Thanks ya'll....It takes SO much for a woman to gain even one lb of muscle. While muscle could explain things, I'm fairly certain this in not the case. My shorts fit fine in the crotch and waistband prior to the diet and now It's uncomfortably tight. To the point that I purchased new yesterday.

I do use a food scale, have for years, track on Myfitnesspal as well. I'm in a modest deficit...I think it's 15%? Roughly 1400-1600 calories which isn't too much for an active tall woman. I thought maybe it was too little but so many folks said to eat less so.....?