To think this can’t be right? Weight loss related.

[MayDayHelp]

I’m on a mission to lose my baby weight because my ‘baby’ turns 10 soon . To be fair, it’s only about 4lbs I want to lose.

So over the last week I’ve done the first 3 runs of couch to 5k, been horse riding twice and been on some long walks. This is a lot more exercise than I usually do, especially as I’ve recently recovered from the virus and was pretty much just sat on my arse for a few weeks.

I’ve also been careful about what I’ve been eating, I wouldn’t say no carbs but have been a lot more mindful about how many carbs I eat, and not had any sugar.

I’ve also pretty much stopped drinking, I used to drink every night (3 or 4 cans), but in the last week I’ve only had a drink on one night.

Just weighed myself and I’ve put on 2lbs! How can this be right?

[edwinbear]

Is your period due? I can easily put on a couple of pounds before that.

[MayDayHelp]

Nope, I’m mid cycle at the moment.

[wonderrotunda]

Don’t forget that muscle weighs more than fat

[MayDayHelp]

I’ve been telling myself maybe it’s muscle but not sure how much muscle I would have built up after just three short runs

[Zisforstripyoss]

^^ first of all, no it doesn't, it just takes up less space. Secondly, you won't have grown that much muscle from a couple of run / walks and horseriding.

Weight varies every day, depending on what you've eaten, whether you've gone to the loo, how much water you've drunk etc. Keep on at it and it'll come off.

[Thisseatisnotavailable]

Because weight fluctuates.
That's an awful lot of effort for 4lbs though, its good to want to get fitter but just eat a bit less and you'll lose 4lbs in a couple of weeks.

And how is 4lbs considered baby weight?

[MayDayHelp]

Oh there was a lot more than 4lbs (4 stone to be precise) but if I lose 4lbs I’m back to my pre DC2 weight.

[FishOnPillows]

I usually weigh myself every morning when I get up. Some days my weight can change by as much as 3lbs from the day before for no discernible reason. (3lbs is rare, but 1-2 lbs is common.) I chart my weight so I can look at the trend, rather than individual days.

I’m not convinced any changes (either up or down) of less than 7lbs are really indicative of anything.

[Siameasy]

My advice is - exercise is great for fitness, mental health and improved body composition but for weight loss alone, exercise-particularly cardio-is not that effective and just creates an appetite.

The low carb bootcamp on here is brilliant. I do that coupled with 16:8 intermittent fasting. IMO diet not exercise is the key.

Why We Get Fat is a good book as is The Obesity Code.

[MayDayHelp]

I know diet is the major factor but I want to get fitter and tone up - I’m a size 10 but definitely have wobbly bits I’d rather not have.

[countbackfromten]

@wonderrotunda muscle does not weigh more than fat! Muscle is more dense than fat but a kg of muscle is the same as a kg of fat. Just as a kg of feathers weighs the same as a kg of steel.

[howaboutchocolate]

@countbackfromten by that logic, nothing weighs more than anything because 1kg of one thing is always 1kg

Muscle does weigh more than fat if you have the same volume of each.

[Twigletfairy]

Take measurements and photos as well as stepping on the scales. That will give you a better idea as to whether you're gaining fat or gaining muscle

[Hedgehog44]

I gain loads when I ovulate!

[ElectricTonight]

Have a number two and then weigh yourself again 😂🙈

[lubeybooby]

I gain mid cycle overnight - also a sudden big increase in exercise can result in retaining water as your muscles repair

[Noconceptofnormal]

I feel your pain OP. I'm on day 7 of 30 day shred and cutting out all the junk food and have literally not lost anything yet, been weighing every day.

My fitness has improved (on level 2 now having puffed my way through level 1 on the first day) but I've got 2 stone to lose so my primary goal is weight loss!

Frustrating isn't it, hoping in a few days will see some results.

[Inforthelonghaul]

I always gain a few pounds if I start properly exercising but as a PP said it’s just muscles retaining water temporarily. I lif you keep going they get used to a new regime and you’ll get a whoosh.

[Pukkatea]

Do you weigh yourself often? It could just be part of your normal fluctuations. If you were sore at all after running or riding then you could be retaining a bit of extra water.

Sorry but you don't gain muscle from running, ignore pps. Women doing hardcore weightlifting, taking supplements and protein etc would struggle to gain 2 pounds of muscle in months. It really annoys me when people say this.

[Boulshired]

You need to give yourself a few weeks, I always gain when I up exercise, I think it’s my body saying WTF is this. I also seem to need to drink loads more water, probably trying to fix the muscles that are suddenly having to do more.

[Lolwhat]

You might just need a big poo

[Alarae]

It won't be putting on muscle. You need to eat at a surplus and be actively targeting muscles for that to happen (I.e. Weight lifting, manual labour etc)

If you have just started exercising it will be your muscles retaining water. If you up your water intake (so your muscles learn that water will be constant so does not need to keep hold of it) and wait a week or so it will fall off.

If you are losing weight you are not putting on muscle. If anything, you should attempt to retain as much of your current muscle as possible, but with weight loss, muscle loss (to an extent) will accompany fat loss.

[MayDayHelp]

Hopefully it is just water retention from my muscles going into shock at actually having to do something then.

I do weigh myself fairly regularly - my weight seems to fluctuate between 9 st 6 and 9 st 9. I started the week at 9 st 7 and now I’m 9 st 9 ☹️.

I have been drinking a lot of water, instead of cans of cider, and also been quite headachy this week so been drinking lots of water because of that.

[mrsbyers]

You sound a bit obsessive about it , it’s 4lbs just focus on exercising and toning. I bet there will be people with figures you would give your right arm for that actually weigh significantly more than you - bodies change after babies and as we age

[XDownwiththissortofthingX]

Yup I go up or down by 3-4 llbs in 24 hours, as much as half a stone in a week, for no discernible reason and having done nothing differently to the week before etc. It's just the way my body is.

I can't just weigh myself twice, one week apart, and determine whether I've lost or gained weight. The scales lie because of my body's natural propensity to go up and down in short order. I need to weigh myself every day for at least two weeks and monitor the results before I can definitively claim to have gained or lost permanently.