I think I do less in the summer too hot!

All kinds of reasons your body gains water weight in the summer, especially if exercise increases.

Water volume in general - blood volume specifically - because of the heat, and sometimes sweating more doesn't even matter.
You experience more heat, so body just prepares.

That could easily mask a month or more of fat loss.

What happened to inches during that time of increased workouts, less daily activity, but same eating level?

@ambsnic17 I don't think you should increase exercise or decrease your calories. The issue you are having is with your NEAT calories (non exercise caloric burn). Is there a way you could try to become a bit more active throughout the day? (In the days you are not so busy, at least).

If you only focus on the scale and are strength training, you will see it go up. So avoid the scale and the stress.Your body will use the surplus to eventually build muscle, which is not a bad idea, it's an excellent thing. Would you consider doing a bulk in the summer months or body recomposition instead of a cut? You could gain muscle mass and once the school year starts and you are more active, you would focus on a cut, aiming to lose body fat and keeping the muscle you gained.

How much is your TDEE and how many calories are you eating?

Tereza
Team EM2WL

I like Teresa's idea. Lift heavy, get PRs in the summer. Enjoy the slow pace of life. Cut during the crazy, frantic school year.

Ya I think I was crazy in thinking of doing a cut during the summer. WTF was I thinking! LOL. School starts back up in September, thats when I think I'll do a cut. Enjoy the rest of the time

ambsnic17 wrote: »

@heybales i stopped measuring. I feel even though I tried to be consistent as to where I was measuring it wasn't really being consistent. If that makes sense!

I was eating the same amount all around (in the summer and when going back to work) and I know that is part of the problem b/c eating the same and being less active isn't going to get me anywhere. At least that's what I think! Lol so I need to find out what works for me during the summer: decrease food or increase exercise? The exercise part I've kinda already done...working out 6x week instead of 4x. So should I increase the time of each workout session? I feel I'm eating too much for my activity level over the summer.

Most measurement methods - like those that estimate bodyfat % - aren't going for a specific spot to be measured - rather minimum or maximum girth for a body part.
Abdomen at belly button being only exception.

Therefore as you lose, where the tape goes may indeed move from last time - and it's supposed to.
The only thing is keeping the tape level or perpendicular to the body part being measured.
That may be obvious and easy on say the forearm or calf, harder but not impossible on waist (minimum girth), or hips (maximum girth).

I'd start measuring again.

And you are correct about the life lesson.
You do more, you eat more.
You do less, you eat less.

You want to lose fat - you eat less than you burn
You want to gain muscle/fat - eat more
You want to recomp/maintain - eat same as you burn

Methods mentioned above are great way to get around that fact of changes of activity level and eating level.