WHY losses don't show up on the scale?

[Adena]

Okay, here's what I do know:

The scale doesn't take TOM into account.
It doesn't know about fluid retention or other temporarily inhibitors.
Muscle weighs more than fat, which can affect lbs lost as you get more fit.
Caffiene and artificial sugars can affect Atkins success.

BUT, what I don't know is....

Is there something unique to this WOE and weight loss process that specifically inhibits typical downward scale movement?

When I'm on a "regular" weight-loss diet and just focusing on eating less calories, my losses on the scale are pretty consistent. However, it is less so following this WOE. Is there something (other than the things I listed above) about how fat is burned (the actual chemical process) on Atkins that might make your scale track differently? I'm not struggling with this as much as my mom-in-law and husband, who are really fluctuating.

Your insight, fellow atkineers, is most appreciated.

[Lisa M]

Re: WHY losses don't show up on the scale?

Sounds like you answered your own question. Use the tape measure along with the scale...better yet, ditch the scale for a while. Your mind will thank you for it

[jcapulet]

Re: WHY losses don't show up on the scale?

I've been wondering this myself. The past few days I've been hovering around the same weight (although I guess that's normal). Yet, I put on a fairly new pair of black pants...and they were too loose. I had to tighten my bra's shoulder straps the other day too, because they were getting too loose. Same weight though...

[Lisa M]

Re: WHY losses don't show up on the scale?

Your body loses inches before it loses pounds.

[jroche5998]

Re: WHY losses don't show up on the scale?

Your body loses inches before it loses pounds.

True but more so on this plan. This plan forces you to burn fat, this includes fat within your muscles, fat around your organs, as well as superficial body fat. All of which leads to a denser body mass. So we weigh more while being thinner.

I wear clothes that are falling off me that I couldn't wear 25 pounds lighter because they were too tight.

[ValidRouge]

Re: WHY losses don't show up on the scale?

Oh, I definitely can fit into clothes weighing 25 lbs more than the last time I was able to fit into them.

[Adena]

Re: WHY losses don't show up on the scale?

Ahh! Thank you!! This is VERY helpful. I knew the whole muscle weighs more than fat thing... but this helps put it into perspective. Your answer was especially helpful, Jim.

Thanks much, all!

[jcapulet]

Re: WHY losses don't show up on the scale?

Wow...I never realized there's fat in muscles too!

[jroche5998]

Re: WHY losses don't show up on the scale?

Wow...I never realized there's fat in muscles too!

Of course there is. Ever seen a steak?

[jcapulet]

Re: WHY losses don't show up on the scale?

Of course there is. Ever seen a steak?

Ah..good point.

[kkat55]

Re: WHY losses don't show up on the scale?

Good thread!!

[G-Mom]

Re: WHY losses don't show up on the scale?

Adena, have you read this:
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ead.php?t=6737

Here's the gist:
"Fat cells are resilient, stubborn little creatures that do not want to give up their actual cell volume. Over a period of weeks, maybe months of "proper dieting", each of your fat cells may have actually lost a good percentage of the actual fat contained in those cells. But the fat cells themselves, stubborn little guys, replace that lost fat with water to retain their size. That is, instead of shrinking to match the reduced amount of fat in the cell, they stay the same size! Result - you weigh the same, look the same, maybe even gained some scale weight, even though you have actually lost some serious fat."

[G-Mom]

Re: WHY losses don't show up on the scale?

Also, muscle doesn't weigh more than fat (this statement bothers me). A pound is a pound, but what you mean is that a pound of muscle takes up less space than a pound of fat, because it is denser. This shouldn't affect the scale (IMO), but most definitely affects measurement.

[2big4mysize]

Re: WHY losses don't show up on the scale?

just think of Atkins as morphing your body mass. scales measure only the effect of the force of gravity on your total mass. it has no idea if you have made any change in any parts of that mass since last time. eating out Atkins we are adding protein mass to our body and burning off fat mass. fluid mass is in constant stat of fluctuation depending on where you are in your tolerance for the retained to retain shape fluids, the amount of sodium in your diet recently, and your exerice prograsm ( new to you exercise cause muscle tissue to save fluids for the next time you surprise them with that workout until they get used to that new exercise load).

So you can add pounds of muscle mass both protein and fuid, retain fluids mass in your cells increasing that total mass and burn off large amounts of fat mass but the scale says no change. becuase of the density difference in water fat and muscle you will be smaller in size even with no scale weight change.

Happy low carbing

[GitRdone]

Re: WHY losses don't show up on the scale?

This has been a fantastic thread...I really appreciate and now fully understand whats goin on. Thank you all for your great information!