Losing weight but not inches

miichan15

Hello all! Hope everyone is having a great day!

I started my journey to a healthier lifestyle January 1, 2021. It wasn't a new years resolution or anything, I literally just woke up and decided I needed to make a change.

Anyway, since then I've lost 35 lbs (yay!) (I'm a very big girl so 35lbs is only 11.5% of my starting weight) but I haven't lost any inches (or even centimeters for that matter)

I lost the weight by counting calories and staying around 1600-1800 per day (2000 on a bad day, happens probs 2-3 times a month) and going to the gym 3-5 days a week, pending on how busy I get. (Usually 3)

At the gym I've been doing a combination of cardio, or weight training, and cardio kickboxing. The kickboxing was an hour long class and on cardio days I would be on the elliptical for 30-45 minutes and on weight training days I would do about 20 minutes of cardio and about 20-30 minutes of weightlifting. (It's honestly different almost every day, I can't seem to make up my mind which exercises I like best haha)

Now, since losing those 35lbs, I haven't noticed ANY physical changes.

Is this something that is happening just because I'm bigger? Or am I doing something wrong? Please let me know if anyone else is in the same boat because it can be frustrating not seeing any changes after losing all that weight ☹️

(Also I'm nowhere near my goals for this lifestyle change so I'll keep going, I just want to be sure I'm going about it correctly)

Ok that's all thank you for stopping by! Hope you're all able to crush your goals today! 😊❤️

yirara

Have you taken measurements with a tape measure, and are you sure you always measured at the same locations? Any change in how your clothes fit?
You seem to be a big girl, thus it might take a while until you actually see something. Other people who aren't family are probably the first to notice, followed by family. We ourselves tend to be the last to notice.

Btw, congratulations to your great work!

wunderkindking

So.

Sometimes a lot of the fat we have when we're really heavy is called visceral fat. Losing that won't make you look different, because it's around your organs and very internal.

I have no idea if this is what's going on with you. It may be part of it, though, along with some other stuff that I hope someone with more info than me can come along and explain.


That said I think I lost probably 2/3 of my goal weight before I saw a visible difference and I only slowly lost clothing sizes until the (bigger onion you notice when you peel a layer off of less) but I also didn't do measurements.

penguinmama87

In addition to the above, it might matter where you take measurements, too. I didn't start as high as you, but my waist and hip measurements (i.e. the ones most of us concern ourselves with) are only a little bit under what they were when I started. But my arms and legs have lost more, which is noticeable now (I really didn't think my feet would change size but my favorite pair of sandals is now loose at the ankle - and of course it's a design with nonadjustable straps there!) But most of my clothes are shaped and sized to fit a range and they still don't look or feel too big, even though I'm 25 lbs down.

I had people notice the first 10 lbs but since then no comments. I can tell a few differences, but only because I've gotten better at measuring in a consistent way and because I'm taking progress photos. Most of the differences are subtle. I think I'm probably going to have to lose another 10, maybe even 20, for it to really start making an obvious difference even to people who don't know me well. And even then I'll still have about 20 more to go!

PAV8888

--it is amazing how difficult it is sometimes to see changes in our selves (both ways)

--other people are not "trust-worthy" to tell you: they may notice and not comment. they may notice and be confused because they superimpose their own values. they may want to be nice. they may want to be mean. they may be conflicted as to what they are. in general they are not reliable

--as same as possibly posed photos are always an interesting thing to see after large changes.

--visceral fat is definitely a thing

--measurements are great... if you can measure the same thing. I started at less than you... and i can guarantee you that my belly button and waist are not at the same location they used to be. Measurements (including the scale) have errors. Large errors at times.

--it sure sounds as if you're heading in the right direction and it's a much better one than the opposite one... keep on going... you will see it (and take some pictures along the way... you will be surprised some day when you look back at them... I totally regret not capturing my top weight either in pictures or on the scale!)

Well done so far!

springlering62

I’m going to second @PAV8888 ’s suggestion of photos. I have very few of me at my highest weight, and none during the first six months of weight loss, and I regret that now (but not enough to start over, lol).

You will often hear body dysmorphia discussed here, and I can personally attest, that’s a real thing.

Your brain is so accustomed to seeing “fat you” that it doesn’t acknowledge “thinning you”. You will continue see the same you in the mirror.

I knew I’d lost weight. I couldn’t see it. I was FRUSTRATED but thankfully hung in there.

It wasn’t until six months in and fifty or so pounds down, I started with a personal trainer, who insisted on sending photos every week that I started seeing the difference. I could see it in the photos but I couldn’t see it in the mirror (and god knows I tried).

It was nearly two years in, dropping from 24w to (at that time) a size 6, and well over 90 pounds lost that my brain rebooted. Yep. That’s exactly what it was like. One day it was “oh you again, Fatty”, and the next day it was “Holy ****! Who are you?!”

For me, dysmorphia also became a problem. I had dropped too low before I could see how awful I looked, and have since intentionally put back on six pounds. (Ironically, even increasing my weight, I still dropped another size or two.)

Your brain and your body are wondrous things, but your brain will *kitten* with your eyes and your body will *kitten* with the scale. Just knowing this in advance would have helped me tremendously. I was so grateful when I ran acrost a discussion of Body Dysmorphia here, at just the moment I needed it.

springlering62

And you are doing FABULOUSLY WELL!!!!

You keep on doing what your doing and you will succeed!

ninerbuff

When people lose weight (especially fat), it's going to be from all over. So you're likely a "smaller" version of what you were.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition