Clothes fit more loosely

leejoyce31
leejoyce31 Posts: 794 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I have read that you can't lose fat and gain muscle unless you lift and eat at maintenance. I had been maintaining for about a month, but in June I lost 2.2 pounds per Happy Scale averaging and 4 pounds per my home scale without averaging (not a big variance ). However, my clothes fit more loosely. I only use 5 pound Dumbbells with my Pilates workout and I do body weight exercises (jumping jacks, running with high knees and jumping rope movements without the rope and running in place- all in home exercises). If I'm not "recomping," what accounts for the loose fitting clothes with only a 2 - 4 pound weight loss? Just trying to understand the whole losing inches concept. Thanks in advance.

Replies

  • moto450
    moto450 Posts: 334 Member
    Despite what some say it is possible to lose fat and gain muscle at the same time. I've been doing it for a while. It's called recomp. The reason most say it's not possible is because it's not easy. If you are in too much of a deficit you will lose muscle, so it's a matter of finding that sweet spot for calories, and hitting the weights. Definitely doable.

    I prefer it to the typical bulk and cut because I HATE cutting. Just my personal opinion though. Recomp allows me to eat better, and not have to deal with large cutting periods.

    Just my opinion, so take it for what it's worth. :-)
  • trigden1991
    trigden1991 Posts: 4,658 Member
    Recomping is real................... However it is slow and many people get frustrated with the lack of quick"progress".

    If you can stick with it for the long term, then its great. If not then do traditional cut/bulks.
  • leejoyce31
    leejoyce31 Posts: 794 Member
    trigden1991 wrote: »
    Recomping is real................... However it is slow and many people get frustrated with the lack of quick"progress".

    If you can stick with it for the long term, then its great. If not then do traditional cut/bulks.

    Thanks for the reply. I'm not actually recomping on purpose. I just noticed that my clothes fit more loosely, but the scale shows only a 2.5 weight loss. I'm really trying to understand the whole concept of losing inches.
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    You aren't really doing anything that promotes muscle growth
  • leejoyce31
    leejoyce31 Posts: 794 Member
    singingflutelady wrote: »
    You aren't really doing anything that promotes muscle growth

    Based upon what I read I agree with but I still don't understand why my clothes are so much looser. Thanks for all the replies. I guess I'll chalk it up as an unexplained occurrence.
  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,486 Member
    It is hard to put all this in context without knowing your height and weight.

    I maintain within a 5 lbs range and at 5'1 100 lbs my clothes are a little loose, at 105 they are getting tight.

    A 3-5 lbs weight range on someone who is apple shaped can make a bigger difference on clothing fit than on someone who gains and loses all over.

    Also, as you have just started maintenance your body is still adjusting. It can take time for your water weight to stablise and your skin to settle into your new size.

    Cheers, h.

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