Why isn’t the scale moving faster?

January 29, 2025
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Why Isn’t the Scale Moving Faster? The Real Reason Weight Loss Feels Slow for Women Over 35

During a recent check-in, one of my clients said something I hear all the time:

“I’m doing everything right. I haven’t had a drink in 14 days, I track my macros, I walk daily… and the scale is only down 2 pounds. Meanwhile, my husband stopped drinking for 10 days and lost 8 pounds. How is that fair?”

If you’ve ever felt frustrated that your weight loss seems slow compared to everyone else’s (especially the men in your life) you’re definitely not alone.

And you’re not doing anything wrong.

In fact, what feels like “slow progress” is often exactly the kind of progress that leads to long-term fat loss and body recomposition.

Here’s what I told her and what I want every woman over 35 to know about losing weight and the scale.

 1. Stop Comparing Your Weight Loss to Anyone Else’s (Especially a Man’s)

Men lose weight faster. Period.
It’s not fairness, it’s physiology.

Men typically have:

  • more muscle mass

  • higher basal metabolic rates

  • more stored glycogen (which holds more water)

So when a man stops drinking, he often drops several pounds of water weight immediately.

Your partner or friend might lose 5–10 pounds quickly, but that doesn’t reflect fat loss — just water.


Your body is not behind.
You’re not failing.
You’re just comparing apples to oranges!

 2. The Scale Isn’t the Whole Story, Especially for Women Over 35

She told me the scale was “only down 2 pounds.”

But here’s what the scale wasn’t measuring:

  • increases in muscle

  • reductions in inflammation

  • clothing fitting differently

  • visible definition

  • strength gains

  • improved energy

  • better digestion

  • blood sugar stability

  • deeper sleep

  • higher daily movement

Women over 35 do not lose weight the same way they did in their 20s, and they shouldn’t want to!!!

👉 Fast weight loss usually means muscle loss.
👉 Muscle loss = slower metabolism.
👉 Slow metabolism = harder fat loss and easier regain.

After 35, preserving and building muscle is THE goal if you want to look leaner and stay strong and healthy long term.

That 2 pound loss?
It was pure fat! not muscle, which is EXACTLY what you want.

3. Dropping Calories or Cutting Carbs Won’t Make You Leaner. Just Tired.

My client asked:

  • Should I lower my calories?

  • Should I cut carbs back?

  • Should I go keto for a week to speed it up?

Short answer? No.
Long answer? Absolutely not.

Drastic changes might cause the scale to move temporarily, but they also create:

  • cravings

  • binge restrict cycles

  • hormonal stress

  • sleep disruption

  • increased cortisol

  • slower metabolism

  • lost muscle

  • rebound weight gain

Fast scale progress is mostly water! Fast results ≠ sustainable results.

And sustainable fat loss is the only kind that matters.

 4. Slow and Steady Fat Loss Is the Most Successful Fat Loss for Women 35+

I reminded her of all the things she was achieving:

✨ She feels younger.
✨ Her energy is way up.
✨ Her strength is improving weekly.
✨ Her clothes fit better.
✨ The scale is trending DOWN consistently.

This is exactly what successful fat loss looks like for women 35–55.

Not big drops.
Not dramatic weekly changes.
But slow, steady, permanent shifts.

The body needs time to adapt, especially in perimenopause, when stress, under eating, and extreme dieting backfire more than ever.

Ask Yourself These Questions Before You Panic and Cut Calories

If you’re tempted to “do more” or “eat less,” pause and ask yourself:

✔️ Are my habits sustainable long term?

If not, the results won’t be either.

✔️ Am I giving my body time to respond?

Fat loss is not instant, it compounds. (Just like weight gain!)

✔️ Am I seeing wins beyond the scale?

Progress pictures, strength, energy, consistency, mindset, digestion.

✔️ Is losing muscle worth a slightly faster scale drop?

(I’ll answer that one for you: it’s not.)

Remember:

👉 You can lose weight fast.
👉 Or you can lose weight forever.

Fast Weight Loss Isn’t the Goal. Forever Fat Loss Is.

If the scale is moving slowly, good.
That means:

  • you’re preserving muscle

  • your metabolism is staying strong

  • your body is recomposing

  • your results will last

And honestly?
A slow, consistent two pound fat loss in midlife is phenomenal progress.

You’re not behind.
You’re not stuck.
You’re building the body you want slowly, intentionally, sustainably by working WITH your body, not against it.