Weight Loss vs. Inches

onelove321
onelove321 Posts: 7
in Introduce Yourself
Which one truly matters?? In some cases, i've seen people lose like 5 inches but the scale doesn't budge. Why is this?

Replies

  • kae_blah
    kae_blah Posts: 180 Member
    1 pound of fat takes up more room than 1 pound of muscle - or something like that.
  • needt0l0seweight
    needt0l0seweight Posts: 2
    I think its because as you exercise the muscle built is heavier than fat so you could be burning fat without the number on the scale changing
  • Midnight1210
    Midnight1210 Posts: 134 Member
    If you are doing weight/strength training along with cardio you're building muscle while burning fat. So, since muscle is heavier, the scale may not move even as you're blasting that fat away.

    I judge my progress by my clothing now. The scale hasn't moved since November last year but I went down 2 sizes in jeans which is close to 3 inches off my waist.

    What matters is how you feel in your own skin and clothing. If you're happy - that's progress. :bigsmile:
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    Would you rather get to your goal # and still not fit clothes you were hoping to fit? or be heavier on the scale and fit smaller clothes? Really? There is no contest. I'd rather lose inches than scale #.
  • debraran1
    debraran1 Posts: 521 Member
    I agree, weight can look better with muscle than fat...I always remember being fat at 140 or 150 and then running a marathon and being skinny at 138.
    BUT and it's a big but, when you get over a certain weight, your doctor would probably like both. I'm losing inches, pants fit much better, some a size down,not tight, but doc will still say, "You have to lose weight". The numbers haven't gone down 10lbs yet and I have 30 to go.
    I'll take the inches, but still need to drop the pounds.
  • astrampe
    astrampe Posts: 2,169 Member
    Obviously inches! I would much rather wear a size smaller jeans than have 5lbs less on the scale (which I see, but nobody else knows...) And everybody can see what I look like in jeans....
    :drinker:
    I weigh a solid 8lbs more than before I started lifting heavy - and wear a full size smaller......
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,054 Member
    Which one truly matters?? In some cases, i've seen people lose like 5 inches but the scale doesn't budge. Why is this?
    If you look the way you want, fit the clothes you want, and people give good comments on your physique, does weight really matter?

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • luckyshilling
    luckyshilling Posts: 229
    Inches=Smaller Pants
    And I will take smaller pants anyday:happy:
  • Lift_This_
    Lift_This_ Posts: 2,756 Member
    I would take smaller clothes any day of the week...the scale is on a slow, slow, decline...but the inches are coming off faster than i thought...I like new clothes.

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