Question:
Can I be losing inches
This may seem like a stupid question but I really don't understand.. How does losing inches works? I have only lost 5 pounds this months, so I am so upset. Could it be that I'm losing inches and how does this happens and how many inches can I espect to lose. I tried on a pair of jeans that were too small two weeks ago and they fit but I can't figure out if it's just my imagination. Thanks for your support. — blank first name B. (posted on November 23, 2001)
November 23, 2001
Deb -- I swear this is what I feel sometimes. I will try on clothes that I
KNOW couldn't fit me then when they fit I wonder "now did these really
not fit me before?" LOL. Anyway, I finally figured out after
stressing that I am one of those people who lose absolutely nothing for 2-4
weeks at a time then right after my cycle I drop 10-12 pounds within one
week. Then it starts all over again. In my wisdom and knowledge (and
I-think-I-know-everything-attitude) I've come to the conclusion that my
body is retaining water during these times between my periods and that
once the period is over, I let the water go (ok, this is pretty scientific
stuff...but anyway, I've always been very irregular and could never really
track it but since surgery my period has been coming monthly like
clockwork). Anyway...the cure for not losing weight due to retention of
water is drinking more water. So if I'm not satisfied with that 10-12
pound loss every 4 weeks (which sometimes I'm not but I do realize that I'm
right on track with my weight loss...) I can up my 64 oz of water a day to
72 oz. Also I figure the more I do the sweating type exercise, that will
help as well. I'm going to try this to see what happens. Anyway for your
Q on inches, take some measurements now and compare them in 1 month. You
are losing inches and even though you can't tell by looking in the mirror
-- it's coming off! Good luck and God Bless!
— Kimberly L.
November 23, 2001
Hi, Although I'm no expert, I was always told that muscle weighs more than
fat, so you may be losing inches in fat mass and still maintain the weight
in muscle on the scale. If your eating a lot of protein you will keep the
muscle and lose the fat, so that may be why your scale is staying where it
is, but your clothes fit differently. I know that is how it is for me. My
scale may not budge for a week or so, but I can fit into a pair of pants I
couldn't zip up two weeks ago. Eventually your scale and inches will catch
up with each other.
— Carey N.
November 23, 2001
I *KNOW* you can lose inches and not punds. > am nearly 8 months out,
and I have lost only 7 pounds in 3 months (TALK to me about plateaus! I
don't want to hear "I have only lost 18 pounds in the last 3
weeks..." sorry to vent...no I can't eat more, I excersize moderatley,
etc.) However, I have gone from a snug to normal size 20 to a snug 16.
TWO SIZES!! Whatever, Explain that?! 2 sizes in 3 months, only losing 7
pounds. I guess my weight redistributed, I gained more dense muscle mass,
magic. I will take it, either way. (I tend toward the magic, myself...)
— M. A. B.
November 23, 2001
Muscle does not weigh more than fat, a pound of fat and a pound of muscle
are both a pound. The difference is the amount of room they take up.
Imagine a lb of soft fluffy fat (like lard) compared to a lb of tight heavy
steel. They weigh the same, but the volume of space is different. So while
the scale might say you're aren't losing weight if you are exercising and
building muscle, you will take up less space, hence the loss of inches and
looser fitting clothes! Good luck.
— Becky K.
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