Losing weight NOT inches?

TiJoGa
TiJoGa Posts: 545 Member
edited November 20 in Health and Weight Loss
So far I've lost 37lbs. I took my measurements and progress pictures for the first time since the initial measurements and pictures I took when I first started.

I just measured my waist and hips because I wasn't sure what to measure when I started. I've only lost 1" off my waist and 1" of my hips.

I guess I was just expecting more. I know my loss isn't that big yet so maybe I just am crazy to expect more?

I don't exercise really so that could be it? It just seems like I should have lost more. It's kind of discouraging. I have 63 more pounds to lose, does this mean I can only expect another inch and a half gone when I'm at goal?

Replies

  • harmar21
    harmar21 Posts: 215 Member
    I had the same problem where I lost like 20lbs but inches were still the same. It could be fat loss in areas you arent measuring, or it could be visceral fat (fat surrounding your organs) which may not show up in measurements.

    What was your starting weight? Because the first 10-15 lbs may have also been water weight which may not effect measurements much either. Dont be discouraged it will come.
  • TiJoGa
    TiJoGa Posts: 545 Member
    I started at 236lbs.

    I thought about water weight too. I would think (and I'm often wrong) that carrying excess water would make you seem swollen and blotted. If then you lost 15 pounds of that wouldn't you see a decrease in inches?
  • harmar21
    harmar21 Posts: 215 Member
    Well make sure you measuring the same too. I also realized when I was measuring sometimes it wouldnt be in exact same spot (especially thighs), or maybe I had the tape looser or tighter then the previous time. These variances can effect the measurement by up to two inches on me. Just try not to be bothered by it, as long as you losing weight it will come.
  • TiJoGa
    TiJoGa Posts: 545 Member
    harmar21 wrote: »
    Well make sure you measuring the same too. I also realized when I was measuring sometimes it wouldnt be in exact same spot (especially thighs), or maybe I had the tape looser or tighter then the previous time. These variances can effect the measurement by up to two inches on me. Just try not to be bothered by it, as long as you losing weight it will come.

    Thanks. :) I hope you're right!
  • futuremanda
    futuremanda Posts: 816 Member
    Do your progress photos seem to show progress? Do your clothes fit any differently?

    I agree that it's probably inch losses where you didn't measure. Thighs, arms, neck, face, etc.

    Also agree with measurement error. Measuring is tricky!

    I doubt you could lose 37 lbs and not lose size. Like, even 37 lbs of muscle (which you didn't lose, of course) would take up a fair amount of space!

    Options for measuring:
    Neck
    Upper arms (each)
    Upper forearms (widest part, each)
    Wrist
    Bust
    Underbust
    Waist (at narrowest)
    Stomach (at widest) -- this isn't used for clothing sizes btw, but would help you monitor your widest part, which may change more than your narrowest)
    Hips (find the widest spot)
    Each thigh
    Each calf (widest)
    Ankle

    That may be overboard, so pick what you like, but the more data you have, the more data you can check later to see how and where you're progressing. Bust, underbust, waist (narrowest) and hip are the ones used for clothing, so they'd be good to know at a minimum.
  • FabianRodriguez94
    FabianRodriguez94 Posts: 221 Member
    I first noticed most of the fat was coming off of my arms, face, back, and legs. Even my HANDS began to lose weight, you'd be surprised how much your fingers and wrists will shrink! Hardly anything was coming off from my belly area though, it wasn't until about 35-40 lbs that my body started to focus harder on belly fat. So like others have said, it may be coming off other areas that you have not measured.
  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    I have the same problem - I even exercise 4-7 times a week - but almost no inches gone and I can only fit in smaller sizes of stretchy clothes. I've come to the realization even at my goal weight I'll still be huge - but better than carrying all that extra fat - even if I'm not smaller I AM healthier.
  • aippolito1
    aippolito1 Posts: 4,894 Member
    Compare pictures of your face and also look at your body overall. Are your clothes fitting differently? I also echo what others have said about fat around your organs, places you're not measuring, water weight, etc. I didn't start noticing a HUGE difference until about 20 lbs and then not much until I got past 40.
  • TiJoGa
    TiJoGa Posts: 545 Member
    Thank you for taking the time to respond. I have recording more measurements today so I am hopeful that I will notice more change after the next thirty pounds. Hopefully some of those inches will come from the junk in the trunk this time! :|
  • roselemonade
    roselemonade Posts: 53 Member
    I lost over 60 lbs and mayyyyybe 1.5 inches off my waist+hips, wore the same size clothes, and the only place where I saw any difference was my neck/jaw. No one thought I'd lost any weight, I didn't look different, my clothes were barely barely fitting differently. Everyone loses weight differently.
  • Glinda1971
    Glinda1971 Posts: 2,328 Member
    I'm pretty sure the first place I lost was from my shoulders of all places - I hadn't measured those but something that used to fit on my shoulders all of a sudden slid over them.
  • Sunny_Bunny_
    Sunny_Bunny_ Posts: 7,140 Member
    I've lost 12lbs and only 20 from goal and I've lost 5" from around my rib cage! Only half an inch each for hips and waist.
    Apparently I have more back fat than I would care to admit.
    Don't worry too much where it's coming from. It's coming off. It's just not the areas you're focusing on.
    Congrats on the loss!
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