Thinner, stronger, and flabbier in some areas?

Anonycatgirl

OK, I've been losing weight at a slow and steady pace, without drastic calorie restriction. I've been exercising. I know I'm getting stronger and I'm showing better muscle definition in most of my body. (I know I'm not bulking, but as body fat is going away, the muscles I already have show more.)

However, I've noticed in the past week or so my upper thighs and butt feel a little more jiggly. Smaller, and with muscle underneath. but more jiggly. Everywhere else is tightening up. These were the areas where I was holding the most fat, so is it feeling temporarily softer as the big old fat deposits gradually diminish, or am I losing muscle despite my best efforts--and only there? Any suggestions?

(BTW, just to keep all the "lift heavy" people from wasting time and keystrokes, my doctor thinks in my case the risk of further injury to my already damaged spine and joints outweighs the benefits of heavy lifting. I know this means body recomposition will be more challenging, but I'm keen on not revisiting the "rigid back brace and pain pills" part of my life, so I'm listening to her.)

AllOutof_Bubblegum

When fat cells begin to empty, before they shrink, they fill themselves with water. It's survival mechanism, just in case you are going to put weight back on (relics from hunter-gatherer times when there were seasons of famine, I'm guessing) That's what makes body parts more jiggly than when they had fat on them. Then when it becomes pretty certain that you are not going to refill the cells with fat, they deplete, and you lose inches.

krispy1982

This happens to me too. It kind of 'hangs' there and looks weird. This morning I was half an inch down in my waist and up half in my hips. The skins all weird and jiggly. I'm excited about it actually because it always mean by next week or so it'll be gone!

Anonycatgirl

Thanks! That's reassuring and actually makes sense.