A
female
age
30-35,
anonymous
writes:I have some questions about weight. I was on a medication that I thought was causing me weight gain. (You'll find out why I said 'thought' when you read the rest). My stomach was looking bloated, and my legs were getting rather celluity. I'm 5'6", and was weighed at 165 pounds at the doctors office. Here's the thing, though. I went off the medication in August, and I immediately (within a week) started to notice a difference in how I looked. The cellulite on my legs was already starting to lessen, my stomach was looking smaller, and my clothes were fitting better. This continued to improve over the next few months, and it will probably continue to improve. I also get plenty of exercise at my job, and I eat much healthier than other people I know. However, recently I went back to the doctor, so I was weighed again. I have actually gained a pound. Here's the thing, though. I look thin. I wear US pants size 6 or 8, depending on the brand. My husband has noticed I've gotten smaller, my parents have noticed, and I even asked one friend to guess my weight. He guessed me at 120 pounds. When I told him how much I actually weigh, I could tell he was genuinely shocked. I didn't get the feeling he deliberately guessed me lower to stroke my ego, either. So what's the deal? How is this even possible? How can I look thinner, feel thinner, and have my clothes fit better, yet still weigh the same thing? And how do I look thin at 165 pounds when I'm not that tall? Also, my sister is around my height, we wear the same pants size, but she only weighs somewhere in the 130s. I know this probably all sounds weird, and I apologize. I'm just genuinely curious. Should I be concerned? Where is all this weight hiding, and could it cause me health issues later on? Reply to this Question
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female
reader, chigirl  +, writes (15 October 2014):
 I was wondering the same. I weight the same as I did 10 years ago, yet my pants size is bigger than before. Before I was about a 38 (Norwegian sizes) and now I am a 40. My shoe size went up as well, weirdly enough. But anyway, my butt or hips must have gone bigger, because my panties don't fit either any more, and I have to buy a bigger size than before. Still weight the same. So conclusion is: either your clothes have changed, or you have. Regardless of weight. In my case I think I just got more muscle as I started working out, and at the same time lost the little bit of fat I had stored away somewhere. Because I also got comments of being thinner, yet I still weight the same and my butt is bigger, haha. So there you go. I don't focus too much on it, the important thing is that you are healthy and feel good, and if you are and you do then what difference does it make what you weigh?
Btw, people think I weight more, yet think I am smaller, than what I actually am. They are usually surprised by how little I weigh, yet they always think I wear several sizes less than what I actually do. It's not logical. How people perceive you isn't logical. So you can't really use peoples opinions as a reference point.
A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (15 October 2014): While I do agree that fat takes up more space and muscles less but my question is to what extent? I am 5.5 and I weigh 140 lb. I also exersize and I also eat healthy, sometimes I go to 135lb, sometimes to 145, but I am in that weight range for the past 25 years since I stopped being a teen and had my child. I wear size 8 clothes, rarely I fit into 6. I don't really understand how with 165 lb you wear the same size as me. Even with muscles, you are still 25 lb more than me, and the same size of clothes?!With that said, if you are size 8 you must look great. May be you are very fit more than me, who knows. I wouldn't worry too much about pounds. Some have water retention, but if your doctor says you are healthy, then don't worry about pounds, and don't stress yourself out.
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A
reader, anonymous, writes (15 October 2014): Maybe it is muscle weight or maybe something is wrong with their scale. 165 is overweight for your height though unless you have a large frame and even then it is about 15 pounds overweight. If you are weighed with clothes on and after eating you can weigh around 5 lbs more than in the morning without clothes and before eating.
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A
male
reader, Fatherly Advice + ♥, writes (14 October 2014):
 Yes Muscle weighs more than fat. It also burns calories rather than storing them. There are much better methods of determining your health than your weight or BMI. For example my Gym will do a body composition for me 4 times a year. This gives you a much more accurate estimation of total body fat. Hopefully all that extra weight is hiding in your muscles and making you much healthier.
FA
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A
female
reader, Tisha-1 +, writes (14 October 2014):
 Talk to your doctor if you are really concerned. Maybe you are carrying the weight somewhere unhealthy. Or maybe you are no longer bloated, are eating right and exercising.
I think you have just built more lean muscle and lost the fat. Five pounds of fat takes up a lot more space than five pounds of muscle. Take a look at the visuals here: http://bamboocorefitness.com/one-pound-of-fat-versus-one-pound-of-muscle-clearing-up-the-misconception/
My husband stopped weighing himself because that's just a number. What matters is his lean muscle mass and how his clothes fit.
So talk to your doctor if you fear health issues later on.
Or go to a sport medicine center and have your body fat analyzed and your fitness level as well.
Best wishes for continued good health.
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