Why am I losing inches but not weight?

luvsubrooke
luvsubrooke Posts: 85 Member
edited November 27 in Health and Weight Loss
My weight has been the same for 2 weeks. I've been doing intense workouts every day. I'm losing inches but not weight. Why?

Replies

  • juggernaut1974
    juggernaut1974 Posts: 6,212 Member
    edited December 2015
    Because it's only been two weeks, and short term (2 weeks IS short term) fluctuations don't give a good indication of actual weight loss.
  • konagirl64
    konagirl64 Posts: 211 Member
    I didn't see a change in the scale for over 30 days despite exercising 5 days a week and strict logging of food. Now the weight is moving, down 23 pounds. Keep doing what your doing, you're losing inches, yeah!! The weight will follow.
  • ericGold15
    ericGold15 Posts: 318 Member
    A truly strenuous workout will lead to water retention in the muscles. It is temporary.
    As for losing "inches" in weeks ... that is a stretch.

    You can gain a reality check with a little HS geometry. Imagine your body as a cylinder and calculate the volume of fat lost in one or two inches.
  • daniwilford
    daniwilford Posts: 1,030 Member
    Intense workout can result in water weight retention. Before I started doing strength training my weekly losses were relatively uniform, after strength training they have tended to be more irregular but it still averaged out as the same amount over a months time.
  • luvsubrooke
    luvsubrooke Posts: 85 Member
    edited December 2015
    ericGold15 wrote: »
    A truly strenuous workout will lead to water retention in the muscles. It is temporary.
    As for losing "inches" in weeks ... that is a stretch.

    You can gain a reality check with a little HS geometry. Imagine your body as a cylinder and calculate the volume of fat lost in one or two inches.

    You can gain a reality check by going back to elementary school reading. I never said I've only been working out for two weeks, I said my weight has been the same for two weeks. I've continually lost weight up until these past two weeks, now rather than weight loss I'm noticing the inches going away faster which is why I'm asking what would cause this. I've upped my workout intensity so as mentioned above I may be retaining water.

    Thank you, though. ;)
  • prettysoul1908
    prettysoul1908 Posts: 200 Member
    My body composition "firms" up with exercise almost immediately (probably related to blood flow or something of the sort). I usually don't see a change in the scales until I reach my first big whoosh (weeks). Then the fat loss starts to become consistent (but not without fluctuations)
  • luvsubrooke
    luvsubrooke Posts: 85 Member
    Intense workout can result in water weight retention. Before I started doing strength training my weekly losses were relatively uniform, after strength training they have tended to be more irregular but it still averaged out as the same amount over a months time.

    Makes sense! Thank you!
  • luvsubrooke
    luvsubrooke Posts: 85 Member
    konagirl64 wrote: »
    I didn't see a change in the scale for over 30 days despite exercising 5 days a week and strict logging of food. Now the weight is moving, down 23 pounds. Keep doing what your doing, you're losing inches, yeah!! The weight will follow.

    Yes girl, I'll take the inches for sure! I'm just wondering why the weight loss suddenly stopped. I intensified my workouts so maybe water retention. Other than that I haven't changed anything!
  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    ericGold15 wrote: »
    A truly strenuous workout will lead to water retention in the muscles. It is temporary.
    As for losing "inches" in weeks ... that is a stretch.

    You can gain a reality check with a little HS geometry. Imagine your body as a cylinder and calculate the volume of fat lost in one or two inches.

    You can gain a reality check by going back to elementary school reading. I never said I've only been working out for two weeks, I said my weight has been the same for two weeks. I've continually lost weight up until these past two weeks, now rather than weight loss I'm noticing the inches going away faster which is why I'm asking what would cause this. I've upped my workout intensity so as mentioned above I may be retaining water.

    Thank you, though. ;)

    Boy-That-Escalated-Quickly-Anchorman.gif

    FWIW, I read your OP the same way, so there's no need to take offence.

    It's water weight if you literally haven't changed anything else but increased the intensity of your workout.
  • luvsubrooke
    luvsubrooke Posts: 85 Member
    RGv2 wrote: »
    ericGold15 wrote: »
    A truly strenuous workout will lead to water retention in the muscles. It is temporary.
    As for losing "inches" in weeks ... that is a stretch.

    You can gain a reality check with a little HS geometry. Imagine your body as a cylinder and calculate the volume of fat lost in one or two inches.

    You can gain a reality check by going back to elementary school reading. I never said I've only been working out for two weeks, I said my weight has been the same for two weeks. I've continually lost weight up until these past two weeks, now rather than weight loss I'm noticing the inches going away faster which is why I'm asking what would cause this. I've upped my workout intensity so as mentioned above I may be retaining water.

    Thank you, though. ;)

    Boy-That-Escalated-Quickly-Anchorman.gif

    FWIW, I read your OP the same way, so there's no need to take offence.

    It's water weight if you literally haven't changed anything else but increased the intensity of your workout.

    Lol no offense taken! I'm just sarcastic :p but yes I'm leaning towards the idea water weight too. Thankyou!
  • alyssagb1
    alyssagb1 Posts: 353 Member
    ericGold15 wrote: »
    A truly strenuous workout will lead to water retention in the muscles. It is temporary.
    As for losing "inches" in weeks ... that is a stretch.

    You can gain a reality check with a little HS geometry. Imagine your body as a cylinder and calculate the volume of fat lost in one or two inches.

    You can gain a reality check by going back to elementary school reading. I never said I've only been working out for two weeks, I said my weight has been the same for two weeks. I've continually lost weight up until these past two weeks, now rather than weight loss I'm noticing the inches going away faster which is why I'm asking what would cause this. I've upped my workout intensity so as mentioned above I may be retaining water.

    Thank you, though. ;)

    B) Bam lol

    Losing inches/not weight happens to me on occasion as well. Though I've noticed the scales seems to catch up in a week or two. (I lose an inch or so without dropping anything according to the scale, then 2 weeks later there went a few lbs *with the same measurements I got from the one inch lost*)
  • ericGold15
    ericGold15 Posts: 318 Member
    You can gain a reality check by going back to elementary school reading.)
    Try not to be a twit when you ask a question. Your post was ambiguous.

  • kbmnurse
    kbmnurse Posts: 2,484 Member
    Who cares? Be thankful.
  • luvsubrooke
    luvsubrooke Posts: 85 Member
    ericGold15 wrote: »
    You can gain a reality check by going back to elementary school reading.)
    Try not to be a twit when you ask a question. Your post was ambiguous.

    Awh yes, I will try my very hardest! Thank you!
  • Shantelly_Marie
    Shantelly_Marie Posts: 1 Member
    If you are gaining muscle, it is more compact and heavier than fat. Typically as you gain muscle you are also losing fat. It's a really slow process, but that could be why you are losing inches and not weight. Also the water weight retention is a good hypothesis.
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    edited December 2015
    You've lost weight regularly and now you're losing inches. This is not a problem. The reason is...because that's how your body works. Happens to me all the time, over 18 months, 120 lbs, and 65 inches lost. Congrats on your successes!
  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    If you are gaining muscle, it is more compact and heavier than fat. Typically as you gain muscle you are also losing fat. It's a really slow process, but that could be why you are losing inches and not weight. Also the water weight retention is a good hypothesis.

    No, that isn't how it works......at all and that isn't what's happening. It is extremely a-typical to lose fat while gaining muscle. If you are, you're in a recomp and aren't gaining muscle very fast.....at all.

    Someone who has been losing weight and training as long as the OP isn't going to put on so much muscle in two months, let alone two weeks to stall the scale.
This discussion has been closed.