Losing weight or losing inches? Which is better in your opinion?

[does not matter 39]

I'm one month post op. I've lost about 11 inches... and 11.6 pounds since surgery 4 weeks ago. (It was a little higher last week, however, I ended up gaining 2 pounds between week 3-4, and gained about 2 inches with the 2 pound gain, which sucks!)

First question... I was fully expecting stalls along the way but... weight gain!? I've read a few posts regarding that, what is usually the cause, Water? hormones?

- I will mention I ended up in the emergency room last Friday for dehydration and apparently I had a bladder infection with no symptoms, I still don't believe the Dr. However... that's a whole other story!

- Water intake has been much better since then, and completed anti-biotics yesterday.

Second question... what do you see as being better... the loss in inches or the loss on the scale... and why?

[Sassygirl06 962]

I personally like to lose inches because sometimes you are exchanging fat for muscle so the scale can lie to you at times. About the weight gain, I always put on a few pounds before my period due to Fluid retention...just always keep that in mind. Good luck!

[Imjustmee 44]

As far as stalls this is completely normal. There are a number of reasons for that. You've pretty much upended your internal organs. Just keep on track and it all balances out. I'm almost 6 months out so I've definitely been there. As far as pounds vs inches that's up to you. There have been weeks where I lost next to nothing In pounds but lost several inches. You will come into your own as your journey continues. It's hard but in the beginning try not to focus on the number. Focus on how you feel and what you can do now that you couldn't do before.

[Butterthebean 8,146]

Better to lose inches....no contest. The number on the scale means nothing. Inches directly relates to your health, your body composition and how the world sees you. But hang in there, the weight will come off..

[does not matter 39]

I personally like to lose inches because sometimes you are exchanging fat for muscle so the scale can lie to you at times. About the weight gain, I always put on a few pounds before my period due to Fluid retention...just always keep that in mind. Good luck!

Thanks for your reply and opinion! I'm on depo and don't get a period so I'm not sure if that would be something that would cause the weight gain? or if it's just Water.. not a clue

[does not matter 39]

Better to lose inches....no contest. The number on the scale means nothing. Inches directly relates to your health, your body composition and how the world see you. But hang in there, the weight will come off.

Love this! Thank you!

[Nate74 45]

Thats a hard question. For me i would have to say the inches. The reason is i was happy when i stepped on the scale and saw the weight loss but not as happy as i was when i was able to fit in my old dress blues for my Brother in law's military funeral. i love to see it on the sal but it makes me happier to be down 14 pant sizes

[does not matter 39]

Thats a hard question. For me i would have to say the inches. The reason is i was happy when i stepped on the scale and saw the weight loss but not as happy as i was when i was able to fit in my old dress blues for my Brother in law's military funeral. i love to see it on the sal but it makes me happier to be down 14 pant sizes

Old clothes fitting is definitely a great feeling! I will definitely agree with you there!

[Babysteppin 165]

Second question... what do you see as being better... the loss in inches or the loss on the scale... and why?

Both are fabulous in my book! But Butterthebean is right about inches being directly linked to your overall health, even more than the pounds. Often times a loss of inches can mean you're building muscle, which helps strengthen your metabolism...or it can mean that your body is losing its 'visceral fat' which is all the unhealthy (and dangerous) fat that accumulates in and around the internal organs of the body. Either way, losing inches is good news.

[does not matter 39]

Both are fabulous in my book! But Butterthebean is right about inches being directly linked to your overall health, even more than the pounds. Often times a loss of inches can mean you're building muscle, which helps strengthen your metabolism...or it can mean that your body is losing its 'visceral fat' which is all the unhealthy (and dangerous) fat that accumulates in and around the internal organs of the body. Either way, losing inches is good news.

I was actually going to ask for an ultra sound of my liver, to see how much improvement there is since Aug when I had one for the bariatric center in my city.

[gmanbat 5,889]

Yesterday my wife and I went through my closet yet again and gathered a large trash bag full of clothes for Goodwill Industries. They are getting some pretty new stuff this time. I think this is the third time I made a purge like this.

The thing is that I lost enough inches to make my clothes unwearable but didn't lose that much weight this last go round. I am exercising like an athlete and my body is getting in better shape than it was in my upper 20's, (I am 64).

What the scale says is a non-issue now. The fat comes off, the muscle goes on, and the gman gets naughty looks from wifey.

[joatsaint 2,814]

I have to go with inches. I don't care if I weigh 250 - as long as it's all muscle.

My new tagline -

and the gman gets naughty looks from wifey

- priceless

Gman, you get 2 snaps up in a Z formation!

[does not matter 39]

Yesterday my wife and I went through my closet yet again and gathered a large trash bag full of clothes for Goodwill Industries. They are getting some pretty new stuff this time. I think this is the third time I made a purge like this.

The thing is that I lost enough inches to make my clothes unwearable but didn't lose that much weight this last go round. I am exercising like an athlete and my body is getting in better shape than it was in my upper 20's, (I am 64).

What the scale says is a non-issue now. The fat comes off, the muscle goes on, and the gman gets naughty looks from wifey.

LOL Nothing wrong with a little extracurricular exercise!

I couldn't believe that at 2 weeks out (-47 pounds from highest weight) I was able to donate 6 garbage bags of clothes to the womens abuse center. I was thinking maybe at 2 months out I'd be able to wear the things I'm wearing now, but not after 2 weeks. Over the past 2 weeks I've lost more inches, and gained a little on the scale. It's frustrating and hard to wrap your mind around that concept!?

[Takingcontrol 467]

Losing period!!! :-)

[crickee 85]

I vote inches as well! I am down 6 pants sizes from surgery since November and am just thrilled! I just purchased new pants 2 weeks ago, and it was amazing to wear a size 14 for the first time since high school 30+ years ago! The hardest thing I am dealing with now is my head still sees my body as pre-surgery and I still find myself looking at clothes as if the weight is still there. It should be easy to forget and think about form fitting clothes, I am getting there, a day at a time.