Are your scales showing weight gain? Don’t panic!
Robert Price | Last update: 12th May 2025
It’s a common frustration that many members of the SlimrChat community shares, after all that hard work, the scales haven’t moved down! We’ve all been there. You’ve stuck to your plan, eaten well, and avoided temptations, only to see your weight has gone up. This can feel very demotivating, but remember: the scales don’t tell the whole story. Weight fluctuations are perfectly normal and don’t mean your efforts are wasted. Let’s explore why this happens and how to stay positive on your weight loss journey.
Why weight fluctuates
Weight gain on Mounjaro, or Wegovy, can be influenced by many factors, including:
- Water retention: Your body can hold onto water for various reasons, such as higher sodium intake, hormonal changes, or even intense exercise.
- Digestive system: If your digestive system is slow or you’re constipated, this can temporarily increase your weight.
- Muscle repair: If you’ve started exercising more, your muscles may retain water during the repair process, making it seem like you’ve gained weight.
Remember: These fluctuations are temporary and do not reflect fat gain. The important thing is to focus on long-term trends and other measures of progress.
What to do next
Here are some practical tips to help you stay on track when the scales don’t reflect your hard work:
1. Measure progress beyond the scales
The scales are just one tool to measure progress, and often not the most reliable. Add these alternatives to measure:
- Measurements: Track your waist, hips, thighs, and other areas. Take measurements every 2-4 weeks for more accurate insights.
- Photos: Take progress photos monthly. Use an app to compare side-by-side pictures and see how your body is changing.
- Clothing fit: Notice how your clothes fit. Jeans feeling looser or tops fitting better? That’s progress!
2. Shake up your metabolism
Sometimes, your metabolism can slow when you’ve been eating at a calorie deficit for too long. A controlled “reboot” can help:
- Try a higher calorie ‘refeed’ day: Have a day where you eat at maintenance level (the calories needed to maintain your current weight). This doesn’t mean bingeing but eating slightly more nutritious foods than usual to give your metabolism a boost.
- Mix up your routine: Incorporate new exercises or change your meal timings to keep your body guessing.
Read about boosting your metabolism.
3. Stay consistent and patient
Weight loss isn’t linear. Some weeks you may see big drops; other weeks, not so much. The key is to stay consistent:
- Focus on your habits: Eating balanced meals, exercising regularly, and staying hydrated will pay off over time.
- Remind yourself of the bigger picture: Progress isn’t always visible immediately. Trust the process and celebrate small wins along the way.
Here’s some balanced and healthy meals.
How to maintain motivation
When weight fluctuations threaten to derail your motivation, try these strategies:
- Revisit your goals: Remind yourself why you started. Whether it’s to simply lose weight or may be improve your health, feel more confident, or have more energy, keeping your goals in mind can help you stay focused.
- Celebrate non-scale victories: Did you resist that extra slice of cake? Complete a workout? Drink no alcohol on a night out? Celebrate those wins — they matter just as much as the number on the scale.
- Lean on the community: Share your frustrations and wins with others who understand. SlimrChat is here to support you every step of the way and believe us when we say, ‘We’ve been through it and seen it all!’