Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...

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Muscles & Bones
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Pulling out my hair on the scales

Caspiana
Caspiana
Hi. Since being diagnosed with RA I have been trying to lose weight. I know extra weight is not good for my already painful knees. I am about 13lbs over weight.I started swimming three times a week since January and although all my clothes are looser, I have to do my belt up two notches tighter, people have been mentioning to me that I've lost weight BUT the scales don't show much difference. I can feel it and definately see it. I wonder if anyone else has experienced the same thing? I am starting to wonder if all my time spent at the pool has been in vain. Sorry. I know this is not a directly RA related post.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Caspiana, well done on keeping up with your swimming. You've probably shed fat and developed muscle over the months you've been swimming, especially as you notice your clothes are looser.
Scales dont give a good indication of real weight loss because muscle weighs more than fat. The truth is you are healthier with more muscle mass now (as a direct result of your swimming) and less fat than you were prior to January. All that effort has not been in vain. Don't give up, just hide the scales away and go by how you feel; you are doing an excellent job!!!
deleted_user
deleted_user
I agree that all your work has definitely not been in vain. Swimming is the best exercise for those of us with RA. I'm kind of in the same boat. My scales say I've only lost two lbs. but the way my clothes fit says more. I am not going to worry about what the silly scales say. lol I will just keep exercising. You just keep swimming and enjoying it. ;) I bet you feel better too.
Linda
deleted_user
deleted_user
Caspiana - burn your scale! If your clothes fit better, then it doesn't matter how much you weigh. You are probably shedding fat and building muscle - and muscle is more dense than fat and weighs more! So keep up the good work girl - it's working!
Caspiana
Caspiana
Relief, relief thanks so much guys. I don't know what I would do without you. I am going to keep going at it because I do really feel better and I have definately exchanged some of that fat for muscle :-)