Question: Losing inches but not weight?

eggsmilkbread · March 2013

Okay so that wasn't the BEST worded question, but I think I got the point across. I'm a 5'4" female, 160 lbs. I'm kind of concerned about my losses, I'm a good month into my weightloss deal here, I started at about 165 lbs, lost what I assume was my waterweight. And that's all the weight I've lost so far.

On the other hand, I've lost at least 10 inches in total on my body so far. So I assume I'm doing SOMETHING right, right?! I'm just concerned slightly that the scale isn't dropping. I am noticing my clothes get smaller, body feeling more toned, but it just seems a bit odd that I'm not losing any weight.

I'm pretty much aware that muscle does NOT weigh more then fat, it's just denser. I'm not exactly hitting the weight racks at gyms either. I do 30DS everyday(cept sunday,) C25K every other day and yoga every other day. Not very intense compared to most other people. And I know I'm not just piling on muscle, that can't be, can it? I know that my "healthy" weight is around 120, I'm a medium-largish(maybe it's just the fat, I dunno) build. I'm definately not "obese" either. Just fat. I see people losing like 20 lbs in their first month, but they seem to be a LOT bigger then me so I figured the bigger you are/more you have to lose, the quicker the inital weight comes off.

I just wanted MFP's opinion/guesses on why the pounds aren't dropping, and maybe some insight as to IF they'll ever drop??

fairie_marie · March 2013

It could be that you are getting more muscle and it is replacing the fat so they are evening it out. 10 in in a month is AMAZING!! That is great work. I would not worry about the scale so much

eggsmilkbread · March 2013

Lol thanks! I'm just worried about not being at a "healthy" weight. 160 lbs for a 5'4" girl isn't the best, I've heard. :blushing:

LeslieN65 · March 2013

Good question....I am losing inches and have lost some weight but seem to be in a holding pattern at this time..I was told to mix things up food and exercise wise...so that is what I have started doing...but only since the 1st of March, so I can't really give you any feedback on that from personal experience, but from others I have heard that it works great! You may want to try that....

FitBrit91 · March 2013

You are probably replacing your fat with muscle. But if you have lost 10 inches on your body, then you should start to lose at least a little bit of weight. I started out at 160 after my 2nd pregnancy, I am now 143. Maybe you should incorporate more intense cardio into your life. Then you will see results on the scales, as well as with the tape

dangerousdumpling · March 2013

I've been losing inches more than pounds, too. Yesterday I realized I've lost two shirt sizes. But no pounds in two weeks or more. I figure if my body is changing then I need to not care how much I weigh. What difference does it make how much I weigh as long as I'm the size I want to be? I figure the pounds will fall off eventually but I care about them less now that I see that I'm shrinking.

kegleyc02 · March 2013

I know exactly where you are coming from. I have been working out for the last month and a half like crazy. I haven't lost any weight but have lost inches. 5 in in just my waist in a month. I have quit weighing myself. Focusing on my eating now. Keeping track better. I tell my self to just keep moving and exercising. The scale will catch up. It is aggravating and can be discouraging. I try to find other things too to celebrate. Like more weight added to my regime or longer cardio with bursts included. There is always something to celebrate. Hope you much success!

KeRAWRi · March 2013

Lol thanks! I'm just worried about not being at a "healthy" weight. 160 lbs for a 5'4" girl isn't the best, I've heard. :blushing:

You can be 'overweight' and healthy. Focus more on the inches and less on the scale. Getting obsessed with the scale is easy to do and it isn't worth it. Keep up the good work! You're doing great!

llkilgore · March 2013

My guess is that the 5 pounds you lost included more fat than you think. And that you're seeing some exercise related water retention reflected in your scale weight now. And salt related too, judging from your diary... potato chips and bratwurst will do that to ya'. I wouldn't worry too much about it, though. It looks to me like you're making good progress.

Ramberta · March 2013

There's a girl on my FL who posted side-by-side comparison pics at the same weight-- and yet, they were at least three clothing sizes apart and she looked totally different. We let ourselves get discouraged at what the scale says, but measurements are more indicative of our body fat percentage. Losing lots of inches first means that all the weight you've lost so far has been fat!

I myself have been losing very slowly, but, I've noticed my clothes are definitely looser. I've lost at least an inch off my waist so far. If you're losing something, whether it be inches or pounds, you are doing it right! Just keep it up

PikaKnight · March 2013

Lol thanks! I'm just worried about not being at a "healthy" weight. 160 lbs for a 5'4" girl isn't the best, I've heard. :blushing:

Aim for a "healthy" body fat % versus a "healthy" body weight per the scale.

My "goal" is 19-20% body fat, which means (because I am getting more and more into weight training aka heavy lifting) that my weight might be anywhere between 110-140lbs (I'm 5'1).

Currently, I've been stuck fluctuating between 178-181lbs but I've gone from a size 18 to 14 in pants size and from XL to L in shirt size. I'll take the loss of inches over the loss of the scale # any day.

Lyadeia · March 2013

I only actually weigh myself any more these days because I have to for this fat loss challenge I am in right now. The real loss is in the inches. I went shopping today and bought 4 things that were size 5/6. I started my fat loss challenge almost 3 weeks ago as a size 7/8, and I have only lost 2 pounds so far.

The scale is stressful. Go by the inches!

Question: Losing inches but not weight?

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