Overhand, not underhand too.

Even though my ketostrips say I'm burning fat, the scale is not budging. I know people say not to go by the scale because you are probably just gaining muscle mass, but that would require me EXERCISING to gain muscle mass, would it not?

Should I assume that since the ketostrips say I'm burning fat I'm on the right track? Or are the strips just burning fat from my diet? I just began OWL and am taking in no more than 25 carbs a day.

Any advice would be mucho appreciated!

How often do you weigh yourself.

Every couple of days. I've been feeling bloated so I made a promise to never weigh myself when I feel gross because I know I'll be in for a nasty surprise. So I weighed myself today and I gained two pounds. But my ketostrips have been even darker since I went off induction. It's really weird.

Here's the funny thing: if you eat 4,000 calories a day, your body can still be in ketosis even though you will gain weight. The strips only serve to show if your body is running on fat.

First of all, chuck the scale, just make sure the coast is clear.

Second, you have only ten pounds to lose, so it won't be a big dramatic thing. Big losses happen when you have a lot to lose. That's just the way it is.

Third, I am a size smaller than I expected to be at this weight. There are a lot of threads discussing how you become "denser." Because of the adequate protein and the effect on body composition, I actually weigh more and am slimmer than I was when I ate low fat/high carb.

In fact, I was just looking at a picture from Christmas, and a picture from a week ago. While I my weight is still the same, I swear I look slimmer than I did four months ago! (See gallery for what I'm talking about.) So am I getting even more dense? For once, I hope so!

So yes, throw out your scale, and the faulty "number" mentality that goes along with it.

I have a non-stretchy denim skirt I try on every so often to check how it fits. You may want to pick an item in your closet to measure your progress by. Make sure it is something that doesn't "give" or have room already.

Does that mean just eating more protein will increase our muscle mass?

Good to know also about the ketostrips burning fat in general- I think I need to watch myself.

Thanks for the advice, ladies!

THE SCALE IS THE DEVIL! Get rid of it. I just pitched mine. I'm so proud of myself. My scale used to controll my mood. If I lost, I was have a kick butt day. If it didn't budge, then I was okay with that. If it didn't budge for a while, I was getting concerned. And God forbid if I gained....watch out for my wraft!

My point is, follow the plan properly and you will see results. NO LIE! stay within 20-40 carbs (depending on what level you are) and exercise. Now yes, you are going slower because you body is resisting and trying to get used to it's new composition. You've gained muscle, loss some fat and your body has to function differently than it ever did before. When that adjustment takes place, your body will stop resisting and you will lose. Thats why people say the last few pounds are the hardest.

Stick with it, don't give up. Now you have lost inches I'm sure. I can tell in the last week that my body is different. I won't weigh myself to find out my weight, but I look different in my clothes and I feel great. Energy out the wazoo! All because I'm watching my calorie intake, and exercising. It will happen for us..we will hit goal, promise.

How tall are you and what is your frame size ( small, medium, large )? I am asking these things because maybe, just maybe, your body is at the weight that it should be and that is why it is being stubborn.

I'm 5"3'. I'm gonna post a picture soon.

But, I've got a rare genetic condition called lipodystrophy (kobberling-Dunnigan familial partial lipodystrophy) which means there is no adipose tissue or fat in my extremities. Unfortunately, fat can still grow in certain places on my middle and around my face and neck (attractive, I know). Therefore, I'm doing something really difficult: basically trying to eliminate all fat from my body. This is difficult, but unfortunately, to avoid diabetes and heart disease I have to lose the weight around these dangerous areas. I've already noticed a huge difference in my body and my health. And, fortunately, I have a raging metabolism on my side, making this feat seem possible.

We'll see. I really like this diet so even if I don't lose anymore weight I will remain on it.

I've been torturing myself with the scale for two weeks now. My scale changes wieght from minute to minute, so I have been suspicious about its accuracy all along.

If you go to amazon or an online retailer that offers user reviews, these scales (especially in the lower price range) have MANY complaints about innacuracy. There are probably at least ten reviews on amazon (for different brands) where people went to the doctor's office and got weighed and found out there was a 5-10 pound difference from thier home scale.

I can step on my scale...and then 1 minute later get on it again and weigh something different. I weighed myself yesterday morning and was down to 119. Got on it in the afternoon and was up to 125. Got on it this morning and it was 122 - couldnt stand it so I got on it again and its 119 again.

I think I outta throw mine out too....its torturing me!

Being in Houston-area myself...could you give me the heads up so I don't walk under your window when you do?

Toss it! Toss it! Toss it! Toss it!

Dana

I know! It's driving me nuts. I think it probably is all the sodium I eat. My weight fluctuates at the drop of a hat. And then add a faulty scale on top of that. Maybe I should buy one of the huge, heavy cumbersome ones that they have at the doc's office. Although I think people would begin questionning my sanity.