Its unfit not fat that is the problem.

[Greenbank]

Muscle is more dense than fat. If you replace fat with an equal weight of muscle you'll look slimmer, even more so if you're adding muscle to your legs whilst 'losing' fat off your waist.

And, for similar reasons, you can still look/feel slimmer even if you're putting on weight slightly.

I'm 2kg heavier than I was 2 months ago but considerably fitter. Still 10kg over what I was before LEL last year though.

[mattc]

It appears that I may becoming both fatter heavier & fitter

[jogler]

I am aware of the fat/muscle weight consideration.

I have decided to use a simple gauge to measure any weight loss..
I want the waistband of my trousers to fit comfortably & the front of my shirts not to look like a Zeppelin.
So I shall be wearing my lycra bib shorts & longs with a cycling cape

[citoyen]

jogler, to put it very simply:

Regular moderate exercise + reduced calorie intake = less fat

Regular intense exercise + increased calorie intake = less fat and more muscle

d.

[fuaran]

Based on data taken from somewhere (I don't have the journal with me) there's a very strong correlation between 'healthiness' (derived from QALY measurements/calculations) and BMI. From the data, 'Optimal' BMI seems to be 23, but anything within the usual 'normal' range of 20-25 still represents a good level of 'healthiness'.

The usual 'normal' / 'healthy' range is 18.5 to 25.

[Manotea]

I've got a reference pair of trousers from circa 1985 when I had the body of an adonis.  Fortunatately or unfortunately depending on your POV I seem to have bequeathed it (the body of an adonis that is, not the pair of trousers) to young Master Manotea. Alas, youth is wasted on the young.

FTR, the last time they fitted was in 2006 (for about 6 months...).