I'm SEVERELY confused.

1 pound of muscle takes up less space than 1 pound of fat. So as you strengthen your muscles, the actual pounds may stay the same, but more of the pounds are muscle, which takes up less space, which is why you are getting thinner. I'm experiencing the same thing...my rings are loose, my undergarments are loose, I had to take my belt up a notch, etc., but the scale isn't moving much right now. Just keep at it, and the scale will eventually start to move again.

Everyone keeps repeating the "muscle weighs more than fat" adage. It's not true. That's like the question they used to ask in science class: "What weighs more, a pound of lead or a pound of feathers?" They are both 1 pound, so they weigh the same! The difference is the density and the amount of space they take up. A pound of lead takes up a whole lot less space than a pound of feathers. Same with muscle and fat. A pound of muscle and a pound of fat weigh exactly the same amount, but that pound of muscle takes up less space than the pound of fat because muscle is denser. It's a common misconception about weight vs. mass and density. Now if you take equal MASSES of fat and muscle (in other words, equal volumes), then yes, the muscle will weigh more because it's denser.

1. Weight loss is not a linear, predictable event. Patience is key, as others have said.

2. You do not gain muscle weight in a calorie deficit, nor do you gain muscle weight in a matter of days. Stronger muscle fibers != heavier muscle tissue. If you have ropes on one side of a box and can't lift the box, then adjust the ropes to all 4 corners of the box, and lift it successfully, the ropes didn't get heavier, they just got more efficient (stronger.)

3. If you are losing inches, but not weight, it's most likely water and glycogen. Your muscles use glycogen for their energy source, and glycogen is stored in the muscle tissue with water. When you increase activity and exercise, your muscles call for more glycogen to be stored in them to increase their endurance, this causes more water to be stored in the muscles with glycogen. That's why the scale shows no loss or sometimes even an increase.

So you're telling me that until I reach a certain point in muscle development the sacle might not move... IDK can you put it in smaller more easily understood words? i kind of get the point but not enough to understand.

When you work out, your body uses glycogen. When you work out more consistently, your body starts storing more glycogen. Glycogen needs water. So your body stores more water as well. That's how muscle repairs itself. Once your body figures out how much it needs, it will regulate and you will start to see the scale move.

Personally, I feel body fat is a much better indicator of fitness than weight, I'll never be able to get down to a "normal" BMI, I have too much muscle mass.

very interesting and helpful post.. basically, if you continue to do all the right things, the scale has no choice but to move down.. i'm experiencing this right now- i haven't lost any weight since last weekend, but i've upped my weight training, and done a little bit more cardio, in fact today, the scale says i've gained 2 lbs- which i know is impossible. reading this and constantly reminding myself that as i work my muscles more/harder, that short term they will hang onto water, but eventually my body will respond with, "wtf, get outta here. i don't need all this *kitten*.'