I love when my clients are so excited telling me about the way they now look and feel because of the changes we’ve implemented in their eating habits and exercise program!! When my clients are happy and seeing results, I’m happy!!
In my client Chirstina’s case she was so happy to report that:
- She wasn’t bloated anymore
- Her belly was shrinking!!
- She wasn’t tired as much (she’s still a newish mom so tired is a relative term!)
- She was able to fit into some of her old clothes again!
- She had more energy!
- Her husband even started working out because “he didn’t want his wife to be stronger than him”
Everything was going according to plan.
Except for one thing.
One big thing.
Why wasn’t the number on the scale changing?
Arh, no personal trainer wants to hear that.
But if you know me, you know that I’m not a girl who weighs myself, or any of my clients who are within 12 months postpartum or are breastfeeding.
Why not you ask?
Because the scale doesn’t tell us the whole story:
- The scale doesn’t tell you how your clothing fits on your body.
- The scale doesn’t tell you that you’re lookin’ hot in that little black dress.
- The scale doesn’t tell you the bloat is gone and u can finally zip up your pants.
- The scale doesn’t tell you how your strength has improved and you can now lift 20lbs instead of 5lb.
So what does the scale do?
It gives you a number. The number of lbs that your body weighs. Whether that weight is from fat or muscle. It doesn’t discriminate.
It’s a number that many people get fixated with.
I want to tell you mama, just get the heck off the scale. If you’re within 12 months postpartum and or still breastfeeding, just don’t weigh yourself.
But because I can’t come to your house and throw away your scale, and you really want to know why the number isn’t budging, I’ve got you.
just get the heck off the scale
Here are 6 reasons why the number on your scale isn’t budging:
1. Muscle is dense.
You may be losing fat but you’re also gaining muscle. And muscle has mass. You may have heard that muscle weighs more that fat. FALSE. 5lbs of fat and 5lbs of muscle both weigh 5lbs. Duh (you know the “what weighs more question, a ton or bricks or a ton of feathers – that tricked me when I was younger, but not anymore!!) Muscle looks a lot different on your body than fat. It’s tight, it’s lean, and compact. It’s not mushy, or flabby or dimply. Get it. It still has mass, but it looks a heck of a lot better.
Want to see a comparison pic of 5lbs of muscle vs 5lbs of fat?
2. Crazy, (not) Sexy Hormones
Your hormones are playing a part in holding onto fat. And your hormones do wacky things. See below for more.
3. Your workout (may) say it all
The way you workout might not say it ALL, but this is what I’m asking you: are your workouts exactly as u want them to be? Is there anything hindering you from doing more? Or have you been doing the same old workout for the last who-knows-how-many-years and your body just isn’t changing? Or do you have postpartum issues holding you back?
In my client Christina’s case she has a mild prolapse and experiences urinary leakage when she jumps so we aren’t able to explore how any type of HIIT activity will affect her body.
Another client I’m working with has been doing HIIT videos for years and years has had the same body for just as many years. No matter how many hours of cardio videos she does her body doesn’t change, and she’s not getting the results she wants. The problem here is too much cortisol hormone related to stress. See Stress below.
4. How much sleep are you getting?
Most moms are getting up every few hours to feed their babies, never really getting a good uninterrupted rest for months. Lack of sleep plays with our hormones decreasing our leptin levels which makes our brain think we don’t have enough energy and makes us believe we are hungry. When we eat food it’s stored as fat, this is your body’s way of ensuring you’ll have enough energy when needed.
Lack of sleep plays with our hormones makings us believe we are hungry.
5. How Stressed are you?
If you’re a stressed out mama, or even if you think you’re not, you’re probably under a lot of stress raising a baby, or multiple kids, trying to put healthy food in everyone’s mouth, plus managing all the daily household stuff, trying to keep up with laundry & cleaning. (if you’re like me you have given up trying to keep your house clean!!)
When we have a lot of stress in our daily life our stress hormone called cortisol increases, which uses up glucose already in our body dropping our blood sugar making you feel like your hungry or craving foods you shouldn’t be eating. Chronic stress also makes it difficult for our bodies to lose weight. Lastly, if your body has too much of this stress hormone, it results in our body actually storing fat.
Chronic stress makes it difficult for our bodies to lose weight.
6. You’re Still Breastfeeding
All sorts or hormones are going on in your body when breastfeeding. The hormone prolactin makes our body produce breast milk, while at the same time reduces our body’s ability to metabolize fat. Prolactin stimulates our hunger…(hello munchies during breastfeeding anyone!) Some women naturally lose weight while breastfeeding, and others lose the weight once their baby has finished nursing. We never know how our body will actually react to all of these hormones. But I never ever recommend restricting calories or avoiding breastfeeding for the sake of your body image. Your body will come mama, focus on nourishing your baby.
In my client Christina’s case, in only 2 months she has lost 3 ¼ inches off her waist, 2 ¼ inches off her hips, 1 ½ inches off her thighs and 1 ½ inches off her upper arms!!
Hips don’t lie, and the scale doesn’t tell you the whole truth.
If you’re looking to change your body, lose fat, gain muscle, lose the jiggle, become strong, have more energy, let’s work together.
In fitness & nutrition
