I lost five pounds this week, and even though overall I lost 3.5 inches more in the last few weeks- in some areas I gained! Is it normal for my measurements to shift around?

I've had some measurements go up - but I don't think it's a real increase, just hard to always measure exactly the same. I did find that my measurements went up after my workout (guess I get more pumped than I thought), so make sure you measure in consistent circumstances. Some areas I just can't measure in a consistent way - for example, around the level of my belly button - too much slope involved. I do think I measure pretty consistently at the waist and hips, but even there, it occasionally goes up a bit.

Hart - Congrats on your five lbs loss!!! What program are you following?? Yes, I get that sometimes too, my inches go down then sometimes go back up, not by much though, I think sometimes it depends on the day or when it comes to me alot has to do which area I am at during my cycle, or if I am retaining fluid, I don't think its a big deal, I mean the scales showing a loss mean alot more to me than a few inches, eventually it'll all be gone!!! I hope!!

actually my gym measures me- but it does seem like it isn't really an exact thing...

My plan is my own, I count calories and balance my foods. 1350-1600 calories. Try to keep it high in fiber and protein and no more than 40g of fat. I eat every 3 hours approx. and I work out a lot. I do:

(1hr) high impact total body conditioning class 2x a week

(30-40 min.) circuit training 3x a wk.

(1.5 hours total) yoga 1-2x a week

(15 min.) free weights and a resis. band 2x a week

(30 min.) workout video that uses ball and bands, crunches 2x a wk.

I also try to walk extra whenever I can and will be 3-4 hours a week - summer while my nanny charge is in diff. classes.

That's it. I'm also going to start doing 2 things:

do my 15 min. weight routines BEFORE I hit the gym 2-3x a week instead of whenever

and I have a goal to drink green tea every day, after workouts if I can as I've read a lot of recent studies about how is aides in fat burning.

I typically lose about 5 pounds a week so far- or more.