67 pounds gone but no inches

[UKAmmie]

I've lost nearly 5 stones and I'm slightly confused and a bit exasperated.

My stomach which is where most of my weight is doesn't seem to be shrinking at all. I think I may of lost an inch but I didn't measure myself properly when I first started on Atkins.

My clothes are looser and keep falling down including my knickers lol! I've been told I look deflated and I feel like it, I have tons more energy so everything is going how it should be, but I thought there would of been more of a difference around my stomach because 67 pounds is a lot of weight to lose.

My legs and arms are and have always been like matchsticks, don't have much in way of a butt so where's the weight loss coming from?

Has anyone who's had over 100lbs to lose had the same experience? I didn't expect to see dramatic differences compared to those who aren't "morbidly obese" (I hate that term) but I'm slightly puzzled.

[momtomany1]

Just want to say, you have brought your body fat percentage down by 10 percent, which is awesome. That is such great progress!

Tummy fat is a problem, I still have fat on my belly which is why I haven't posted any side shots anywhere yet! lol! Think exercise. You need to tone up and pull 'in' what is there around the waist. Core type exercises, walking.. walking is one of the BEST for belly fat, but the exercises to tone up your core will do so much for you. Pilates, Callanetics, the Core Rhythm type exercises, all good!

[UKAmmie]

Originally Posted by momtomany1

Just want to say, you have brought your body fat percentage down by 10 percent, which is awesome. That is such great progress!

Tummy fat is a problem, I still have fat on my belly which is why I haven't posted any side shots anywhere yet! lol! Think exercise. You need to tone up and pull 'in' what is there around the waist. Core type exercises, walking.. walking is one of the BEST for belly fat, but the exercises to tone up your core will do so much for you. Pilates, Callanetics, the Core Rhythm type exercises, all good!

Thanks for you response and advice.

It totally slipped my mind that there are exercises I can do that will help. I've only just lost enough weight that I can start using my cross trainer, not too sure how I'll do.

I will do some research on core rhythm, pilates and callanetics exercises and find a program that will suit me.

I know walking is a brilliant form of exercise, I'd love to swap my never been used cross trainer for a treadmill as going outside and walking around would only bring on panic attacks.

Thanks again.

I just remembered I used to do callanetics when I was a teen and not this big, I really felt the muscles in my tummy working so I'll look up that first.

[tuttifrutti]

Hi Ammie, It is fantastic that you have lost that much weight!!!! Way to go. As for inches...I think with us bigger gals (hope you don't mind me saying that) it is going to take a larger amount of weight before we really see the inches go. With close to 40 lbs gone here I didnt seem to lose very many inches in the tummy either. Yes my pants are falling off me too, but I only registered an inch and a half loss. Might have measured wrong too. I know when I first measured I think I made the tape as tight as I could cuz that made the numbers smaller ha ha. I see a small loss in my face too and thats about it. I would just get those exercises in and keep doing what you are doing because 67 lbs in completely awesome!!!

[Elizellen]

Congratulations on those pounds discarded, Ammie

Is is odd how sometimes we lose weight but can't see much difference in inches - just as odd as those people who report losing no weight but needing to buy smaller dress sizes.

We lose weight in all sorts of places that we don't think to measure - I lost a shoe size as well as a hat size but had never thought to measure around my feet and head before starting Atkins

Also many of us lose from our hands and wrists - I had to have my watch straps and rings made smaller - so you might be shrinking there too as well as maybe losing some of those fatty deposits around your internal organs

You are doing a great job - keep up the good work

[Keetje]

Hi Ammie,

I have got a lot of weight to lose too, so I know the feeling about the waist measurements, mine has only budged a tiny bit. But bear in mind what Elizellen said - you may be losing that weight from around your body organs, and after all, that is the important place for it to be happening!

I was thinking about getting a cross trainer myself, but unfortunately the ones I could get at Argos don't quite cater for my weight!! (I use my bike when I am out for my exercise, but for you that is not an option at the moment). I think a treadmill would be a grand idea for you, if you have the room in the house.

A guy I know has a multigym in his conservatory - had LOTS of fun on that when I visited - he was surprised how strong my legs were - I told him that after years of carrying all this weight around my legs are very strong indeed!

Keep up the amazing work and remember that every day you stick with this, you are getting healthier.

Keetje

[UKAmmie]

Thanks everyone for your kind words and advice.

I'm feeling reassured now. I was starting to wonder if my scales were broken and questioning everything. I couldn't see how my tops were baggier but my stomach remain the same.

Originally Posted by Elizellen

We lose weight in all sorts of places that we don't think to measure - I lost a shoe size as well as a hat size but had never thought to measure around my feet and head before starting Atkins

Also many of us lose from our hands and wrists - I had to have my watch straps and rings made smaller - so you might be shrinking there too as well as maybe losing some of those fatty deposits around your internal organs

You are doing a great job - keep up the good work

I have never thought about my internal fat before. I guess visually I've only concentrated on the outer appearance and pushed what damage I was doing to myself inside to the back of mind. It all makes sense now.

I'm going to take proper measurements in the morning of all my bits instead of fixating on my tum tum.

Good luck all with their weight loss, your support is very much appreciated.

[Ryan.Stoeppel]

And it isn't just the ladies who experience this! I started Atkins just a shade over 2 months ago. I took a picture of myself with my shirt off (eek!) the first day, after one month, and after two months. After one month I had lost 15 lbs and I could see no difference at all, even though I was down a pant size AND my tape measure told me I lost a number of inches. After two months and 25 total lbs lost I still could barely see a difference, even though I was down another pant size and had lost even MORE inches! I can just barely see a difference in my time lapsed 2 month pictures...and part of me tells myself it was just me sucking in my gut, but as Elizellen said, I have had to take my watch in because the thing was sliding nearly to my elbow!

Also, skin is elastic to a certain extent, and the more overweight you are the more it stretches the skin. Over time it will naturally tighten up, but things like age can affect how quickly it will tighten up and how tight it will get. The younger you are, the more your body is able to "recover" from fat. The best example I can think to give you is when you blow up a balloon, and then you let the air out of it. Even though you may have let the air out, there is still that little "pooch" that stick around. You have to physically press that air out, and you need to do a similar thing with you body (ie the core exercises that momtomany was mentioning). Does this make sense? I feel like I'm rambling. Hope I helped!

[UKAmmie]

Originally Posted by Ryan.Stoeppel

And it isn't just the ladies who experience this! I started Atkins just a shade over 2 months ago. I took a picture of myself with my shirt off (eek!) the first day, after one month, and after two months. After one month I had lost 15 lbs and I could see no difference at all, even though I was down a pant size AND my tape measure told me I lost a number of inches. After two months and 25 total lbs lost I still could barely see a difference, even though I was down another pant size and had lost even MORE inches! I can just barely see a difference in my time lapsed 2 month pictures...and part of me tells myself it was just me sucking in my gut, but as Elizellen said, I have had to take my watch in because the thing was sliding nearly to my elbow!

Also, skin is elastic to a certain extent, and the more overweight you are the more it stretches the skin. Over time it will naturally tighten up, but things like age can affect how quickly it will tighten up and how tight it will get. The younger you are, the more your body is able to "recover" from fat. The best example I can think to give you is when you blow up a balloon, and then you let the air out of it. Even though you may have let the air out, there is still that little "pooch" that stick around. You have to physically press that air out, and you need to do a similar thing with you body (ie the core exercises that momtomany was mentioning). Does this make sense? I feel like I'm rambling. Hope I helped!

I loved your analogy of loose skin and a deflated balloon, you're exactly right of course, and don't worry you were not rambling.

[msanjelpie]

I call my Dad 'Santa'... even though he was only 10 lbs from goal, he always looked about 8 months pregnant... it's scary because belly fat is supposed to be the most dangerous, but his just won't budge. He walks an hour a day and even bought an ab machine but nothing seems to help... he's too old to do pilates type stuff...

Your tummy might be the very last thing to go...