# The shape of fat loss

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shape-of-fat-loss/439843>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 2, 2008, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shape-of-fat-loss/439843 "2008-03-02T14:47:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\
**Post date:** [March 2, 2008, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shape-of-fat-loss/439843/1 "2008-03-02T14:47:06Z")

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After running over 100 miles so far this year, I know I’m losing fat, but my abdominal circumference stubbornly holds steady at 39 inches. The hydrostatic test tells me I’ve gone from 26.2% to 23.2% bodyfat. I know some of it is abdominal fat because I can’t grab a handful of fatroll around my waist anymore, I have to use my thumb and forefinger. What could be the explanation for the belly circumference not changing at all? I’m measuring it right at my navel, I figure it makes the most sense to be unforgiving by measuring the widest part.

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**Author:** ![red\_awning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a87d85/32.png) [@red\_awning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/red_awning)\
**Post date:** [March 2, 2008, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shape-of-fat-loss/439843/2 "2008-03-02T14:50:29Z")

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Well if you are replacing the fat with muscle then wouldn’t that explain it.

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**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\
**Post date:** [March 2, 2008, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shape-of-fat-loss/439843/3 "2008-03-02T15:04:04Z")

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Not around the belly, I don’t think so.

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**Author:** ![Crawlspace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Crawlspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crawlspace)\
**Post date:** [March 2, 2008, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shape-of-fat-loss/439843/4 "2008-03-02T15:30:01Z")

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If you’ve lose the subcutaneous fat and no longer jiggle when brushing your teeth, but your abdomen still protrudes, it might be due to intraperitoneal (visceral) fat which lies beneath the musculature of the body wall. It can be harder to lose, but keep at it. It will go away.