How is this possible exactly?!

[lincspoacher]

Hi all,

I am in week 4 and all going well.

To date I have lost 16lb and in the last 5 days I know I have lost a lot more this week. I can see that I have, feel that I have and everyone says that I have lost weight this week.

However, the scales say that I have lost nothing more?

Now, how can you lose inches but not weight?

I know that this forum talks about this elsewhere, but basaed on physics, how is this possible. The weight says my mass has not changed, but I am thinner.

Is it possible that the scales take 2-3 days to reflect what you see?

[cocobelle]

Re: How is this possible exactly?!

You'll find that, as you lose the subcutaneous fat, the space that was previously occupied will shrink. The fat is slowly being depleted, once the cells reach a state of emptiness, they'll begin collapsing. Think of sink holes. The underground aquifers begin emptying long before the ground collapses.... kind of like that. On that note - you'll probably find that cellulite will appear worse as you being losing...because you don't lose fat evenly along a surface... little bit here, little bit there. Stay strong through it, and eventually it'll even out again.

I find that I lose 5-7 lbs, hold for a week (while everything shrinks back in) and then will lose again.

[KelleyGirl]

Re: How is this possible exactly?!

You may have put on muscle in which case, the scale may not reflect a loss because muscle weighs more then fat but your measurements change. I started slowing down on losing weight when I did Atkins a while back but I was working out w/ weights and found that I was losing inches. By all rights I should have been a size 10 but because of the weight bearing exercises, I wore a size 8 dress. Plateaus happen as well. Hang tight!

[sallyseachange]

Re: How is this possible exactly?!

Yes... if you've added extra exercise lately, it's most likely that you're making muscle mass. Lessening inches and looser clothes are a far better indication of your real losses than anything the scales say.
You're doing great!

[attek]

Re: How is this possible exactly?!

I have also wondered if some of that weight was water weight. The first couple of weeks are pretty diuretic and I've suspected that after that some of the fat lost is being replaced by water weight coming back into your body. However, you can rest assured that the laws of physics are not being broken!

[cincywbbw]

Re: How is this possible exactly?!

I borrowed this pic from someone elses posts. Take a look at it and maybe a visual will help.

[lincspoacher]

Re: How is this possible exactly?!

ok, I accept that muscle weighs more but is smaller.


However, just by walking, I would not have increased muscle much, if at all.