Do i have to lose weight to lose inches??????

Im 5'8 and i weight 144. I wanted to lose inches.. meaning like tone up....i don't necessary want to lose weight... the lightest i have ever been was 140 and can't get below that.. so what now??? if i can lose more than 4 pounds i can lose a dress size. I know im not heavy but most of the weight is in my stomach... Ive been doing cardio 4-5 times a week, pilates and weight training class for about 2 months and haven't really seen my pants lighter but i have lost 6 pounds. So basically my questions are If i can't below 140 (my plateau) does that mean i can't lose a dress size? and im not losing inches... am id oing something wrong? To keep in mind i eat 1200-1500 calories a day and burn 300-500 a day. SO ANY TIPS WILL BE AWESOME, SORRY IF IT DIDN'T MAKE MUCH SENSE LOL and thanks

Public Comments

1. Hi there, this kindof depends upon your physical condition right now. The act of toning up your abdomen will result in a tighter (and smaller) torso. This will reduce inches without reducing weight. However, there is a limit to this result. Once you are already toned in the abdomen, the only other thing adding to your waist size will be your adipose levels, so to loose inches you will have to loose the weight. - LuvJo
2. your cardio sessions could be the key. it sounds like you have a solid diet. I would try to work in two cardio sessions a day. doing cardio for two thirty minute segments in one day is better than doing cardio for two hours straight. weight training can prevent you from losing inches because you are replacing fat with muscle. I would maybe try plyometrics instead of weight for a couple weeks and see if that helped. good luck
3. try Tibetan fungus
4. You are just about there, keep it up, It takes time to work your muscles,very soon you will see a differance.Yes, you will lose inches,it takes time though.
5. fat turns to muscle muscle weighs more than fat muscle bulges or expands making it difficult to lose inches.
6. Download the free E-book this site offers, it helped me lose weight real quickly (and lastingly!)
7. the key isn't to lose weight but to gain muscle. You need to work on toning the area that you want flatter. You are doing a great job with your diet and exercise, I would just suggest that you add some ab work to your diet. And remember, at first you are probably going to be building muscle UNDER fat... this will make you look a little heavier for a while. But muscle burns more calories than fat and this will eventually go away. Keep at it and your persistence will pay off. Good luck!!