Are inches more important for you?

[focus83]

Ok i know everyone says better to measure than weigh in but what is more important to you? losing the inches and fitting into clothes better or losing weight and knowing you are getting healthier.

[Slidesdownmountains]

Re: Are inches more important for you?

Inches!

I met a beautiful girl at work the other day and we got to talking about exercise and fitness. She was about 5'8'', so pretty tall, scandinavian looking blonde, very toned, with glowing skin and tennis-player like - she just looked at a glance like she was very fit and healthy, though not skinny, or with the now-fashionable Hollywood sinewy look. V. jealous... that's what I want to aim for: not skinny, but healthy and fit looking.
She told me that she ate very well, drank loads of water and did a reasonable amount of exercise, and was pretty happy with how she was, but was over 11 stone (154lbs) - hardly staggering, but more than she looked, and far more than any pop-singer or starlet would be happy to admit to (sadly).

Don't get me wrong: the scale fills me with alternate mixtures of delight and dread, but I think some people look a lot less than they weigh sometimes (Kembillka for instance!) - what do you reckon?

[kibskix]

Re: Are inches more important for you?

i dont walk around with my weight number floating above my forehead, so inches are probably the best way to tell, and for other people to tell, how your weight is dropping. The only thing that bothers me about inches is I never feel as though i'm doing it right. I've lost 19.6lbs and 22.5 inches, but that seems like too many inches in my head, so im always paranoid i'm holding the tape too tight or not measuring in the exact same place.

[Evansmom49]

Re: Are inches more important for you?

When I first started, the weight loss was definitely more important to me. The longer I'm on program, the more the inches seem to be making a difference. I really need to dig up some before pics, but I was really, really good at avoiding cameras for a long time!

And the size 18 pants from last summer that I was absolutely bulging out of (I would never, ever allow myself to buy a size 20 - who was I kidding?) - they're about to be retired for a size 16!

[JohnSantos]

Re: Are inches more important for you?

EVEN if I lost no inches. EVEN if I lost no pounds. Living healthier makes life 100x better for me.

[Chelsey20]

Re: Are inches more important for you?

Right now, lbs is more important because I haven't lost any inches yet haha but once I start losing inches and my clothes start falling off, then I'll know it's working and that will be the important thing.

[Georgiana]

Re: Are inches more important for you?

what is more important to you? losing the inches and fitting into clothes better or losing weight and knowing you are getting healthier.

Losing inches, because that means I'll not only fit into smaller clothes, but I will also be healthier. One's weight is not an indicator of health. If you are a fluffy 5'4" weighing 130 lbs and having a body fat of 31%, you are less healthy than a nicely toned 5'4" weighing 140 lbs but having a body fat of only 12%, even though you weigh less.

So "losing weight" does not necessarily imply that "you are getting healthier". Losing fat on the other hand will make you healthier and will allow you to wear a smaller size. Win-win.

[runawayllama]

Re: Are inches more important for you?

For me, I'd love to see my goal on the scale, but I'm more interested in inches. I only have 10lbs to go, so inches mean more to me.

[not2late]

Re: Are inches more important for you?

Ok i know everyone says better to measure than weigh in but what is more important to you? losing the inches and fitting into clothes better or losing weight and knowing you are getting healthier.

Dr. Atkins wrote that the loss of inches was a better indicator of the loss of fat than the loss of pounds. Since losing fat means, you are getting healthier, I'd rather lose inches (fat) than rely on the scale, which will show a loss whether or not it's water or muscle or fat.

[JulieB]

Re: Are inches more important for you?

Tough one - my brain says "inches" but my heart still says pounds. Its just the way I've always thought about it.

[JohnSantos]

Re: Are inches more important for you?

Am I the only one that read the subject, and thought it was something COMPLETELY different?

[mitzimarie]

Re: Are inches more important for you?

Am I the only one that read the subject, and thought it was something COMPLETELY different?

You're BAD!

[runawayllama]

Re: Are inches more important for you?

Yes, yes you are! I love it..that's hilarious!

[not2late]

Re: Are inches more important for you?

ARe you trying to tell us something, John? It's okay....you're among friends.

[SugarFreeSheila]

Re: Are inches more important for you?

At the end of the day, your scale weight - impressive as it might be - won't keep you warm at night. For me, it's always been more about attaining then maintaining good measurements, and letting the scale read what it may.

This is why I did not set a specific goal weight years ago; I just quit losing when I liked what I saw in the mirror.