My measurements are higher but my weight is lower : how is it possible?

[DonyChicago]

During the holidays I've put on weight (or that's what I thought because I am obviously bigger now). When I began school many friends of mine at school were surprised to see how much I had put on weight. My measurements too have changed but curiously when I took my weight two weeks ago, I was a bit lower than what it was before holidays. My body fat index has almost not changed. How is it possible?

[Reddr]

2 things are are play here. Water and muscle tone.

5 lbs of fat takes up a lot more room than 5 lbs of muscle. So it is possible to be the same weight or less but your measurements are larger because you've lost muscle tone from lack of activity.

The other thing it could be is you are dehydrated now and had a higher water content when you last weighed yourself. Though typically you are able to see water on your body so you measurements would also be smaller now. I for instance have gained a full 10 lbs in 3 days from retaining water, you can see the swolleness in my legs/face. It goes away in another 2-3 days and everything looks normal again.

[DonyChicago]

But my measurements are bigger than the last time I weighed myself.
And I agree that I could have lost muscle and gained fat but my body fat index have not really changed.

[DonyChicago]

Thank you for your comment.

[Reddr]

Right. That's why I'm thinking muscle tone. Or some thing is wrong with the scale. That could be a possibility. Switching scales or the scales location can have effects.

[Cmasterson]

Put it this way, when you work out you look fitter but will probably weigh more than you did to begin with. Your weight probably stayed the same but the amount of weight may have distributed in the areas where it's most noticeable!

[DonyChicago]

Everything is bigger on me.

[JayB124b]

Depends ever you carry weight. For woman the monthly cycle plays a role too.

[DonyChicago]

I don't think it has something to do with monthly cycle. I carry weight on bottom.

[kittykatg]

Muscle weighs more than fat. You could have lost muscle mass and gained fat. Sorry

[orphan]

people should pay attention in physics class =\

[DonyChicago]

What do you mean?

[orphan]

it's a class in school.

math, history,... physics.

[DonyChicago]

OK. But why do you say "people should pay attention in physics class" ? Because of the "mescle weighs more than fat" thing?

[DonyChicago]

Muscle, sorry.

[orphan]

that's a factor.. among other variables.

all i'm saying is, w/ a little thought, people should be able to answer this themselves. paying attention in physics helps, but it's not necessary.

[DonyChicago]

Ok. Understood ! But as I said, my body fat index is still the same. That is why I don't understand what is happening.

[orphan]

body fat index?

to measure body fat you use body fat calipers or you get a body fat scan (like 50 bux, and it's basically being x rayed). you'll get precise numbers from the scan, and precise numbers from the calipers after you learn how to use them.

[orphan]

estimating body fat based on other measurements is the cause to the confusion you're experiencing.

[DonyChicago]

Actually that body fat index was measured by a medical system.

[orphan]

based on what measurements?

[DonyChicago]

Age, gender and some electrical impulsion that goes through the body.

[orphan]

point made.