21 yr old college student's web blog.
Published on June 15, 2005 By lilyethra In Diet
Today I went to the Y to excercise. I try to do this 2-3 times a week. I worked out on the machines, free weights, etc. Was there 1.5 hours. I weight myself on their scale. It told me I weight 282 pounds. My scale at home says I weigh 10 pounds less. Now in my experience my scale at home has been accurate before... but it could be off now. I am beginning to understand why people opt for such painful and risky procedures like gastic bypass. According to this scale I have managed to gain weight, now lose it. My fattest ever.

It was depressing. I need to find a reliable scale. of course I don't want to go to see the nutritionist because I feel guilty because I haven't necessarily lost weight. Real smart, huh. And lately when I look in the mirror I hate my body. I hate the way the flab has created its own flab sub species. I hate the weight I look fatter and my cute clothes no longer fit. I hate the way that for years I have promising to get back into that size 14 dress and have not done it.

I don't know... Latley I have been sleepy again to, tired. I was doing pretty well too. Maybe I should just stop worrying. I have a doctors apointment comming up. Not sure if I should mention weight gain. I would probably get another thyroid test- it was ok last time, but they like to check that. And then probably nothing. No one likes to talk about being fat to fat people other than mentioning that we have done well when we become less fat.


Comments
on Jun 15, 2005
Lilyethra, the answer is simple - don't weigh yourself! Seriously, it is not a reliable way of measuring either how 'fat' you are or how FIT you are. Many fitness professionals advise against weighing yourself - especially on a frequent basis - as it is not really a very useful measurement.

'I worked out on the machines, free weights, etc.'
In general, this kind of exercise facilitates the conversion of fat to muscle. And muscle is denser than fat - ie. it weighs more. So you are likely to have gained muscle and lost fat. It is very common to find that you put on weight while losing inches.

Don't be disheartened - you are doing the right thing. In response to your headline: BOTH these scales are evil!
on Jun 15, 2005

Ok stop kicking yourself.  I find that if I weigh myself on different scales I get different readings. It is also a fact that if you weigh yourself in the morning versus night you can have a two pound weight difference.  You can also weigh more after a workout.  Your scale may be right and the Y's scale may be off.  Just stick to one scale.

Remember to that muscle weighs more than fat so if you are building muscle mass the scale can show an increase even if you have lost fat.

It's easy to kick yourself when you're trying to lose weight.  Relapses happen.  At my worst I weighed 256.5 pounds and was wearing a size 22.  I struggled with breathing sometimes when I went up steps and was trying to keep up with my husband.  I was embarrased with how I looked and did not have a lot of friends who had the struggle with weight like I did.   

At my best, I was down to 179 pounds and wearing size ten or twelve pants.  Now I am up to 209 pounds and fighting again to get off the weight.  Ultimately, what worked for me was Weight Watchers(WW).  However, since living in Korea this past year I have not been able to do WW.  One of the things I love about WW is that you really have a support group regardless of if you have a bad week, a so so week, or a good one. They are there for you because they have been through it and I just don't mean the group leaders either.  I am not someone who does as well with weight loss on my own.  I am greatful I have an amazingly supportive husband but I also had WW friends and a fantastic group leader.  I will go back on WW once I am back in the States. 

If you are really going to try this on your own it is best to have some support and go see a nutrionist. If you can find a good nutrionist, then they should be encouraged if you are honestly trying to change your life.  HOnest is the best policy with the health care people.

As for being tired, maybe you are feeling tired because you are not eating balanced meals.  I had a ton of energy once I was eating balanced meals and working out. 

Hang in there you can do it.  We all have relapses from time to time but the important thing is to admit that we fell off the wagon and to climb back on again. 

Best of luck to you.

H

       

on Jun 20, 2005
Dear Lilyethra
Please go to www.war-on-weight.org and complete the weight loss questionnaire making sure you include your phone number and I will call you for a free no-obligation weight loss consultation. You are obviously serious about losing weight but just exercise will not do it for you, though exercise is useful. It is possible to lose weight and reshape your body without starving. In fact starving yourself is counter productive.

If you want to lose weight, have more energy and feel better about yourself then talk to me.
Fill in that survey at www.war-on-weight.org
Speak to you soon.