A Weight Loss Win: It’s More Than That Number on the Scale

Janey_BeforeandAfter

10/24/15: The winner of our free DietBet game entry is…Lisa!!! And since I had several Lisas enter, the winning Lisa’s email address has something to do with stars. Lisa w/ stars, please check your inbox for instructions on how to claim your free entry. And for everyone else, thank you so much for entering! You have set some amazing goals for yourselves?you got this! 🙂

Here?s a question I?m asked frequently: ?Heidi, I?m following my diet so carefully, working out hard five days a week, and the scale is not budging! What am I doing wrong??

My answer? Nothing…You?re very possibly not doing anything wrong! In fact, you?ve been doing so many things right. It?s kinda? sad how we let that dumb number on the scale make us feel either over-the-moon elated or like a total failure.

Here are seven ways you can tell that all your hard work and dedication are paying off?no matter what number is on that darn scale:

  • Do your clothes fit looser? If so, you’ve changed body fat into lean body mass (muscle) which will burn more fat. That?s a win!
  • Have you lost inches? If you haven?t taken your measurements yet, go do it right now! And retake your measurements each time you weigh. You might be surprised at the results. 😉
  • Do you just feel better? Do you have more energy? These are sure signs of a healthier body.
  • Are you sleeping better? Again, another sign of a healthier body.
  • A small weight gain or no weight loss could be due to what you ate recently. Sodium and carbs (yes, even the healthy ones) can cause water retention, so keep that in mind.
  • Ladies, is it around that time of the month? Along with all the other ?lovely? things we get to experience during this time, temporary weight gain can be one of them. Remember, the key word here is temporary.
  • Only weigh yourself once a week. I know. It?s so tempting to step on that scale more often just to see…but…if that number on the scale is not what you’d hoped, it can be pretty disappointing and lead to making some not-so-great choices. Your weight naturally fluctuates from day to day, so why set yourself up for some totally unnecessary frustration? If you?re carb cycling, weigh yourself weekly on the morning of day 6 for most cycles (most number of days post Reward Day and after the most number of low-carb days).

And here’s a bonus tip: Chris and I are hosting another DietBet game?”Thanksgiving Slim Down”?that begins on October 27th, and I’m giving away one free entry right here! To enter, leave me a comment below telling me one thing you’re going to do to keep your transformation goals front and center during the holidays AND share this post on social media. And I want to be able to find you, so please tag me and use the hashtag #thanksgivingslimdown. You have until midnight, Friday, October 23, to enter, and one winner will be randomly chosen and announced right here on Saturday, October 24. And don’t forget to sign up for our game: DietBet.com/ChrisPowell.

So there you have it…my sure-fire tips for winning that battle with your scale. 🙂

Xoxo,

Heidi

Want more awesome tips just like this? Check out Choose More, Lose More for Life, now available in paperback!

186 Responses

  1. I’m in Canada so we’ve already had our Thanksgiving, but what I did was I made individual little pies to help me keep track of portion control. I also did fill my plate to the top like I usually do and I grabbed more turkey than anything else. Since then I’ve also stopped drinking during the week, I work out 3-5 times a week and I bought a Christmas dress that’s 2 sizes smaller than I am now. I have 2 kids 2-4 and am trying to live by example. Thank you for all your blogs and words of inspiration. They’re working for me.

  2. Being in the beginning of my new, healthy lifestyle, the upcoming holidays are making me a little bit nervous. I have been all over the internet looking for healthy alternatives to my favorite foods. For example, I found a recipe for flourless brownies. I normally eat a bunch of sweets around the holidays but these are made with garbanzo beans! They make me feel like I am cheating, when really I am not. I am now researching healthy pumpkin snacks because my 1/4 pie slice of pumpkin pie with cool whip on top will not be on my menu this year. My main goal is to enjoy the holidays and enjoy the food but enjoy it in a healthy way. I think that using the tools and the knowledge that I have now, I am going to be set for a successful holiday season!

  3. I have struggled with meal planning lately! My failure to plan my meals leads to bad food choices! I want to have a game plan for the week, and possibly precook for the week.

  4. To keep going through the holidays I’m signing up for a yoga class and keeping my eye on the prize (a better healthier body & look amazing on my wedding day). I’m currently taking a water aerobics class 3x/week and walking daily (have to, I have 2 dogs haha). I’m tracking my food and staying active. I’m determined to lose weight over the holidays, not gain!

  5. My holiday transformation would consist of quitting smoking and loosing 20 pounds so my husband and I can begin a family!

    1. What a great goal. i quit smoking 5 months ago, it wasn’t easy but it was worth it….good luck to you!

  6. What I am going to do to keep focused is to remember I am important. I have spent most of my life helping others and while that is important to me, I cannot let me drag along by a thread. I must put my own oxygen mask on before helping others. Focusing on my health and fitness will benefit others as well.

  7. To keep my transformational goals front and center, I’m going to think long term and not worry about the daily or even weekly fluctuations! It’s taken me two months to lose 10 pounds, and I’m not done yet 🙂 #thanksgivingslimdown

  8. With the business of the holidays I am going to be more delight about meal planning each week to have healthy food choices instead of falling into the fast food rut. I am also calenderizing my work outs so other obligations don’t distract my progress! #thanksgivingslimdown

  9. Just got a membership to the gym FINALLY! I’m so stoked! As soon as my sinus infection (which so graciously decided to creep up on me as soon as I signed up for the membership lol) goes away, I will be in there busting some rump! But in the mean time, oatmeal with a bit of cinnamon and stevia 😉

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