Losing weight and Body Fat, Measurements are Bigger!?

brozee5
brozee5 Posts: 1 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Started this journey (again) a few weeks ago. I’ve lost 7 pounds and 4%BF measured by my trainer. I’m working out about 6 days a week with strength and cardio blended (Crossfit-like personal training that is safe for me). Anyway, my measurements have actually went up! Arms are a 1/4 inch bigger, legs are 1/2 in bigger, waist is the same, hips are up a 1/2 inch. Has this happened to anyone else? I don’t understand how the rest is going down. My two trainers had some ideas but has anyone else had this happen? TIA

Replies

  • WhereIsPJSoles
    WhereIsPJSoles Posts: 622 Member
    Bloating or holding the tape wrong?
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    edited January 2018
    A few - so 3-4 weeks?

    So first big part of weight loss is always water weight. 2 lbs there could be easy. More if you didn't hit valid days for both measurements.

    Then as body keeps seeing workouts, water weight gain if it can (depending on if more carb storage in muscles is possible depending on diet), and blood volume, and inflammation, and for repair.

    I'd throw the BF% out as unuseful number on it's own. Very inaccurate (handheld model?) in those settings - unless this is first thing in the morning, with the same hydrated body.
    Considering 6 days working out, I'm wondering if you are really measuring on the the 1 morning with no workout the day prior to attempt to avoid known water weight fluctuations.
    And that measurement issue.

    Arms ,legs, and hips going up is understandable, not because of muscle growth which would not be possible for you to gain that fast, but with water for repair of used muscles.
    And if eating enough for body to store more carbs where it wants it - that stores with water, so bigger for that reason too.
  • Slowfaster
    Slowfaster Posts: 186 Member
    This is why I never measure. I know it's a helpful tool for some people, but I never get the same measurement twice in the same minute. It all depends on exactly where the tape is going around my hip or thigh, how much air I'm holding in my lungs, how hard I've pulled my stomach in and how tight I'm pulling on the tape measure -- also whether or not I have it turned in the right direction. :)
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    Its hard to get the same measurement twice. You're losing weight, keep up the great work.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    Slowfaster wrote: »
    This is why I never measure. I know it's a helpful tool for some people, but I never get the same measurement twice in the same minute. It all depends on exactly where the tape is going around my hip or thigh, how much air I'm holding in my lungs, how hard I've pulled my stomach in and how tight I'm pulling on the tape measure -- also whether or not I have it turned in the right direction. :)

    same here, i use pictures and how specific items of clothing fit as i could never find the same spot twice!
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,368 Member
    I feel much better about not being able to measure either!

    Also I highly doubt your trainer has the appropriate tools for measuring body fat accurately.
  • callsitlikeiseeit
    callsitlikeiseeit Posts: 8,626 Member
    i measure once every 2 - 3 months.
  • leggup
    leggup Posts: 2,942 Member
    1/4 and 1/2 inch measurement differences = error. I use an auto-tightening measuring tape and even then I am sure I have placement errors: http://a.co/7oV5wSK That's the tape measure I have. I take my measurements every month or so. Keep an eye on your numbers and watch them over time. Two days of data isn't enough to determine a trend. You should try to measure the same time of day and hydration as well. If you were dehydrated for your first measurements, your second ones could be higher.

    How have you determined that you've lost 4% body fat? If it was a scale or calipers, it is extremely prone to error.
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