Use the scales... trust the tape measure!

[sarbirus]

I have seen a lot of newbies, like me, worried they have stalled, or feeling they are putting effort into atkins but not getting rewards.

I know all the regulars say it, the moderators say it, but I really need to say it...

TAKE MEASUREMENTS and RECORD THEM week by week... one of those measurements can be your weight... but more importantly I would say use a tape measure and measure as many parts of your body as you dare!

I measure.... Neck, Chest, Biceps, Waist, Hips, Thighs, Calves, Forearms and lastly my weight.

IF I had relied on the scales alone, I would have given up atkins at the end of the second week!!!

In my first week I lost 17lbs, the second week I gained about 4 lbs back, over the last couple of weeks I have managed to loose the 4lbs again and almost another lb.

However, every week, each measurement has gone down, with the exception of a couple which has kinda lost one week and stayed the same the next...

ITS THE TAPE MEASURE WHICH KEPT ME GOING!

At the end of the first week, the tape measure recorded that I had lost maybe a quarter inch here and there... nothing massive... but the scales said 17lbs..

Also, bare in mind that in week 2 I also started going to the gym 3 times a week.. which has probably caused an increase in muscle mass... muscle weighing more than fat, actually means even though the scales say to date I have lost almost 18 lbs.. I have actually probably lost a lot more than 18 lbs in fat, its just I have gained a massive amount of muscle bellow the fat.

So.. my golden rule..

BE PATIENT.. TRUST THE TAPE MEASURE & ENJOY THE SCALES WHEN THEY BRING GOOD NEWS... BUT AGAIN.. TRUST THE TAPE MEASURE!

If you have not recorded your measurements yet... Do it today, it may be the key to realizing your loosing more than you think!

[James S]

Great post! Just one minor correction, muscle doesn't weigh more than fat. A pound is a pound is a pound regardless of what is being weighed. Muscle is more dense than fat, though, which is a better assessment.

[sarbirus]

Thanks James,

There isnt much I can contribute to the forum, I am still a newbie myself. However, I thought it may help people who might think they are stalling, or that may think the diet isnt working need to get the tape measure out and use it!