Losing inches, not pounds

No, you're lucky.

If you are replacing fat with muscle, muscle weights more and causes you to either gain weight or lose none at all. I personally do not watch my weight, I just go by how my clothes are fitting and if I am losing inches.

You're not broken. It sounds like you're losing fat and gaining muscle. If you are losing inches then you are on the right track. Muscle is a lot more compact than fat which explains it. Anyway, good going girl!! If you really need that extra push - try cutting out the crap, eating whole grains, veggies and fruits and plenty of protein. I lost 11 pounds this way.

Oh that sounds good. I really need to stop eating candy but it doesn't help that I work across the street from a candy factory.

If you've lost the inches but not the weight, it means you're doing it right. The only thing that matters is that you're happy with how you look. Screw the numbers on the scale. Weighing more than you appear to can help you win that "guess my weight" game at the carnival. I have a giant tie-dyed body pillow to prove it

Very lucky

I've lost 30 pounds and you've lost more inches in your waist than I have so be happy! Muscle is more dense than fat, google pictures for muscle vs fat and see the difference.

You can totally do this!

Muscle weighs more than fat, so a pound of fat is going to take up more space than a pound of muscle. The fact that you're gaining muscle is really going to help because muscle also burns more calories just resting, so not only are you burning calories by working out, but since your body needs more calories just to function now, there are even more calories being burned. Focus on inches, not wieght. Just make sure you are getting plenty of protein and eating healthy all around, eating too few calories may put your body into fat storing mode, I would guess that you need a minimum of 1500 calories per day on days you are working out and 1300 on days that you aren't.

If you seriously want to lose both I would recommend hot yoga, usually they have beginner cheap classes, like unlimited for a month for $40 or 10 days for $10.

Muscle although working in your favor can also add bulk. Which I see it isn't doing for you if you're losing inches, but the hot yoga really helped me lose the inches off my waist and I lost a little weight and lifted my but a bit at the same time.

Rachel, you cannot advertise here.

As the others said, muscle is more compact (muscle DOES NOT weigh more than fat...a pound of anything is still a pound...) so you losing inches is fantastic. Kick the scale to the curb and focus on inches lost, not pounds on the scale.

You are doing it right. Working out can actually make you maintain or gain weight, due to, as others have said, muscle weighing more than fat.

I used to wear a size 8 or 10 (depending on the garment). I weighed 125. Then, I started working out at the gym, 90-120 minutes a day, five days a week. I dropped to a six 6 jeans, but went up to 140 pounds.

The number on the scale does not always tell the true story.

Salt could be the problem. You may be losing fat, but retaining water from sodium in your foods.

Write down everything & anything you eat & drink ..

Myfitnesspal app on my phone is the best thing ever!!! I put in everything I eat/drink in there ... & sometimes you think you are eating healthy & did not have that much but it adds up so quick ...

Determine your goals by how your clothing fits, not by what the scale reads. Muscle weighs a significant amount more than fat, so even if you've only "lost" five pounds, I'm sure you are seeing an incredible difference in muscle tone and how your clothing fits.

I have had a hard time getting over the "number on the scale" issue too. Above anything, I need to tone, but I am still struggling to figure out how exactly. I jog and do ab work outs but I do not see results!

Honestly, don't focus on the number on the scale (as so many others have said). You're loosing inches- which is awesome- and it means things will be fitting you better and you're getting more fit!

If you're continually working out also, your body is going to retain as much fluid/carbs/fat as it thinks it needs to get you through those workouts- which is why many times yuo won't see a loss in the number on the scale until you stop working out for 2 days or so.

You're becoming more healthy, that's all that should matter; not the number (easier said then done, I know)

If you're still trying to reach your goal and there's a boot camp class in your area--sign up for it! It'll kick your butt. I took one leading up to my wedding and let's just say I've never worked out so hard. Or if you can afford to spend on a personal trainer, he/she may be to able to help you see what you're missing out on in your workout and get to your goal. Good luck!

Ew, that five pounds of fat looks so icky!

Great job Jessica. FWIW, I worked out with the hardest-core trainer in town before the wedding, and my body changed like crazy but I only lost like 2 or 3 pounds. The trainer was actually really annoyed b/c I did have visceral fat to lose and it wasn't coming off - I think for me to lose fat I have to REALLY trim my diet and do hours of low-impact cardio, like walking on incline on a treadmill for 90 minutes a day. I don't always have the patience for that.

I've been seeing a nutritionist and she has cut back my sugar and carbs and increased my protein. I'm not sure what you're eating, but it sounds like you are doing everything right. You may just be firming up before the pounds drop off. Congrats! It sounds like you'll meet your goal of not needing alterations on the bodice of your dress.

Kris- I do not have the patience for that either. I do 10 mintues of high intensity cardio and either ab/core strenghtening for 10 or strength training with my resistance band and a 10 minute stretch but that is all I have time for in my busy schedule. I do feel a lot better. I think that I also have visceral fat that is not coming off. I put o a lot of weight in the last year or two because I just did not have time to be healthy. Fulltime job, class/ homework in the evenings, kids soccer/cheer practice and sometimes I did not get dinner until 10 pm. Horrible for anybody. Now I try to eat no later than 8pm and I excerise before bed.