Losing inches but not weight?

[NotExactlyMrsCurrentAffairs]

Since having covid, I still haven't regained my smell or taste.
It's done wonders for reducing how much I was previously eating though.
Looking back now, I can see that I was massively overeating and snacking and the weight was creeping up, dress size 16-18, struggling to fit into clothes etc.
I'm now eating 3 small meals a day. No snacks. I've lost my interest in food. I think my stomach has shrunk too as I feel full up with smaller meals.
Now I can fit into my old size 14's again without a struggle. I look and feel a lot slimmer yet my scales (digital) still say I'm 12 stone 11 ounces. I can't fathom why? Why have I lost inches but not pounds?

Lost water if you've been ill? If you've not eating much your body may have used some of your fat reserves. Fat takes up more space than muscle pound for pound.

I'm definitely using up my fat reserves. The wobbly bits are less wobbly, especially my tummy.
But I still can't fathom why the pounds on the scales aren't going down.

That's odd. Have you got any water retention? Are your ankles puffy or anything?

I didn't think covid weighed anything!

No water retention. Ankles not puffy.
I weigh in every Saturday and for 3 weeks straight it's been 12st 11oz.
I was heavier than that though, it has come down from 13st 6oz but nothing in the last 3 weeks.

So you have lost inches and pounds. It's not unusual for the body to acclimatise to a drop in calorie consumption. A thinner body needs less calories to move around as much as a fatter one. You've plateaued.

Are you wanting to lose more and wondering why you aren't?

If you are not snacking, it is likely that your body is using fat stores and this does change your body composition - i.e. lose inches rather than weight

But I'd predict that your weight will go down too very soon!!!

Yes, that really.
I'm visibly getting slimmer by the week.
I wondered if the 'weight' aspect would go down any further? Or whether I'll just carry on losing inches but the scales will stay the same.
I hadn't planned to lose any weight, more by default from covid. But it has given me a kick up the bum and made me realise how much more I was eating than I realised and I'm quite pleased I can now fit back into clothes I haven't worn for months.
It's been the kickstart that I needed.
I am limited to exercise right now as I'm self isolating (again!) After a child in my bubble at the school I work in tested positive. I know realistically I'm going to have to up my game in that area to make any real difference to my weight.

That doesn't make sense hamstersarse

If that was the case, OP would need to be gaining something in order to replace the lost fat, in order to maintain the weight. The options are muscle, water, or bone. Are you gaining muscle OP? You didn't mention a sudden new weights regime or anything..

Why do you care?

If I told you you could be a size 8 and 12 stone or a size 12 and 8 stone you'd choose to be smaller but weigh more.

You could drop your carbs to some extent, OP. Carbs stop us using body fat (since they're so much easier for the body to burn than fat, and it can't be arsed to process the fat if it can just use the carbs instead)

You've put your weights as stones and ounces - in which case you've lost over a stone - or do you means stones and pounds, in which case you've lost 9lb. Either way that's a significant amount of weight lost since you've been ill.

Oh I have, sorry!
Yes, I was 13st 6lbs before 22/10 pre covid
Now I'm 12st 11lb