Help! I am losing inches, but not any weight???

amyncrook
amyncrook Posts: 14
in Health and Weight Loss
I had my thyroid removed last March and gained 13 pounds before I decided enough was enough. My meds are where they need to be now and I am trying to lose the weight again. I am at 180 and want to get to 160. I have lost 9 inches total so far since Jan. 2nd, but the scale is always the same. I have lost weight by counting calories and exercising 30 to 45 minutes 6 days a week after each of my 5 children. It has always been 1 pound a week.
I know muscle weighs more than fat, so I should be feeling good about losing the inches. BUT, I want the pounds to go down too! Does anyone know what I am doing wrong and what I should be doing to loose some weight too???

Replies

  • tigerlily8045
    tigerlily8045 Posts: 402 Member
    If you are losing inches then i would say that nothing is wrong at all. The scale is not the end all be all.
  • faireplay
    faireplay Posts: 126
    How long have you been attempting to lose? Sometimes it takes a couple of weeks for your efforts to reflect on the scale. And while muscle is denser than fat it does not weigh more. A pound of fat is exactly equal in in weight to a pound of muscle. The muscle just takes up less space. Unless you have been working out with heavy weights for quite some time it is unlikely that muscle gains are accountable for the lack of loss.
    Be absolutely brutally honest and accurate with your weighing and measuring for two weeks, watch your sodium, and work out. if you are truly eating at a deficit you will lose unless there is a medical issue.
  • tennesseeleigh
    tennesseeleigh Posts: 169
    Hi Amy,

    Sounds like you are doing great. A pound of muscle takes up less space than a pound of fat so the fact that you are losing inches is a great indication that you are doing something right. I would suggest putting up the scale for a while and just keep focusing on the inches lost.
  • jesz124
    jesz124 Posts: 1,004 Member
    It's not muscle gains. Women have to work stupidly hard to gain muscle. It doesn't happen by accident or by doing cardio. Who cares what the scale says, its just a small part of showing progress, and often not a very good one at that. Measure, take pics, how clothes fit are all better ways.
  • OtiWanKenobi
    OtiWanKenobi Posts: 340 Member
    OMG if I was loosing inches, looking lean and fit, but still weighed the same I would be one happy camper!

    And muscle DOES NOT weigh more than fat. 1 lb = 1 lb.
    The difference is the muscle takes up less space than fat.

    The scale can be your worst enemy sometime...it's just a number. What's important is how you look and feel in your clothes.

    Be happy about it! Loosing inches is a great thing!!
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    CONGRATS!
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    I'd take a loss in inches over the scale # any day!!! Congrats on your loss!!!
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    CONGRATS!
    QFT!
  • saxmaniac
    saxmaniac Posts: 1,133 Member
    There's no such thing as a "total inch", there are only inches at various places like waist, hips, etc. That said, I'd rather lose inches such places than pounds overall.
  • keltee15
    keltee15 Posts: 30 Member
    Amy I started out the same way i lost inches 1st now im loosing weight. so keep doing what you are doing!
  • Nessiechickie
    Nessiechickie Posts: 1,392 Member
    I would be happy if I dropped inches and the scale didn't move.
  • jenilla1
    jenilla1 Posts: 11,118 Member
    Inches are better than pounds! :drinker:
  • missashley884
    missashley884 Posts: 188 Member
    OP i kow what youre saying about the scale. ppl tell me not to worry about that number, HOWEVER for me, being at this weight hurts my knees and joints, so yes its imperitive i lose the pounds, not just inches
  • Oishii
    Oishii Posts: 2,675 Member
    I'd take a loss in inches over the scale # any day!!! Congrats on your loss!!!

    This. My body gives up weight easily, but my waist measurement goes down far slower.
  • tolygal
    tolygal Posts: 602 Member
    I understand wanting to see the scale move, but who the heck cares!! You're losing inches, which means you're getting smaller!!! Keep up the good work!
  • 1ConcreteGirl
    1ConcreteGirl Posts: 3,677 Member
    Woohoo! Great work!

    Only you see the scale number. Everyone else sees you looking smaller.
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    I would re-evaluate your priorities. People see your body, not your weight.
  • Danni1585
    Danni1585 Posts: 250 Member
    Scales will catch up, take the inches and smile xxxx
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    OP i kow what youre saying about the scale. ppl tell me not to worry about that number, HOWEVER for me, being at this weight hurts my knees and joints, so yes its imperitive i lose the pounds, not just inches

    If you are losing the inches, that means you are losing fat. If you are keeping at the same # - that probably means that you are building muscle.

    No fat doesn't weight more than muscle..1lb of fat is the same as 1lb of muscle..but if you are having issues with your knees and joints, then building up your muscle along with losing the inches in regards to the fat, will probably be as beneficial as having the scale # go down.
  • Energizer06
    Energizer06 Posts: 311 Member
    The muscle you have gained already in 3-4 weeks should start shredding the scale around week 6 -8. If you really lost 9 inches in 3 weeks then when you do start losing weight its going to go fast (ie 3-4 lbs/wk). So, give it another 3 weeks. When you hit your goal, remember to adjust your nutrition (calories) to maintain your goal weight. Your on the right track.
  • amyncrook
    amyncrook Posts: 14
    THANKS!!!
  • amyncrook
    amyncrook Posts: 14
    I will clarify: I lost 3 inches around my waist, 2 around my mid waist, 2 inches around my hips, 1 1/2 around my thigh, and 1/2 inch around my arm.
  • fit4lifeUcan2
    fit4lifeUcan2 Posts: 1,458 Member
    Ignore the scale and be happy with your thinner body. I'm sure you've worked hard for it. :flowerforyou:
  • GaiaGirl1992
    GaiaGirl1992 Posts: 459 Member
    This is an issue how?? I'd kill to lose inches.....smile at your progress!

    *edit* To be a little more helpful, maybe you should put your scale away for a few weeks? Use only the mirror to track progress, maybe some photos every few weeks.
  • LokiOfAsgard
    LokiOfAsgard Posts: 378 Member
    When it comes to inches and weight, losing inches is better.
    Weight is SO easily influenced. You could drink a bottle of water and gain a lb, but that doesn't mean you're a lb fatter, it's just the water.

    Inches are better, weight will probably start up soon. Don't worry :)
  • nixirain
    nixirain Posts: 448 Member
    I will clarify: I lost 3 inches around my waist, 2 around my mid waist, 2 inches around my hips, 1 1/2 around my thigh, and 1/2 inch around my arm.

    I don't understand the problem? I would kill to be smaller and weight more. Why? Because you get to eat more!!!
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    I will clarify: I lost 3 inches around my waist, 2 around my mid waist, 2 inches around my hips, 1 1/2 around my thigh, and 1/2 inch around my arm.


    OMG!!!
    You have NO idea how FANTASTIC a 3" loss off your waist is (I mean, they're all good, but waist inches are like the ungettable get). I would be singing from the rooftops!
  • Xhell_on_heelsX
    Xhell_on_heelsX Posts: 299
    Honestly, I think I'm only going to start weighing myself once a month..I've lost 5 pounds and then have been sorely dissapointed every other time I've been on the scale..but I "feel" myself becoming thinner and lighter and I have had an enormous gain in the amount of energy I have everyday. It's not just the scale you need to look at throughout this journey = ]
  • Wrenbot87
    Wrenbot87 Posts: 100 Member


    And muscle DOES NOT weigh more than fat. 1 lb = 1 lb.
    The difference is the muscle takes up less space than fat.

    The scale can be your worst enemy sometime...it's just a number. What's important is how you look and feel in your clothes.

    This was my first thought exactly!!! I think we psych ourselves out sometimes.

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