Over the past month, I’ve been fully committed to my 180-Day LipedemaVegan Protocol — a structured anti-inflammatory plan combining strategic fasting, plant-based nutrition, proteolytic enzymes, and targeted supplementation to reduce lipedema fat, inflammation, and overall weight.
To track my progress beyond the scale, I’ve been using InBody 770 scans every 4 weeks (in sync with my 28 day natural menstrual cycles). These scans go deeper than just weight — they break down water retention, fat mass, muscle mass, and more.
Due to the fact that my plan involves caloric and carbohydrate tapering and once a week full day of fasting on Friday (typically 39 hours of fasting between Thursday’s dinner and Saturday’s breakfast), I have quite a bit of fluctuations on my daily weigh-in chart. But the overall rate is 2.2 pounds per week!
Here’s what happened over 4 weeks:
🔍 Key Changes: February 24 to March 24
| Category | Feb 24 | Mar 24 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 237.3 lbs | 228.5 lbs | ⬇ 8.8 lbs (2.2 pounds per week on average!) |
| Body Fat Mass | 120.2 lbs | 114.5 lbs | ⬇ 5.7 lbs |
| Skeletal Muscle Mass | 64.4 lbs | 62.4 lbs | ⬇ 2.0 lbs |
| Body Fat % | 50.6% | 50.1% | ⬇ 0.5% |
| Visceral Fat Area | 254.5 cm² | 246.5 cm² | ⬇ 8 cm² |
| Dry Lean Mass | 31.3 lbs | 30.2 lbs | ⬇ 1.1 lbs |
| Intracellular Water | 52.7 lbs | 51.4 lbs | ⬇ 1.3 lbs |
| Extracellular Water | 33.1 lbs | 32.4 lbs | ⬇ 0.7 lbs |
💡 What These Numbers Mean
✅ 1. Nearly 9 Pounds Down in 4 Weeks
This is a strong, healthy rate of fat loss — especially considering my protocol prioritizes sustainable fat loss and lymphatic support for lipedema. Most notably, over 5.5 lbs of the loss came directly from fat.
🧠 2. Muscle Loss or… Something Else?
The InBody scan registered a 2-pound drop in skeletal muscle mass. At first glance, that might seem concerning — but here’s why I believe it’s not a true loss of muscle, and actually a sign that the protocol is working:
💪 My muscle-preserving strategies:
- 100g+ of plant-based protein per day (same as before I started)
- No reduction in physical activity or movement
- Strategic intake of resistant starches and leucine-rich protein sources
- Balanced calorie tapering (not crash dieting)
Given this, my body should be retaining most of its lean mass — and typically, someone losing 9 lbs in a month under these conditions would lose only ~1–1.5 lbs of muscle at most.
✨ My hypothesis:
The extra 0.5–1 lb “muscle loss” reported is likely dense, fibrotic tissue breaking down — a hallmark of lipedema fat that often registers closer to lean mass in body scans.
In other words: I’m not just losing fat. I’m dismantling fibrosis.
💧 3. Improved Water Balance
Both intracellular and extracellular water dropped slightly, aligning with reduced inflammation and potential lymphatic flow improvement. ECW/TBW ratios remained stable — no signs of dehydration.
🔥 4. Visceral Fat Reduction
My visceral fat area shrank by 8 cm². This type of deep belly fat fuels systemic inflammation, so this is a powerful sign of internal healing.
🧍♀️ 5. Fat Loss in Arms, Trunk, Legs
- Right arm: ⬇ 1.3 lbs
- Left arm: ⬇ 1.1 lbs
- Trunk: ⬇ 2.6 lbs
- Legs: ⬇ 1.2 lbs (combined)
This shows that even areas notoriously resistant to change in lipedema are responding.
🌿 What I’ll Do Next
- Stick with my current protocol — it’s clearly working
- Focus on hydration and Vitamin C intake
- Continue enzymes + anti-fibrotic support (curcumin, resveratrol, lymphatic herbs)
📉 In Summary
After 4 weeks:
- I lost 8.8 lbs, mostly fat
- My body fat % dropped
- My visceral fat and inflammation are improving
- My protocol may be breaking down fibrosis, not just fat
This journey isn’t just about the number on the scale — it’s about healing at a deeper level. If you’re on a similar path with lipedema, know this: progress might be slow or subtle, but with the right tools, it’s not only possible — it’s measurable.
LipedemaVegan 