Riddle me this.. tape measure vs scale

taco_tap

I am a believer of the tape measure. But I also listen to what the scale has to say. A lot of people say they don't lose weight but they lose inches. This was my story for a while. Now its the opposite. So I lose weight but sometimes add inches... What does that mean? I cant be losing muscle since I do strength training and I do cardio all the time. Im working out 5-6 days a week. Maybe its to get my body fat percentage checked again...? Maybe this happens when you get close your goal? its so confusing..

siabevis

Tape

rodneyderrick

You listen to the scale? Sounds like you liked to be lied too.

sryan8408

Where does the tape say you're gaining? Arms? Legs? Could be muscle forming. I go by the scale unless the scale says nothing, then I measure by tape. But its mostly just a feel good process. Like hey you may not have lost weight this week but you lost an inch off your hips.

cheri0627

where are you gaining inches? I know that my thigh number has been all over the place with my measurements. All my other measurements went down except my thigh, which stayed exactly the same for like 6 months. Then it finally dropped. Now it's back up this last time I measured, and now is like half an inch below where I started at 11months ago. There is so much less fat now, but it is very muscular.

taco_tap

The exact place of focus is love handles. pesky little buggers :grumble:

and it isnt a lot. inch or so.. but its enough to be upset. IMO.

kandrews24

I hear you!

I got sick of the silliness and the guessing. For about $40, I purchased the most awesome scale!!!! Not only does it tell the truth, it tells the whole truth and nothing but the truth. It measures weight, body fat %, muscle, water % and bone! OMG, I'm in love! It is easy to use and very reliable.

It is the Ozeri Touch. Now I can see when muscle goes up and fat goes down, etc. No more guessing.

As to inches . . . I think that is an art. But that's just me. I am starting to suspect that as you lose weight sometimes, it kind of spreads out before is whooshes away. I can't explain it, but I did see some articles about the evolution of the fat cells. Circuit training and toning has helped me so much. But gotta increase weight, not just reps.

The_Saint

Both are useful, but in different ways.
To compare them is to say

How many inches are in a pound?

Different metrics, both are useful. So is body fat testing.

Its all about application.

sandislim

Perhaps the tape is more accurate when taking full body measurements, but I have found taking waist measurements just as unreliable as the scale in the short term.

I guess I just rely on effort and time. If I put the effort in over a certain amount of time I should see results eventually - but sometimes I get a bit dispondent.

taco_tap

Soo... they body is playing mind games...

Im not convinced by anything besides the mirror. But I will listen to all arguments. The tape and the scale are arguing and I dont know who to trust. I will just keep on trucking. Thanks for the advice y'all!