Why am I losing inches and not pounds?

[Anonymous]

OK so long story short...used to be super small, had a kid, now I'm about 25 pounds heavier than before. I've been going to the gym 3 times a week I do cardio and light weights, I reduced my calorie intake to 1200-1400 which is what my dr recommended for my height/weight, am seeing a weight dr 2 times a week, taking an appetite suppressant they gave me and get lipo b injections and b12 for energy. but...i am not losing weight. I lost 2 inches on my bust, 3 on my waist and 3 on my hips. I don't get it? all this hard work and I feel like I'll never get back to my old size! what should I do?

[rdr005]

You said you're working out. Muscle is heavier than fat. So while you may be going for the intention of losing weight, you are getting fit, but by toning your body, you're doing more than losing inches, you're gaining muscles and developing yourself as such. The inches you're losing are a sign of "losing weight"...that is.. the bad weight. If you're concerned about actual pounds, then be selective on what type of activities you do to lose weight (though I wouldn't say what you're currently doing is a bad thing at all). Some stuff is meant to purposely lose weight, while others tone certain parts of the body to be stronger. Also, you lose weight in certain areas first. Most people who are overweight, or obese, lose weight in their facial areas first... developing a thinner face, and then moves down ward and proportionally. Don't look at your belly as the first sign of losing weight, because its not. Other parts... just never will go down. As my mom likes to put it... she can work all day and never eat... and she's still gonna have a big butt.

[straightdope]

You're probably getting more muscular which will enable you to burn more fat but the gained muscle is offsetting any fat loss so far. I would just keep working out if I were you and eventually your weight will probably go down a little. Even if you don't lose weight you'll look better because you'll be in good shape and nobody else knows what you weigh anyway, all they can see is the missing inches you mention. Don't worry about losing bust weight either, large busts are overrated.

[Asker]

thats why I want to lose my bust, no one likes big boobs or busts

[straightdope]

Some guys do love bigger busts but I think some girls with average or smaller boobs think they MUST have larger sizes to really attract men or be desired which is totally not true as you have obviously realized. From reading questions and answers on this site it seems all the girls with larger busts want smaller and all the girls with smaller want larger lol. There is poll on here somewhere that shows most guys like B cups which I would say is about average size.

[lalaluluwe]

You are loosing weight but probably gaining muscle due to the exercise.

[Anonymous]

Muscle weighs more than fat. Doing a body fat test (with the calipers) might give you a more accurate estimation of the fat that's being burned off. You're making progress so don't let the LBS measure alone throw you.

[stercor]

The muscle you're gaining weighs more than the fat you're losing.

[Arwens-Fire]

Sounds like you are gaining muscle.