Its weird isnt it. I have lost since Feb this year, 20cms from my waist. I have a Rosemary Conley tape measure where it has holes all along and little plastic tabs you clip on, there are 2 of each colour (blue for bust, red waist, yellow hips etc)but I stick to just one colour for my waist red , and One tag you clip on and it stays there permanently, and a smaller one that you clip on and you can move it along to the next hole once you have measured. And I have lost 8 inches from my waist, but you can only really notice if I wear something very clingy, which I do not do, as my lower tummy still sticks out a bit(lot), But I do have a better shape overall.