Joined the Gym and have been gaining weight
I have lost 70lbs this year i had been on weight watchers online and working out with a bow flex everyother day and walking every night. I joined a gym 3 weeks ago and am going every day lifting everyother day the off days cardo on an elliptical 5 incline 5-15 resistance for a half hour. my diet has remained steady. any ideas why i'm 5lbs heavier?
A new workout can make your muscles retain water. 5lb is a lot - have you double checked your intake?
Did you gain the weight right from the start, rapidly at some point, or gradually? Are you currently holding steady? Are you actively trying to lose weight, or to maintain?
I've found when my workouts changed drastically (intensity or activity), I'd gain weight, up to about 5 pounds. It would take up to a week to come off slowly.
I'd also question whether you diet is steady, but only you can answer that. Weighing/measuring food, writing down EVERYTHING that you take in, etc. Did you increase your intake to go along with your new exercise?
Also, what about your hydration? If you're working out more, are you making sure you're properly hydrated?
Clint
Muscle does weigh more than fat. I did read about a formula to calculate the amount of calories you body will burn.
200 + (your current weight X 8) + excercise. As you loose weight you burn less calories, that is why we peak when dieting. I also read that if you excercise too much without eatting enough calories, you body panics and thinks it is going into a famine and it holds onto every calorie. Try the formula and best of luck.
I'm still neurotic about entering food hell i'm actually doing it on ww online and here for now. i did increase my water by 1 bottle before the workout an i i am drinking a whey protein after for recovery with 1/2 cup of fat free milk but i'm still well within my points range per day
Why use that formula (which by the way gives me a far too low estimate for what I burn), when we have tools on here that actually use a real formula (Mifflin-St. Jeor) to calculate an estimate for your calorie burn.
Just use the burn tool, kathy. That formula, I'm afraid, is bunk (as are the 20+ variations of it I've heard).
Original Post by deereguy72:
I'm still neurotic about entering food hell i'm actually doing it on ww online and here for now. i did increase my water by 1 bottle before the workout an i i am drinking a whey protein after for recovery with 1/2 cup of fat free milk but i'm still well within my points range per day
So are you actually counting calories, with weighing/measuring your food? I must confess a lack of knowledge with regards to weight watcher points. Are you TOO low on calories? As in more than 1000 calories deficit?
As far as the previous post regarding muscle weighing more than fat... Yes, muscle is more DENSE than fat (1 pound of muscle weighs exactly the same as 1 pound of fat). But it's highly unlikely you've put on 5 pounds of muscle in 3 weeks. Especially if you're trying to lose weight.
One other question... Are you still weighing yourself consistently? As in, same time, same place as before? Preferably in the morning, after a morning "reading room" visit and prior to eating/drinking anything. Do you weigh yourself daily, weekly, or what?
And has your weight stayed constant after an initial gain? Or is it still rising?
Finally, take it easy on yourself! :) You've done a great thing in losing 70 pounds over the last year! And you're doing the right thing by adding more exercise. 5 pounds, in the grand scheme of things, is nothing to worry about.
Clint
I agree with clint on all points, and would add that I've heard other people complain that when they actually totaled up the calories they were eating under WW, they found that they were undereating.
It is important that you keep your eye on your measurements. I have been working out and I find that when I intensify my weight lifting I can add kilos to the scale but my waist stays the same (some increase in arms, legs and chest) If you want to avoid bulking up, do more cardio and lighter weights with more reps.
I had a similar problem a few weeks ago. Turned out my scale was broken and was weighing me 8lbs heavier... consistently! Double check your scale u might need to change the batteries.
