Weight lost, inches gained???? WTF?

Nicoleo1
Nicoleo1 Posts: 159 Member
edited December 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I weighed myself and I'd lost 2 lbs. I measured myself and discovered that while I've stayed the same at my chest, I lost 1.5 inches off my waist and GAINED an inch on my hips! The only thing I can think of is that I've been going to a new Zumba class with a much more intense butt and thigh focus than my old class. Could that be the reason?

Replies

  • Nicoleo1
    Nicoleo1 Posts: 159 Member
    Did nobody answer because it's just such a dumb question?
  • lizard053
    lizard053 Posts: 2,344 Member
    Naw, not a dumb question! No such thing!

    Sometimes when we start a new exercise routine, the muscles retain water. That may be the inches you gained. Congrats on the weight loss though! Many of us have the opposite problem. Inches lost and either no loss or gain in weight!
  • Nicoleo1
    Nicoleo1 Posts: 159 Member
    Thanks -I'd never heard of muscles retaining water.... hmmmm Any thoughts on how to minimize that?
  • Beezil
    Beezil Posts: 1,677 Member
    Could also just be that your butt is... well... perked up? >.> Soooo maybe it's just a bit bigger now because of that... lol. I dunno, just a guess. XD
  • Nicoleo1
    Nicoleo1 Posts: 159 Member
    :sad: Seems so backa$$ward! Working so hard to make it go away and getting the opposite effect. Such a conundrum... :huh:
    Perky = better .... Bigger???? = not so much better!!!
  • ocylott
    ocylott Posts: 31
    I don't have an answer for you, but wanted to let you know you're not alone! I'm having similar issues. My scale shows a slow but steady decrease in weight, but according to my tape measure, I've made no progress at all. I haven't lost so much as half an inch. Frustrating! Would much rather have it the other way around!
  • Nicoleo1
    Nicoleo1 Posts: 159 Member
    It is just so strange... I have seen lots of the opposite happen -losing inches but not weight... Not a lot of my newest situation. I'm beginning to wonder if it's dietary. I've not been watching my fat. I do low carb for other medical reasons and it's really hard to make up calories in veggies!
  • ocylott
    ocylott Posts: 31
    Yes, there are a ton of threads about people who keep losing inches but don't see any progress on the scale but this is the first I've seen about the opposite problem. I have no idea what causes it, but it's annoying me greatly. I know I'm getting stronger and fitter, since I can do things I couldn't do before I started, but it sure would be nice if my body started to show it!
  • LindaCWy
    LindaCWy Posts: 463 Member
    The human body is a curious thing. 10 years ago we were told to stay away from fat, now you have to "eat fat to lose fat". 5 years ago they said to minimize your calorie intake, now I can't even count how many people are gaining weight from starving themselves. Just keep doing what you do, ignore your scale and measure yourself a maximum of once a week. Try not to obsess about it, you are doing great things for your body.
  • mandasimba
    mandasimba Posts: 782 Member
    It could be water retention or bloating - at least for me, I know where I measure on my hips, it also includes my uteurs or some intestines or some other type of internal organ, or at least I assume so... I really don't know anatomy.

    Or it could be that you measured in a slightly different place, the hip/bum area can be quite curvy so measuring in just a little different area could lead to quite different results.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,432 MFP Moderator
    Thanks -I'd never heard of muscles retaining water.... hmmmm Any thoughts on how to minimize that?

    There is NO way to mitigate water retention as your body uses water to repair your muscles. My suggestion to you is stay away from the scale and make sure you are eating enough food to help your body repair/build muscle. Keep in mind, that under eating can cause a body to hold onto calories.
  • Michele7091
    Michele7091 Posts: 256 Member
    Did you gain inches everywhere or just in the waist? I've consistently lost pounds every week. I measure once a month and the last time I measured, I'd gained about a half inch in each thigh. I didn't think too much of it...just figured it was muscle that I'd added. I lost inches (or stayed the same) everywhere else so I didn't really worry about it.
  • FammaMel
    FammaMel Posts: 293 Member
    You are not alone! I have been frustrated with similar issue. I exercise 5-7 days a week mixing it up with a variety of cardio and strength training. All of a sudden I gained 1.5 inches on my hips but lost 1lb. So, after beating myself up for a bit I finally decided its just muscle - or as someone mentioned maybe my butt is finally where it should be. Whatever the case I just continued back on my healthy eating and exercise regimen and, as always, hope for the best.
  • Nicoleo1
    Nicoleo1 Posts: 159 Member
    Did you gain inches everywhere or just in the waist? I've consistently lost pounds every week. I measure once a month and the last time I measured, I'd gained about a half inch in each thigh. I didn't think too much of it...just figured it was muscle that I'd added. I lost inches (or stayed the same) everywhere else so I didn't really worry about it.

    I lost inces on my waist, stayed the same up top and got bigger on the butt.
    Goin' for the positive spin on it today... long flat butt is lifting and rounding??? Geez I sure hope so!
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