Expert: Linda Erwin, M.S. - 7/20/2007

Question
I am fast walking 3.6 miles daily and doing strength/weight training 50 mins - 3Xweek.  I am toning up but not losing weight fast according to the scale.  I am only 4'11 116 lbs and losing weight is very difficult for me.  What percentage of my body weight is the muscle gain? Is it realistic to believe that 5 or 10 lbs is in muscle from the strength training and that I would be 106 w/o that extra muscle?  The scale is scaring me although I seem to fit into all my clothes when I was 107-110 w/o weight training.

Answer
Hi Martha,
I'm not sure how long you have been weight training but it is possible that you have more muscle weight and that is why you aren't seeing big changes on the scale.  If you are fitting into your small clothes then that is your answer.  The scale will freak out anyone.  Our bodies change weight all throughout the day.  The best thing the scale can do for you is to make sure you aren't gaining.  Use your clothes as the way to measure success.  Get your body fat taken at a gym and get a realistic view of what is going on.  If you begin to plateau, increase your mileage on your walks.
Good luck and be proud of yourself and what you are achieving!
Linda