Help please! Losing inches but not weight :(

Options
amandacillin
amandacillin Posts: 39 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I have been circuit training for 3 months and had my measurements done this week. I only lost 10 inches overall and lost 6 pounds overall. Is this normal? I am overweight so I expected much more to come off in the beginning. I have been meticulous with counting calories 1200-1400 (not making up net calories) and working out with a personal trainer 3xs a week and doing cardio on my own for 20-40 minutes per day when I'm not training. I don't plan on giving up anytime soon but should I make changes or is this good progress?? My trainer says I should expect even better results at my next weigh in at 6 months and said I did great the first 3 with my loss so why is the scale bothering me so much?!
«13

Replies

  • CrimeanGurl
    CrimeanGurl Posts: 103
    Options
    Do you have a thyroid problem? I believe it is associated with slow metabolism. Also, how healthy are the calories you're consuming?
  • wareagle8706
    wareagle8706 Posts: 1,090 Member
    Options
    You're doing great!!! Why are you so worried?! You're seeing results (and good ones)! Just keep going. You have to be patient. How long did it take you to put all that weight on? A long time. It will take you a while to get it off too. Also, it's not a bad thing for the inches to change and the scale NOT. It means you're changing your body composition. Losing the fat, gaining muscle, and getting fit!! Be happy with your success!!
  • katerinajulia
    katerinajulia Posts: 89 Member
    Options
    check out http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/912920-in-place-of-a-road-map-3-2013
    I think you're not eating enough. read about BMR and TDEE and i think you'll find that it will help.
    best of luck!
  • kennie2
    kennie2 Posts: 1,171 Member
    Options
    id be more worried if weight was coming off but inches werent. so dont worry about it! 10 inches are great
  • artistryrose
    artistryrose Posts: 84 Member
    Options
    You are probly gaining some muscle, and remember, muscle weighs more!!! Scales don't tell the whole story
  • SteamRoller72
    SteamRoller72 Posts: 13 Member
    Options
    What percentage of your diet is coming from simple carbs?
    Sounds like your reshaping and dropping inches, but not getting into the stored fat due to carb overload.

    I'm just taking a shot here, i'm not an expert by any stretch. I've struggled in the past with plateau effect.

    Good luck!
  • overhaul12
    overhaul12 Posts: 20
    Options
    I have been circuit training for 3 months and had my measurements done this week. I only lost 10 inches overall and lost 6 pounds overall. Is this normal? I am overweight so I expected much more to come off in the beginning. I have been meticulous with counting calories 1200-1400 (not making up net calories) and working out with a personal trainer 3xs a week and doing cardio on my own for 20-40 minutes per day when I'm not training. I don't plan on giving up anytime soon but should I make changes or is this good progress?? My trainer says I should expect even better results at my next weigh in at 6 months and said I did great the first 3 with my loss so why is the scale bothering me so much?!

    10 inches is A LOT! And some people tend to lose weight a little slower than others. Although, it may be that you're not eating ENOUGH calories. You need to make sure you're getting adequate caloric intake to build muscle and burn fat -- especially with circuit training.
  • perfectionisntme
    perfectionisntme Posts: 205 Member
    Options
    When you circuit train, you put on muscle and your body is way out of its "fat burning" zone, plus your calorie intake is too low. Don't focus on the scale moving, be happy you lost inches, that's what matters! People see the inches, the don't see the numbers.
  • wmstormvet
    wmstormvet Posts: 145
    Options
    I am exactly opposite, my weight has dropped over 40 lbs since I stared on my journey but not lost tons of inches.
  • Athijade
    Athijade Posts: 3,279 Member
    Options
    Open your diary. Otherwise we are all guessing as to that half of the equation.
  • amandacillin
    amandacillin Posts: 39 Member
    Options
    Do you have a thyroid problem? I believe it is associated with slow metabolism. Also, how healthy are the calories you're consuming?

    Yes, I have hypothyroidism but my levels have stayed normal for over 2 years. Also, I have eaten clean for the last 3 months. My personal trainer keeps telling me not to look at the scale and not to eat my net calories back so I'm wondering if I am not eating enough from what I read on here. All of the conflicting info is so confusing! I won't give up just don't really know what to do to get better results when I measure again in 3 months.
  • SoDamnHungry
    SoDamnHungry Posts: 6,998 Member
    Options
    Losing inches is good. Don't pay so much attention to the scale.
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    Options
    It's not muscle on a 1200-1400 calorie diet, especially if exercise cals are not consumed.

    Losing inches trumps losing pounds in my book. Who cares what the scale says - no one sees that number but me, but when I drop a whole pants size because of the fat and inches I've lost, people notice! I went six months without losing a pound, but did lose that pant size during that time due to all the inches that were quietly melting off.

    Ignore the scale, embrace the tape measure, and if you're netting below 1200 calories, please eat more! Food is fuel!
  • mmuzzatti
    mmuzzatti Posts: 706 Member
    Options
    You are probly gaining some muscle, and remember, muscle weighs more!!! Scales don't tell the whole story

    Sorry I just have a pet peeve about post like this...if you have 1 pound of muscle and 1 pound of fat would they not weigh the same? So the correct response is muscle takes up less space than fat. So if you are burning fat and replacing it with muscle then that takes up less space so you have lost size but not matter. Keep up the good work.
  • climbamnt
    climbamnt Posts: 190 Member
    Options
    If you are losing inches I wouldn't worry about the scale, that's awesome to drop 10 inches!
  • kellijauch
    kellijauch Posts: 379 Member
    Options
    Keep in mind if you are overweight and you are working out like crazy, you are burning fat (thus losing inches) and gaining muscle at the same time. Muscle weighs more than fat, so while you are losing all that fat (10 inches is awesome! great job!), you are stll gaining mass in the muscle you are building. This is not a bad thing at all. This is why I hate scales. I personally think it only matters how you look, not what you weigh. Don't worry about the scale, just focus on the fact that you have lost 10 inches, which is outstanding! This is a pretty normal phenominon, especially in women and if you lived a fairly sedentary lifestyle before. Keep doing what you are doing! You're making a ton of progress!
  • amandacillin
    amandacillin Posts: 39 Member
    Options
    Thanks for all of the encouragement. Physical Trainers are not cheap so the quicker I can get in shape the sooner I can quit paying her so I am willing to take all of the advice I can get. Reading the forums on here IS my motivation and I determined to not give up. I won't stop until it is all GONE! I am crossing my fingers that the next 3 months go even better, my endurance and strength has no doubt improved tremendously, if anything that is worth it also.
  • NutellaAddict
    NutellaAddict Posts: 1,258 Member
    Options
    Wait your personal trainer said DON'T eat back the exercise calories...hmmm...ok Me thinks you need to eat more...i know i know...the usual answer but I can't see your diary so I'm going with an edumacated guess :tongue:
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    Options
    Best free advice I've gotten is all found right here: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/937712-in-place-of-a-road-map-ver-3-0

    Been eating according to the info there for over a year and have steadily dropped fat and inches, hit my goal weight, and will continue to eat this way for the rest of my life. Read it - good stuff.
  • laurasimmons
    laurasimmons Posts: 578 Member
    Options
    Progress is progress!

Categories