Lost Inches but How?

Carolyn_79

I need this explained to me. I'm currently doing Chalean Extreme which is a weight lifting program by Beachbody. I'm in week 6 right now. The scale has not moved since I started the program. My pants are looser so I took measurements last night and I've lost an inch in the waist, an inch in the hips, and 0.5 in my thighs. I don't understand how it's possible that I lost inches but haven't seen the scale move while eating at a calorie deficit? My understanding is that you cannot build muscle while in a calorie deficit so how is this possible? I thought perhaps I am retaining water but shouldn't water retention be temporary? I am of course happy to have looser clothing but I don't really understand how it's possible.

SelenityJ

Well it depends. As long as your body is getting what it needs from the food you are eating there can be muscle development.

Though may I ask, are you just not eating back your exercise burned calories or are you eating less than what you should be eating before exercise?

If it's the latter I must caution against continuing on that route without consulting a physician.

nxd10

You are building muscle, which is denser than fat. The same weight of muscle takes up a smaller volume of space, so you are losing inches.

Your body uses fat to store energy for future use. Most of that goes in and out of the cells daily (food > blood sugar > short term fat storage). The fat not used short term can be used later. You are now using your older fat reserves.

Because this is not as efficient (it is more metabolically costly) to access than blood sugar or short term fat storage, it's harder to build muscle on a calorie deficit. But you can do it if you are exercising regularly and are eating enough to go about your regular business and do that too. One the reasons that MFP is set up with a small (500 calorie) deficit, is that at about that level you can do both without stressing your body.

I hear it is easiest to do that if the weight you're trying to lose (fat you're trying to metabolize) is newer, not older. The older, denser the fat, the more costly to utilize.

Luciabella07

Im having the same problem. I am going onto my second week of Slim in 6 and my weight has not dropped, it has even gone up a pound. I checked my measurements this morning and I lost an inch on my waist and half an inch of my thighs.

WendyTerry420

It could take up to a month before you see the scale drop at all. Your muscles are retaining water in order to repair themselves from your exercise. Give it time, grab your tape measure, and put the scale in the closet for a month.

neeners1975

I'm having the same issue. I've been doing Jillian Michael's "Ripped in 30" workout mostly every day and runnning on other days and eating better, sticking to about 1200 calories a day. Since mid June I've only lost about 3 lbs, but have lost 2 inches off my waist and hips as well as 1/2 inch off my arms and thighs. My clothes definately fit better and my body feels smaller and tighter, but I agree that it's discouraging when you step on the scale and only see a few lbs lost. I have to keep reminding myself that I'm building muscle. It's such a mind game more than anything!

Carolyn_79

Well it depends. As long as your body is getting what it needs from the food you are eating there can be muscle development.

Though may I ask, are you just not eating back your exercise burned calories or are you eating less than what you should be eating before exercise?

If it's the latter I must caution against continuing on that route without consulting a physician.

I'm not sure how you got that from my post. I always eat back all my exercise calories. I need the energy for fuel. I don't believe in starving to lose.

nxd10

Im having the same problem. I am going onto my second week of Slim in 6 and my weight has not dropped, it has even gone up a pound. I checked my measurements this morning and I lost an inch on my waist and half an inch of my thighs.

I wish I had this problem.

SelenityJ

Well it depends. As long as your body is getting what it needs from the food you are eating there can be muscle development.

Though may I ask, are you just not eating back your exercise burned calories or are you eating less than what you should be eating before exercise?

If it's the latter I must caution against continuing on that route without consulting a physician.

I'm not sure how you got that from my post. I always eat back all my exercise calories. I need the energy for fuel. I don't believe in starving to lose.

In your post it wasn't clear to me. Glad it's not the latter. You mentioned a calorie deficit and I wasn't sure how you meant it. Keep up the good work!