Confused....how is this possible?

VanderTuig1976

Hi there,

I hope someone can explain to me how I can lose inches but not necessarily pounds.....Background: I have been dieting since January and lost 15-20 lbs. After this loss, I began a functional training program 4x a week at the gym and have been following their eating plan (4-6 small meals per day). At first, I kept my cals to 1300 but have increased to 1400-1500. I am 37, 5'7, and 156. Yesterday, my trainer weighed and measured me. I was surprised to learn that in 5 weeks time I had only lost 2 lbs. but have significant reduction in inches; a total of 3 in. off of my waist. Also, loss in body fat percentage.

How the heck is that possible without corresponding weight loss? Don't get me wrong; I am thrilled with the loss of inches but am confused about the poundage. I understand that I may have some very minor muscle gains as I'm a newbie to lifting and resistance training but I am eating at a pretty huge deficit (in my opinion). Can someone tell me the scientific reason for the inches vs. pound reduction? Thanks in advance....I have learned so much from this site!

ahamm002

Hi there,

I hope someone can explain to me how I can lose inches but not necessarily pounds.....Background: I have been dieting since January and lost 15-20 lbs. After this loss, I began a functional training program 4x a week at the gym and have been following their eating plan (4-6 small meals per day). At first, I kept my cals to 1300 but have increased to 1400-1500. I am 37, 5'7, and 156. Yesterday, my trainer weighed and measured me. I was surprised to learn that in 5 weeks time I had only lost 2 lbs. but have significant reduction in inches; a total of 3 in. off of my waist. Also, loss in body fat percentage.

How the heck is that possible without corresponding weight loss? Don't get me wrong; I am thrilled with the loss of inches but am confused about the poundage. I understand that I may have some very minor muscle gains as I'm a newbie to lifting and resistance training but I am eating at a pretty huge deficit (in my opinion). Can someone tell me the scientific reason for the inches vs. pound reduction? Thanks in advance....I have learned so much from this site!

Your weight can fluctuate a lot from day to day due to water retention, which has nothing to do with fat. So two isolated measurements don't mean much. If you've been losing inches and not weight recently, it's possible that you've gained some muscle while burning fat.

meritage4

1 lb of muscle is smaller than 1 lb of fat.

nsimon24

I'm surprised your trainer could not answer that question - they should have known! Muscle weighs more than fat, so it sounds like you are at the point where you are burning fuel more efficiently and building up muscle tissue rather than just burning excess fat (and your metabolism has probably become more efficient as well - muscle burns more calories per pound). It is one of the reasons fitness experts tell you to focus on inches and the way your clothes fit instead of becoming obsessed with the scale. Your body can fluctuate in weight due to water gain, but inches are a better measure of fitness along with BMI.

Congrats btw! Keep up the good work!