Losing lbs but not inches?

SarahDavs
SarahDavs Posts: 161 Member
edited January 23 in Health and Weight Loss
Is it normal to be losing pounds but hardly any inches? It seems like I'm very SLOWLY losing inches and feeling a bit frustrated by it. I weigh in and measure once a week, and usually lose between 1/2 and 1 inches on either my waist, hips, arms, legs, or chest. For example, in about 3 months I've lost about 3 inches around my waist. It seems like I should be losing more. I started at 244 and now I'm at 221 pounds. I'm 23 pounds down but can't really see any difference in the mirror or by the way my clothes fit... yet. :3 Are my expectations for how quickly I should be losing inches too high, maybe?

Replies

  • craigmandu
    craigmandu Posts: 976 Member
    It really depends on how the weight is coming off.

    Average for women is 1 pant size for every 8-12 lbs. If you are doing it with diet alone, then muscle is also being lost and it weighs much more than fat, so your size may not drop as much as you'd want.

    If you are strength training at the same time, you'll retain that muscle and the losses would have more of a size impact as you lose.
  • Petrapoo45
    Petrapoo45 Posts: 271 Member
    This totally happened to me!! It took me nearly 25lbs to loose any significant inches in my waist. Just keep at it, and you will get there!!
  • SarahDavs
    SarahDavs Posts: 161 Member
    I have been exercising on my stationary bike.. I started doing 5minutes at a time and have worked up to between 30 and 40 minutes in one go, about 6 days a week.
  • Shanel0916
    Shanel0916 Posts: 586 Member
    LIft weights if possible, and you will drop inches and pants sizes
  • craigmandu
    craigmandu Posts: 976 Member
    I have been exercising on my stationary bike.. I started at 5minutes at a time and have worked up to between 30 and 40 minutes in one go, about 6 days a week.

    Nothing wrong with that. And if that is your preferred method of exercise, then absolutely stick with it.

    I would recommend if you want a recommendation, that you take up some lifting as well. Many women here get absolutely fabulous results when they do. I say do what works for you.

    I would suggest to read this post. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/979178-halp-heavy-lifting-made-me-supah-bulky

    It's pretty damn inspirational, and a great testimony to how working out many muscle groups can aid in sculpture.

    I wish you the best of luck in your journey!
  • missmegan831
    missmegan831 Posts: 824 Member
    Ive lost 52 pounds and only dropped 1 1/2 pants sizes.. its discouraging but if you have lot to lose seems like it comes off here and there... be patient and great job ob your loss thus far
  • Romoyuset
    Romoyuset Posts: 1 Member
    I have recently started joining some of the groups on here. I use to weight at my HEAVIEST 282lbs (height is 5'2). I am now at 206 (little over a year). Size 24 to size 16/18 depending on brand of clothes. It takes some time to actually see yourself look smaller. You own mind doesnt really see the difference. But other people will see the difference though. I really dont see my self THAT much smaller though it is ALOT of weight that I was lose. Sometimes you lose inches and sometimes you don't. And if you are incoporating excercise it might take a little more time for you to see it.
  • jadethief
    jadethief Posts: 266 Member
    It depends on where you're losing at. The first place I noticed losing was my feet. I've been losing fairly steadily in my hips and thighs.. Today was the first day in 4 months that my stomach measurement decreased. Last week I noticed there was less fat on the back of my neck. So even after losing 32 lbs, I've only gone down 2 pant sizes. The size I'm in is baggy in the butt and thighs but snug on my belly.
  • SarahDavs
    SarahDavs Posts: 161 Member
    Thanks all :-)

    craigmandu, TY, I'll check out that link.
  • craigmandu
    craigmandu Posts: 976 Member
    Thanks all :-)

    craigmandu, TY, I'll check out that link.

    If you don't really want to go to a gym, you can start off doing bodyweight stuff at home. There are some decent recommendations in this link http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/915450-help-on-how-to-strength-train-at-home

    One word of advice, do whatever you will continue to do. If that is your bike, then that is your bike. It's more important that you exercise at something you will maintain and not quit.
  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    I haven't lost a single inch yet. It's gotta happen someday though - I've been doing a lot more strength training w/the hopes it will help, but so far not a thing! Every body is different - some are slower to do what we want than others I guess.
  • gonnamakeanewaccount
    gonnamakeanewaccount Posts: 642 Member
    It'll all even out eventually. Give it time.
  • craigmandu
    craigmandu Posts: 976 Member
    I haven't lost a single inch yet. It's gotta happen someday though - I've been doing a lot more strength training w/the hopes it will help, but so far not a thing! Every body is different - some are slower to do what we want than others I guess.

    Alot of times where you want it, isn't where it starts leaving. It sucks I know! Keep at it though, you've made great strides thus far!
  • onwarddownward
    onwarddownward Posts: 1,683 Member
    I've been having good results. I swim. About an hour a day.
  • DanaHerro
    DanaHerro Posts: 186 Member
    Every person is different.
    While the average person can go down a size every 8-12 lbs, I personally go down a size every 20-25 pounds!!
    However, the difference in just going down ONE size for me. HUGE. Absolutely huge.

    This is me after a 20 lbs loss - went from an 18 to a 16...but it's still a huge shape difference
    My goal weight right now is around 160, (I'm 192 right now) and I'm pretty sure at 160 I'll still be in a 14 :)

    20_zpsd4cc97b4.jpg

    So don't look at the size too much - I'm sure you STILL look very noticeably different. Put some pics side by side!
  • craigmandu
    craigmandu Posts: 976 Member
    So don't look at the size too much - I'm sure you STILL look very noticeably different. Put some pics side by side!

    You are looking great girl. Keep it up!
  • SarahDavs
    SarahDavs Posts: 161 Member
    Every person is different.
    While the average person can go down a size every 8-12 lbs, I personally go down a size every 20-25 pounds!!
    However, the difference in just going down ONE size for me. HUGE. Absolutely huge.

    This is me after a 20 lbs loss - went from an 18 to a 16...but it's still a huge shape difference
    My goal weight right now is around 160, (I'm 192 right now) and I'm pretty sure at 160 I'll still be in a 14 :)

    20_zpsd4cc97b4.jpg

    So don't look at the size too much - I'm sure you STILL look very noticeably different. Put some pics side by side!
    You look fabulous! I should take some photos of myself. I have a really hard time looking at full body photos of myself. But knowing they will be for the sake of visual aid to how my body is changing *hopefully* will be worth it. :-)
  • SarahDavs
    SarahDavs Posts: 161 Member
    I woke up this morning and thought my feet did look thinner. I must be losing a little something from all over. This is really a wake up call for taking some full body photos so I can really be able to see a difference in the future.
  • DanaHerro
    DanaHerro Posts: 186 Member
    You look fabulous! I should take some photos of myself. I have a really hard time looking at full body photos of myself. But knowing they will be for the sake of visual aid to how my body is changing *hopefully* will be worth it. :-)
    [/quote]

    Thanks so much!
    YES, do it! Even if you don't show them to anyone but yourself, it's awesome to see the changes with even 10 lbs! :)
  • thecakelocker
    thecakelocker Posts: 407 Member
    You could be losing visceral fat as well.
  • SarahDavs
    SarahDavs Posts: 161 Member
    You could be losing visceral fat as well.
    I admit, i didn't know what visceral fat was and had to google. I'm an apple shape and according to what I read people with my shape tend to have an excess of visceral fat. So it's very possible that I'm losing it. But, so it wouldn't change how I look on the outside though? Sorry if that's a dumb question. Happy to lose any kind of fat as long as it's healthy!
  • Joehenny
    Joehenny Posts: 1,222 Member
    Is it normal to be losing pounds but hardly any inches? It seems like I'm very SLOWLY losing inches and feeling a bit frustrated by it. I weigh in and measure once a week, and usually lose between 1/2 and 1 inches on either my waist, hips, arms, legs, or chest. For example, in about 3 months I've lost about 3 inches around my waist. It seems like I should be losing more. I started at 244 and now I'm at 221 pounds. I'm 23 pounds down but can't really see any difference in the mirror or by the way my clothes fit... yet. :3 Are my expectations for how quickly I should be losing inches too high, maybe?

    You could be losing muscle mass which sucks *kitten* :(
  • LauriePar
    LauriePar Posts: 257 Member
    I lost inches by doing Jillian Michaels 30 day shred. However, I am 5'10 and have lost 19 pounds, but have not gone down in pants size yet. Probably because my current size was soooo tight on me to start with! :)
  • nxd10
    nxd10 Posts: 4,572 Member
    For me, at the beginning I lost lots of pounds and few inches. Now that I am very close to where I'm supposed to be weight loss is slow and inches are fast.
  • kcoftx
    kcoftx Posts: 765 Member
    Sometimes you lose in the strangest places at times, internally or externally or places that you aren't measuring. I would keep it up. I appear to lose scale weight before inches as well and I know lots of people who report the opposite. Eventually it all evens out and you will see it. I vote you take pictures as well. Take some private ones that show more skin. I found I was losing in places I wouldn't have seen otherwise. It is an interesting process really, especially if you treat it like the adventure it can be.
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