Thread: can I lose inches and stay the same weight?

Hi everyone.
Im a good deal underweight, but fluffy and not compact. I want to stay the same weight but Im interested in losing inches on my body (mainly lower body but I know you cant spot reduce) and replacing fat with muscle.
The thing is, im not sure how to do it at the same time.
I know cardio burns fat and strength training builds muscle (which then burns fat too) but ive heard that you cant do them at the same time. That makes sense to me since one takes a calorie deficet and the other takes a surplus.
But some of the advice that ive read on bodybuilding sites and fitness sites says that you can indeed build muscle while in a calorie deficit.
And also, many dieters lose inches and have looser clothing but the scale doesnt change or goes up a little.
I want to decrease body fat and size while at the same time maintain my weight at around the same level. How can I do this? I would really love it if someone could set up a program or something for me or tell me how to modify my current program.

I walk 3x's a week for 8.6 miles each time. I go at a pace of around 16 minutes per mile. (so about 2 hours 20 minutes of walking each session).
And then I do random strength exercises throughout the day. Pushups, dumbell curls with 8 pound weights, bench press using the bar, lifting dumbell overhead,.
Anyway I really hate my lower body. My thighs and above the knee is just fat and gross. So I dont focus my weight training on this area for fear that it will get bigger. Sometimes I do leg extensions and the opposite (where you lay on your back and reverse curl).
I am keeping my calories at maintainence level of 1500. I figure the walking helps to lose fat and give a deficit but can I build muscle too? I eat mostly carbs and very little fat but now im thinking about adding in more fat and protein and reducing carbs. Do carbs and sugar make some women more prone to thigh fat?
Please help me and give advice. Id really appreciate it.

Originally posted by BUSTINOUT
Can I ask you why the scale is so important? Go by the mirror not the scale.

Alright, the number on the scale doesnt matter that much (as long as it doesnt go up at lot.) I just want to lose inches no matter what, how do I do that?

pepper, what is your routine?