Odds are, then, the weight came off your hips and butt, and maybe thighs. Also, your supposedly 52" waist before may have actually been larger. Between vanity sizing and tape measure errors (either user error or the tape measure itself having inaccuracies), you could very well have had a 53 or 54 inch waist and not realize it.

I can sympathize, though. I've yet to figure out where, exactly, the weight that I've lost came from, because I noticed changes in my clothes, too, but the tape measure doesn't register much, if any change. But, that does just mean it's coming from places that I'm not measuring, or I've got slight differences in measuring technique that's masking any changes that are there. Nothing like fitting back into size 16 jeans that used to be too-snug, but having no idea where the inches were lost from.

What it boils down to is that it's nice to have the numbers to see the progress, but what matters at the end of the day is whether you can fit into those smaller jeans, or drop down a belt notch, or whatever other changes you're seeing in your clothes. It sounds like what you're doing is working for you, so remember how loose those pants are, and maybe go get yourself a pair of 48s so you can watch yourself shrink into them.

And trust me, the doctors will recognize this too. My endo commented that I hadn't lost any weight really since my appointment 6 months prior, but I explained how i was down a full pants size and shrinking out of my undergarments and he lit up like a Christmas tree. It was cool. I went from a status unchanged to a status improved when that factor added to my positive blood lab work results.

My belly seems like it's the relocating port for the fat in the rest of my body. My butt, thighs, back all look substantially smaller and my gut looks and feels much larger proportionately than it should at this weight. I'm back in my smaller shirts, but not my slacks. My progress is being measured by what old clothes I can fit back into. I kept all my small clothes in bins and hope to get back into them again.

My point is, fat stores itself in different places in different people and even in the same person. My waist was smaller as I was gaining weight up to 150, than it is now coming down. (Then again, it could have been my resistance to move into a bigger size when I was going up, but my pants had to have been REALLY tight and I don't remember that. I prefer to wear loose clothing.)

Body type probably has a lot to do with where the weight is stored. Be patient.

I lost whatever decolletage I had. Oh well.

The only measurement that truly counts is your weight. Focus on the fact you've dropped 20LBS, and as others have mentioned by how your clothes are fitting. Using a tape measure really only works on skinny folks. I'm about your size and I can get multiple different measurements using the same tape measure. By simply standing a little straighter I can effect the measurement by 2 inches. If I were you I would throw away the tape measure and just keep doing what you are doing b/c it is obviously working. JMO

I must disagree with you @daylitemag. The tape measure has kept me on plan these last five months without weight loss. If I hadn't seen the difference in inches lost (went from women's size 20 and now in 14 during that time). I believe is a very good tool when used consistently by measuring at the same spots (holding your tongue just right, lol!). But no, weight isn't the only true measurement that counts. I think that you will wish you would have used it too when the scale stops moving.

KnitOrMiss wrote: »

A way to be sure you're measuring the same each time is to either take a photo of yourself and write on it with a marker or snap shots in the mirror while holding a measure in place. It will give you frames of reference to help, too.

Great idea!