the truth about inches

[misplaced southerner]

hi...not sure why i am writing this but i have been thinking a lot today about measurements for some reason. many of you are discouraged about the fact that the scale is not moving. me too. but i wanna share something with all of you.

at my highest weight i was 220. in a years time i lost a ton (well figuratively) of weight. i went down to 150 which looked darn good on me. luckily for me i MEASURED myself at my highest weight and then along the way during my loss.

well here i am now, up to 193 at christmas (yikes!) and down to 178 now (i hate that #) and totally dedicated to getting back to 150. guess what i found the other day?????? my measurement chart!!! i had never done this before but now that i am a rededicated atkins member, and so, so smart.....i added up all the inches from the first weight, the lowest weight and did the math

over that time period of losing 70 pounds I ALSO LOST 60 INCHES!!!!! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW LONG 60 INCHES IS???????????????????

well, thankfully i do not have all that to lose again but friends, think of the visual. INCHES DO COUNT. so do yourselves a favor. if you have not done your measurements DO IT NOW...stick that piece of paper in a drawer and take it out each month and measure again...do the math and DO THE HAPPY DANCE!!! pounds are important but inches do too!!!!

finally,,,,,if i can do it anyone can,,,really, seriously, truly. you have one body. you have to live with it. you can be healthy and fit and feel really good. i am on my way!!! WILL YOU COME ALONG WITH ME?

[cincywbbw]

Re: the truth about inches

What a great post!! I was just whining in my journal the other day about my scaled being stuck on 260, but i had lost 4 inches. 60 inches..WOW! sounds like you know your stuff. Thanks for the boost. I am with ya on this one!!

[sweetgirl2]

Re: the truth about inches

I'm so glad you said that misplaced southerner, fantastic post
I second those sentiments, for anyone ever doubting this WOE & those scales that sometimes seem to get stuck. It's only the scales, and those inches count far more than what it reads on a tiny object on the floor of your bathroom!

[julirama723]

Re: the truth about inches

MS, great post! Sometimes that scale just seems stuck, that's when I break out the tape measure and start doing my happy dance.

I wish I would have taken measurements when I first started. I didn't start taking regular measurements until I'd been on Atkins for about 4 months...yikes! All I know is that I've lost at least 13-14 inches off my waist, judging by a belt that I have...

[misplaced southerner]

Re: the truth about inches

13-14 inches!!! YOWZA!!!! pretty soon we won't be able to see you if you turn sideways!!! KEEP THAT BELT!!! i kept one pair of size 18 jeans,,,,i think i could put my whole body in it now but i tell you, it is a VERY VISUAL reminder!!! take those measurements now...it is never too late!

[solittletime]

Re: the truth about inches

misplaced southerner, I'm so glad you posted this! Every other time I've lost weight and hit a plateau I get so bummed by the number on the scale and then give up. This time on Atkins, I took my measurements and at my first weigh in (4 weeks in), 14 inches had melted away!

[misplaced southerner]

Re: the truth about inches

wow solittle....that is awesome! looks like our starting weights and goals are about the same. i admit to being easily discouraged but i am more stubborn and determined that anything else and yes, the tape measure helps me when the scale is not. jess has been a big help in keeping me focused on all the other great benefits of this plan along with the weight loss. (thanks jess!)

BTW, how are you liking the elliptical. i started back today and did 30 minutes....when e. came out into the garage he told me i should be doing an hour "you know" and i thought i was gonna clobber him...out of the mouths of men!

[Thin is possible!]

Re: the truth about inches

Great advice! Many times on my journey the scale didn't move but the inches were dropping! Keep track of both!!!!!! I don't have my journal in front of me to give my exact amount, but I have lost a total cumulative inches in the 105 range. And I didn't start measuring until after I had already lost 45 pounds! Wish I knew what they were from the beginning. SOOOOOOOOOOOOO...moral of the story. Get out those tape measures ADBB'ers!

[sallyseachange]

Re: the truth about inches

60 inches!! That's terrific! Congratulations.... that ol tape measure really shows how "far" you've come!!!

[Stargirl]

Re: the truth about inches

I loved your thread. How enthusiastic you are... Well done so far!

Just one questions: Are you talking about the size of your waist? It almost has to be it or am I wrong here???

Have a great day!
Stargirl

[misplaced southerner]

Re: the truth about inches

my waist??? nooooooooooo.....i measure bust, midriff, waist, abdomen, hips, thighs, calves and arms....add them all up and give myself a number...i work from that.

[scarpetta]

Re: the truth about inches

my waist??? nooooooooooo.....i measure bust, midriff, waist, abdomen, hips, thighs, calves and arms....add them all up and give myself a number...i work from that.

I measure my hips and thighs separately but don't include the thigh measurement in my overall loss total, since measuring the hips is the same as measuring both thighs together.

Am I wrong?

[julirama723]

Re: the truth about inches

No, hip and 2x thigh measurements can differ from person to person. Not all people have the same proportion, and some people have wider hips, skinny legs, or narrow waists and larger thighs. It's best to measure BOTH. My hip measurements are 41", but my thigh is 27"...27X2 is 54. Definitely NOT the same!

[solittletime]

Re: the truth about inches

BTW, how are you liking the elliptical. i started back today and did 30 minutes....when e. came out into the garage he told me i should be doing an hour "you know" and i thought i was gonna clobber him...out of the mouths of men!

Hi ms
I love the elliptical, but there's no way I can do 30 minutes. I get to 15 minutes and I feel like I'm having a heart attack .... I'm gasping for air! I used to be able to do 45 minutes at the gym by that was 20 lbs ago. I'll get there again (I hope)

I take all the same measurements, but what I always find odd is my thighs and upper arms are different sizes.... weird.

[misplaced southerner]

Re: the truth about inches

well i do not think there are any hard and fast rule about how and where you measure. do what works for you, my thighs are 21.5 apiece=43"......my hips are not 43 but we are all different.

SLT....YOU CAN DO IT....maybe not today or tomorrow but you have started and you will add a little bit as you go along and before you know it, you will be doing 30 minutes with no trouble at all!!! crank up the tunes and go......you re doing something and that is great!!! YOU WILL GET THERE!!