Muscle weight vs Fat weight

MNilene · 06-24-2008, 08:13 AM

Okay, Now that I am exercising at least 2 hours a day, from water aerobics classes, cycling classes, circut, regualr aerobics & weight lifting& good old walking; My scale weight only fluctuates a pound or 2 up or down. My clothes fit GREAT! I am down from my preband size (dec 2007) of 20-22 to 16 ~ I started at 251 & am down to 196.I did have a set back, from my band sliping, being too tight & a 99% unfill, have started anew with putting on about 10 lbs, a slight refill & starting again! I am just stuck on the scale thing. I know that muscle weighs more than fat, but even my Dr goes by my scale weight to dictate fills etc.
How do ou judge your sucess???
Mnilene

**Jack** · 06-24-2008, 08:29 AM

re: "how do you judge your success".....

great question....and it seems far too often a certain fraction of Bandsters express their frustration via what the scale reading may be....

IMHO we all have innate tendencies to lean one one or the other in making our choices given the same data.

Failure mode: I haven't reached my goal. I'm still not fitting in size 40 pants. I can't gobble down large amounts of whatever I want to eat. etc

Success mode: I remain at size 42 pants these past 24 months. I am no longer in size 56/58. I CAN eat almost anything I want.....carefully.

NSVs are what helps us recognize daily improvements in our life style postOp.

I believe that awareness is very important to help continue our focus and behavior to move toward our goal, whatever that may be.

"What I CAN do now" that was impossible preOp vs 'what I still CAN'T do' that I "should" be able to do.....affects how successful we feel.

anniedub · 06-24-2008, 08:57 AM

Remember, muscle doesn't weigh more than fat.

A pound of muscle and a pound of fat still both weigh a pound

But a pound of muscle is much smaller and firmer than a pound of fat.

As to how do you judge success -- judge it by the little things that make you smile, that you couldn't have achieved without the band -- eg that amazing exercise you detailed, your clothes looking fabulous, and being a fitter and healthier person!

FeliciaLevy75 · 06-24-2008, 09:16 AM

Success is more than just the scale. For physical, measurable successes, start measuring inches when you weigh yourself, and keep a log. The more fat you burn and muscle you build, the inches will fall away along with the weight. You probably won't notice much day to day, but it will begin to add up! Celebrate the loss of both inches and weight!

If your weight loss is slowing down that much... wouldn't your doctor give you a fill? I am confused (maybe it's too early to be reading the boards); you sound worried that he won't give you a fill but you say that the scale hasn't moved... isn't that one of the times to discuss a fill with your doc?

Brandy~ · 06-24-2008, 09:54 AM

I find that when I am not losing weight I lose inches. I would measure yourself regularly. I do it about 1x per month.