Losing inches, not weight... How do i change this?

There is a woman on MFP who is 4 inches shorter than me (I'm 5'9" and 139) and weighs only 3 lbs less than me - but she looks AMAZING - totally cut arms, tiny waist and gorgeous legs. Her weight - though probably a bit high for her height according to charts - is totally irrelevant because she looks amazing and is in top condition. I also have a friend (not on MFP) who is 2 inches shorter than me and at 5'7" hovers around 110 lbs. She looks horrible and she is obsessed with a number on the scale. She doesn't feed her body, doesn't work out and is the definition of skinny fat. Her face is gaunt and her arms and legs have no muscle tone. She is weak and always getting sick.

Which one would you rather be?

It is hard to let go of the number in your head - but what everyone says is right. Weight is just a number and how you look and feel is FAR more important. If you are losing inches you may rock your wedding dress while weighing more than you did 5 years ago. Congratulations on losing inches!

Losing inches is the best feeling. While strength/weight training tones us, it is cardio that burns the calories seriously. Three days a week I do a mix of 40 minutes on the elliptical and a 40-minute weight program mixed with 2 minute cardio every two exercises. I've heard from a trainer that is one of the best ways to work out. I joined a weight lifting class a couple years ago and the trainer eventually had us doing our workouts like that. When the class ended I quit doing it that way. Now I'm back to it and it really does burn the calories and build heart strength. The other 2-3 days I walk for an hour, using my arms in a 'power walk' ....you can google that up to see how it's done properly, but the posture and way you use your feet, abs and arms helps you to walk faster and it automatically works the back of the arms. That is a bonus for me. All the clothes that were formerly uncomfortable in the arms now fit with room to spare. That extra dedicated cardio buys me extra calories which are kind of fun to spend on certain days. Good luck with your journey.

I totally understand how you feel. I can't get the scale to budge, either. Just try to stay Zen about it and keep working.

I think in my case I feel jealous when I see all the tickers on mfp with astounding poundage losses.

bump

Are you serious? I weigh 2 pounds more than I did a year ago but have 6% less body fat and my clothes are lose and you can see muscles in my arms and abs. And I look like I lost 10 pounds. Am I complaining bc the scale says I am "fatter" Hell no! Muscle burns more calories than fat so if you keep building muscle, that alone will burn off fat. You can eat more and/or exercise less. Throw your scale away!

Your scale is CLEARLY broken! LOL.

Seriously, how is this a problem?

I am 5"7 also with a medium build. I have lost only 3 pounds; but a lot of inches--my clothes are loose all over. I am not concerned because I always lost inches first! Be encouraged-for some it's normal.

Losing inches is what you really want! Muscle is denser than fat. You'll look leaner, and you are building muscle.

Keep up the good work!

losing inches is much better then losing weight, as the scale only shows a number, the inches lost can be seen by you and everyone else.

^^THIS!! :drinker:

You don't! That's the best way.. it means you are replacing your fat with muscle. What's more important, that you look leaner or that the scale reads the number you want?

The scale will drop as you add more muscle. Relax chic you are doin your body good!!!

I gained in the last 3 months and people are asking me if I hired a personal trainer because Im "getting so skinny"

Keep it up! Dont stop doing what you are doing!

I have heard the term "watch your waiste not your weight" before...

I like this! So true. Whenever I do major workouts (30 day shreds, 6 week plans, boot camps) I say give up the scale the entire time and then check your inches every to every other week. I really focus on endurance and what I can do. If the only reason I'm doing the workout is just to see a scale move, then my focus is hampered. I want to give it my all and build that muscle. So I focus on how my clothes fit and pushing to the next level (being able to do more lunges, dips, pull ups, etc.)

You're doing great!!! Keep up the great work and don't forget to be proud of how far you've come.

This is a good thing. THIS is the best time to build muscle as it will burn calories for even at rest. The weight will come off as those new muscles build and more calories and fat for you. I went thru the same thing then after 2.5 weeks I weighed myself and I was down 4lbs. Muscle works for you!!!

:noway:

I would be thrilled if I were losing inches. I will give you my weight loss if I can have your inches lost!!!