For others, its a distraction. I much prefer seeing those too tight jeans go up an inch at a time over several weeks vs stepping on the scale daily.

05-17-2012, 03:50 PM	#8
Neon Junior LCF Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 52 Gallery: Neon Stats: 220/204/135 WOE: Atkins (in induction phase now) Start Date: April, 22, 2012	I'm ones of those that likes to weigh daily. For now it helps me see what I can and can't tolerate or if I need to eat more or less (most often it's more xD). My first week of Atkins I lost 10 pounds and I felt and seemed like I looked a lot slimmer. The two to three weeks after that I didn't gain or lose any weight and I felt (and looked) fat again. Just another one of those things that depends per person.

05-17-2012, 05:39 PM	#10
svenskamae Major LCF Poster! Join Date: May 2012 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 2,926 Gallery: svenskamae Stats: 235/178/135 5'3" WOE: Nutritional Ketosis/Primal/JUDDD Start Date: January 15, 2012	I've been avoiding looking in mirrors, seeing my reflection in a pane of glass, etc. for years; the only mirror in my house shows only about the top 1/4th of me. Since all I think of when I see my reflection is "OMG, I'm so big!," I don't want to build that experience into my regular routine. If I lose a few pounds, I still look very big to myself in the mirror. I've been using fitting into smaller clothes as my pseudo-scale, but I'd rather use a scale once a week than scrutinize my whole body in a mirror regularly (at least until I get substantially smaller) to monitor weight loss.