Losing inches but not pounds?

AimiAutumn
AimiAutumn Posts: 22 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I've been dieting for a little over 2 weeks now and I've had 4 bad days where I went over my calorie limit.
I tend to weigh myself every couple days and the scale tends to vary between losing up to 3 pounds to just going back to my starting weight.
I decided at the beginning of this week to measure myself and at the end of the week I've seemed to have lost 3 inches off my waist, 1 inch off each of my thighs and 1.5 inches around my ribcage, my arms stayed the same lol. So a total of 6.5 inches lost, is that good for one week?

My measurments are smaller but I dont understand why my weight has basically stayed the same? Is this normal? Is it an accomplishment?

I dont do much exercise to feel like I'm building muscle. I do go for walks every day that vary between 60 minutes to 100 minutes, but I dont feel like its very strenuous exercise.

I dont know, thoughts, opinions?

Replies

  • GaleHawkins
    GaleHawkins Posts: 8,159 Member
    That happened for my first six weeks. Did not lose even one pound but lost inches.
  • meritage4
    meritage4 Posts: 1,441 Member
    How much weight are you trying to lose? You look pretty small in your avatar photo.
  • brb_2013
    brb_2013 Posts: 1,197 Member
    I am in the same boat, losing inches but not pounds yet. Just be patient,clearly it's working!
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    Inches lost is far better than pounds lost in my world. Inches off means visible progress and heading for a smaller size - a loss of the scale could mean that you drank a lot of water yesterday! LOL

    I went six months without losing anything on the scale, but dropped a full size in that time. Grab a tape measure and track your measurements along with scale weight - true progress shows on the tape.
  • GaleHawkins
    GaleHawkins Posts: 8,159 Member
    Being an old man it never cross my mind to measure because I thought if fat was leaving the scales would be dropping. I had lost 20 pounds earlier by the starvation method but people started to saying things like I looked healthier/smaller and I thought they were just making fun of me being fat because I knew the scales were not moving. Finally I realized my fat face was gone and my belt bucket had moved one inch smaller.
  • BenWellburn
    BenWellburn Posts: 1 Member
    Doing long, slow exercise such as your walking will force the body to create and convert muscle to "endurance" muscle.

    This muscle is much smaller in size, but also more efficient. This would support the reasons why you are losing inches, but not pounds, as muscle weighs more than fat.

    Realistically there's so many factors at play here, are you eating the right amount of calories, how much water are you drinking, exercise amounts, salt intake etc etc.

    Having a higher percentage muscle burns more calories gram for gram than fat so it's not all bad.

    If you wish to lose weight, it cannot be done over one week. For weight loss, it's a long haul trek, not a ride to the market.
  • Shells918
    Shells918 Posts: 1,070 Member
    I lost many inches before pounds. I know it's hard but be patient. The pounds will come off too.
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    Sometimes it takes the scales a little longer to catch up with what our bodies are doing. You're losing inches which means you're on the right track.
  • AimiAutumn
    AimiAutumn Posts: 22 Member
    Thank you everyone for your input! I appreciate the encouragement
  • catterkane
    catterkane Posts: 4 Member
    brb_2013 wrote: »
    I am in the same boat, losing inches but not pounds yet. Just be patient,clearly it's working!
    brb_2013 wrote: »
    I am in the same boat, losing inches but not pounds yet. Just be patient,clearly it's working!
    meritage4 wrote: »
    How much weight are you trying to lose? You look pretty small in your avatar photo.

  • catterkane
    catterkane Posts: 4 Member
    V
    catterkane wrote: »
    brb_2013 wrote: »
    I am in the same boat, losing inches but not pounds yet. Just be patient,clearly it's working!
    brb_2013 wrote: »
    I am in the same boat, losing inches but not pounds yet. Just be patient,clearly it's working!
    meritage4 wrote: »
    How much weight are you trying to lose? You look pretty small in your avatar photo.

    same here, I haven't measures but see a big difference. Scale is stuck and pants aren't loser yet? Been 2 months of 1200 calorie, 4-5 days week at gym - seems discouraging but weight will eventually go right?
  • flippy1234
    flippy1234 Posts: 686 Member
    catterkane wrote: »
    V
    catterkane wrote: »
    brb_2013 wrote: »
    I am in the same boat, losing inches but not pounds yet. Just be patient,clearly it's working!
    brb_2013 wrote: »
    I am in the same boat, losing inches but not pounds yet. Just be patient,clearly it's working!
    meritage4 wrote: »
    How much weight are you trying to lose? You look pretty small in your avatar photo.

    same here, I haven't measures but see a big difference. Scale is stuck and pants aren't loser yet? Been 2 months of 1200 calorie, 4-5 days week at gym - seems discouraging but weight will eventually go right?

    I am going to cause some controversy here. I was of the opinion that less calories was best too. However, my opinion on that has radically changed. I started working with a personal trainer and started eating so much more. He wants me to eat 1900 calories a day. It's too much food so maybe I get to 1500. Lots of protein. I was eating 1000 a day before that. He gave me a list of qualified foods. A long list by the way.
    I started eating like this and dropped 2 lbs in 3 days. I do work out 5 days a week. Mostly weights and some cardio. I am a convert in eating more now. I was losing nothing at 1000 calories.
    Give it a try.
    My macros are 40% protein, 30% carbs and 30% healthy fats.
  • GaleHawkins
    GaleHawkins Posts: 8,159 Member
    catterkane wrote: »
    V
    catterkane wrote: »
    brb_2013 wrote: »
    I am in the same boat, losing inches but not pounds yet. Just be patient,clearly it's working!
    brb_2013 wrote: »
    I am in the same boat, losing inches but not pounds yet. Just be patient,clearly it's working!
    meritage4 wrote: »
    How much weight are you trying to lose? You look pretty small in your avatar photo.

    same here, I haven't measures but see a big difference. Scale is stuck and pants aren't loser yet? Been 2 months of 1200 calorie, 4-5 days week at gym - seems discouraging but weight will eventually go right?

    @catterkane do you have a way to check your blood glucose levels. If Insulin levels are high then it improbable that fat loss will happen per some reports.
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    Unknown
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  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    BenWellburn wrote: »
    Doing long, slow exercise such as your walking will force the body to create and convert muscle to "endurance" muscle.

    This muscle is much smaller in size, but also more efficient. This would support the reasons why you are losing inches, but not pounds, as muscle weighs more than fat.

    Realistically there's so many factors at play here, are you eating the right amount of calories, how much water are you drinking, exercise amounts, salt intake etc etc.

    Having a higher percentage muscle burns more calories gram for gram than fat so it's not all bad.

    If you wish to lose weight, it cannot be done over one week. For weight loss, it's a long haul trek, not a ride to the market.

    I may need a citation on that one.
  • carneyekborg
    carneyekborg Posts: 2 Member
    I'm just asking some advice.. I had lost about 17 lbs, stopped awhile, out on 5.. I am down that 5 to 7 lbs.. I can tell I have lost some weight or inches in the belly area, which is where I want to.. But I can't seem to lose weight as well, been at 1200 calories, do cardio, weights and Ab workouts daily... Just stuck and little disappointed.
  • RachelElser
    RachelElser Posts: 427 Member
    Also, if you are exercising and gaining muscle, remember that muscle weighs more than fat.
  • gnarlykickflip
    gnarlykickflip Posts: 49 Member
    Some of your difference in weight may be due to how much food or water is in your system at a given time. Weighing first thing in the morning after you use the bathroom is a good way to get a steady reading from day to day. Not sure if this is what's wrong but it's possible.

    Also! You've only been dieting for 2 weeks, you said. So my guess is that most of it is water. You're just starting out, and your loss will start to become more steady and reliable with time.
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    Losing inches is great! Just keep with your program.
  • rontafoya
    rontafoya Posts: 365 Member
    Two weeks? That simply isn't enough time to really say for sure. You are still in flux, and dealing with changes in water retention etc. Also, the "losing inches versus pounds" thing is kind of a crutch/cop out/myth anyway. At a certain point, if the scale isn't moving, you either are not measuring your calories accurately or need to cut a little more....or change something in your exercise program. I would continue with what you are doing for another couple of weeks and see if the scale moves. Also do continue taking other measurements; however, mostly importantly, do everything you can to accurately count your calories. I lost 45lbs in a little over a year (and gained a bit of muscle, because I did no cardio and just lifted weights) and I attribute my results mostly to counting my calories accurately. There were other factors too, but that is the most important.
  • RachelElser
    RachelElser Posts: 427 Member
    3bambi3 wrote: »
    rachelelser wrote: »
    Also, if you are exercising and gaining muscle, remember that muscle weighs more than fat.

    How much muscle do you think she can gain in 2 weeks without any resistance training on a calorie-restricted diet?

    I don't know, it depends on what her muscle mass was before hand.
  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    rachelelser wrote: »
    3bambi3 wrote: »
    rachelelser wrote: »
    Also, if you are exercising and gaining muscle, remember that muscle weighs more than fat.

    How much muscle do you think she can gain in 2 weeks without any resistance training on a calorie-restricted diet?

    I don't know, it depends on what her muscle mass was before hand.

    The correct answer would be a virtual zero.
  • catterkane
    catterkane Posts: 4 Member
    2 months not weeks
  • catterkane
    catterkane Posts: 4 Member
    Drinking lots of water, low carbs, increased protein and eating lots of veg
  • fitnesssearch
    fitnesssearch Posts: 1 Member
    I have been on and off on this journey but i got serious past three weeks, lost 6 pounds in the first week probably water weight. Then am stuck for the second and third week. So for my forth week which am in right now i have decided to change my eating habits and keep my workout routine the same with few changes. I can see some differences in my bosy even though the weight isnt going anywhere and sometimes it can be discouraging but i found my way back and am pushing it so will see how it goes this week. I also believe i gain muscle really quick as i see results of my body getting toned. Dont worry just keep on pushing they will drop eventually.
  • brb_2013
    brb_2013 Posts: 1,197 Member
    Wanted to check in. Had only lost a couple inches and woke up to a whoosh, down like 3lbs over night.
  • stephensmb
    stephensmb Posts: 1 Member
    I am having the same problem I do cardio and weight training 5 days a week and have been under my calorie goal since I started my journey. I have not lost a pound I know muscle weights more than fat but starting to question why I have not even lost a pound.
  • brb_2013
    brb_2013 Posts: 1,197 Member
    stephensmb wrote: »
    I am having the same problem I do cardio and weight training 5 days a week and have been under my calorie goal since I started my journey. I have not lost a pound I know muscle weights more than fat but starting to question why I have not even lost a pound.

    Keep at it!! How long has it been? See my post above, I lost 3lbs yesterday and another 2 today. I've been "good" only 5 days a week for the past 3-4 weeks or so, saw inches lost from my waist about a week ago but not scale changes. Then suddenly this week (so far) I'm down 5lbs.

    I'm guessing it takes our bodies time to catch up, it uses up fat stores each day that you're in a deficit but I read about fat cells being filled with water until the body is ready to let things go, perhaps a week or two of hanging onto it. perhaps our bodies are expecting us to fill them back up, and when we don't the body says "okay I guess since we're not using it we better throw it out! Time and patience and persistence.

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