Measurement assessment?

JosieRawr

Well... I'm not sure how I feel about this... I took some new measurements when I started back 2 months ago, but I haven't really been measuring on a regular basis and only measured my waist, hip, thigh(basically areas that I consider big). I'm not really concerned with quick results, just focusing on the week by week, not so much the results as I know what I'm doing works for me as long as I keep doing it!

A few days ago I realized that it had been over a month since I measured. So I measured in, and did the first full measure in that I've done since last year. I lost over an inch in my waist and hips(yay), and my arm, forearm, and thigh measurements are less now than they were last year when I was about 10 pounds lighter... Generally these are areas that I focus on strength more than smaller measurements and I was doing a lot of squats, leg press, hand weights and body weight exercise to maintain and increase strength especially in my arms...

These measurements make me feel that I have probably lost muscle mass in these areas over the last year. Is this how you would take it? I'm not lean yet, I still have about 25 pounds to lose. I'm not freaking out or bummed or anything.

I'm just curious if my assessment of this change seems accurate?

I'm 5'8.5"
Currently 168.5-170 pounds.
Was 160 at my last measurements.

Current Measurements
arm 12.5(down from 13.5)
forearm 9.75(down from 10.25)
(measured from the largest as I was trying to gain when I was previously tracking this measurement)

meshashesha2012

are you stronger? you could just be losing fat. but i think i understand what you mean, depending on where you were strength wise then using small hand weights might be a step back in terms of strength rather than going forward.

JosieRawr

I only use small hand weights for cardio I have 20-40 pounders which are able to challenge me at this point and I do body weight exercises, I don't think that I'm stronger as before I was able to slowly let myself down from the pull up position(not able to do regular ones) and now I cannot(I just tried it), most likely weaker.

JosieRawr

Although of course small is relative... my 40 pounders could be cardio range for someone else lol.

Azdak

The decrease in circumferences represent fat losses, not muscle loss. There is no appreciable muscle in the waist--anything you lose there is fat.

Remember those hundreds of topics about "does muscle weigh less than fat"? This is what they were about. Muscle is less dense than fat so any fat loss will result in decreased circumferences--this will often occur even if one gains some muscle (again, the whole density thing). Enjoy the decreases.

meshashesha2012

I only use small hand weights for cardio I have 20-40 pounders which are able to challenge me at this point and I do body weight exercises, I don't think that I'm stronger as before I was able to slowly let myself down from the pull up position(not able to do regular ones) and now I cannot(I just tried it), most likely weaker.

uggg now that's worrisome :ohwell:

you should be getting stronger.. maybe let your trainer know this is your goal if you havent already and tell them that you are no longer able to do the negative pullups.

JosieRawr

The decrease in circumferences represent fat losses, not muscle loss. There is no appreciable muscle in the waist--anything you lose there is fat.

Remember those hundreds of topics about "does muscle weigh less than fat"? This is what they were about. Muscle is less dense than fat so any fat loss will result in decreased circumferences--this will often occur even if one gains some muscle (again, the whole density thing). Enjoy the decreases.

I wasn't talking about the waist.
I was talking about my measurements that are now smaller than they were when I was leaner: forearm and arm mostly...
Thanks anyways though... and I am enjoying my losses in my bigger areas Not necessarily disapproving of the arm and forearm measurements, just pondering about it.

JosieRawr

I only use small hand weights for cardio I have 20-40 pounders which are able to challenge me at this point and I do body weight exercises, I don't think that I'm stronger as before I was able to slowly let myself down from the pull up position(not able to do regular ones) and now I cannot(I just tried it), most likely weaker.

uggg now that's worrisome :ohwell:

you should be getting stronger.. maybe let your trainer know this is your goal if you havent already and tell them that you are no longer able to do the negative pullups.

I don't have a trainer and it was over a year ago, I just haven't been working on it. Another reason for me to think I lost arm muscle, no worries though. I just started working on it again. I've pretty much answered my question anyways. And I do thank you for your thoughtful responses!