I am losing inches and not weight? why?

[indian]

I run 3 miles 6 days a week and watch what I eat (under estimated per fitbit) drink at least 90 ounces of water, what am I doing wrong?

[cmyates4]

I would say that if you are loosing inches but not weight, the logical explanation is that you are loosing fat, but building muscle.  And that's a good thing!

[EmeraldRose]

It is such a frustrating thing though! Some day that scale needs to MOVE! 

[slysam]

If losing inches you are probably losing fat. The scale weight is effected by more than your body fat though. One big one is fluid retained and released--which is why you can weigh at different times a day and see a range of weights (for some people 5 pounds, for some more). The same is true day to day--some days you may retain more water weight than others. I suspect this is related to that. If losing fat slowly (1 pound a week, for example) and you can retain say 5 pounds of water weight--it can take a while for loss to show on the scale. Also you could be building muscle, but that is not that likely from running (or other cardio), while dieting or if we are talking in the short term. Noone looking at you knows whether you lost "weight", but they will see if you lost fat. Same with clothing size. The same may be true of health--depending on whether you are in or near your healthy weight range. It sounds like you are making good progress.

[STrooper]

I agree that you are probably exchanging one for the other (muscle is supposed to be more dense than the surrounding fat).

I spent an entire year at essentially the same weight.  But I lost at least four inches of diameter (each) around my chest, my stomach and my hips.  Took my jacket size from a 46 to a 42.  Took my pants size from a 38 to a 32 or 33 waist (depending upon cut).  And it took most everything down that doesn't measure in inches from an XL to L or M. 

Even after you stop losing weight (assuming because you've met your goal and you are maintaining at a new level), you will probably find that it'll take another year or more for your body to settle in on some new dimensions.  I haven't lost any weight for the past year, yet my dimensions keep changing because I am in a constant state of training around mid and long-distance races. 

[indian]

Thank you for your reply, I need all the encouragement I can get. Feeling determined

[indian]

Thank you I can only hope I lose before I get frustrated

[indian]

Thank you for your input.I feel better and will continue, hoping to run farther and eventually lose weight

[SunsetRunner]

That's a lot of running for anyone - you might be just buidling a ton of muscle. Try other exercises that will give you a workout in different ways. Hike, Bike, Swim... etc.  Rest days are also a good idea.

[indian]

thank you. I just feel like I burn more calories when I run. I also do cardio work outs. You think I would be thin by now lol

[SunsetRunner]

sure - remember though - thin is relative and subjective (probably not what most poeple want to hear), but the reality is a lot of things factor into your weight and body shape. You sound like a super active person, and honestly, active people arn't skinny usually, they're fit and muscular - and if you're healthy you'll have some fat too.

[Heybales]

Sorry, gotta disagree with almost everyone else, though I did see one post above along same lines.

You aren't gaining muscle, unless you have been doing this for like 6 months and that's how long it took for those inches to drop.

Runners must be very specific when it's time to gain muscle - HIIT workouts. And like lifters, must be eating in surplus. You aren't putting any kind of load on your body that requires more yet.

And you are eating in a deficit.

It can take men with the better hormones a couple months of heavy progressive lifting eating at maintenance to gain almost a pound of actual muscle.

You are still using the muscle you've had, your cardio system has gotten better.

But what the body will do for running daily is increase glycogen stores in muscles used, that attaches with water.

Blood volume is also increased.

But it will also encourage mass muscle loss in muscles not used, which happens in a diet anyway unless doing strength training.

Like flappy arms?

Anyway, you are losing fat at least, but you are making other body improvements. Eventually that will stop, and just the fat loss will occur, along with muscle mass loss sadly.

No where do I see asked or you mentioning how long of a time span are you looking at, I'm guessing some weeks at least?

Because you may also be eating more than you think, not really creating much of a deficit to actually lose weight.

Are you taking Fitbit's estimate of calorie burn, or using some other estimate?

Since that effects what you burn daily, it ultimately effects what you eat daily.