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Why am I gaining weight when I'm working out?

by Bonnie
(Vancouver, Washington)

I am 37, 5'8" and 170 lbs. I have not worked out for about 2.5 years, but have maintained my current weight within 3 lbs. So I figured working out and cutting calories I would lose weight. I started walking 5 days a week in February this year. I walk 3.7 mph for 30-45 minutes all five days. About a month later I added to that walking in the afternoon for 40 minutes at about the same pace. Then a month ago I added 3 days a week going to Curves, a circuit/resistance 40 minute workout. I have cut my calories to 1500-1700 per day. I started out at 168 lbs, and now weigh 172. Also, I have seen only a 1/2 inch loss in bust, waist, abs & hips. What is going on? I got a complete physical from my Dr. before starting, so I know I am healthy, no thyroid problems, etc. Someone told me for the first 8 weeks I may see a slight gain due to muscle, but now it's been 12 weeks. How come if I made all these changes am I not losing weight OR inches?? It seems to me by not changing anything and maintaining, that cutting calories and moving, ALOT, would get some results. Help!!! :o)

Bonnie

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Why am I gaining weight when I'm working out?

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starstarstarstarstar 		dont panic!
by: Savannah

I am10 and i have worked out for 2-3 years. i have gained more weight. BUT that is probab;y just water weight. and muscle! and it doesnt matter what that scale sayz! it matters how u look!
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starstarstarstarstar 		Nutrition is utmost
by: Anonymous

I'm 64 and have been working out 3-4 x week for at least 5 years now plus I walk 2 miles a day in the hills surrounding my home. I am also what they call a flexitarian, i.e. a vegetarian with occasional red meat. Heavy heavy protein and fiber diet. Uber low sodium, no processed sugar, mostly water with occasional red wine. No fried food.
I rarely eat salt soaked, fatty, saturated restaurant food.

I said all of that because with any discussion of weight gain and exercise you have to involve nutrition. I know that as a fact as I rarely ever eat more calories than I expend.

When I began to work out it was most lower body as I have always had powerful legs from athletics in my youth. With the nutrition I have mentioned my weight went from 220 to 170 in a matter of months. Made me dizzy and I looked terribly gaunt - I'm 6'4".
I had energy but it certainly was not comfortable.

In the past 2 years I've concentrated on a blend of upper body and lower body workouts. Upper body occupies most of my time but my weight has gone up to nearly 200 again. Strange thing is that I look less gaunt but other than my biceps and pecs you would notice little difference from how I looked when I was 170. Its all in the burn, the muscle tear, the nutrition and one’s dedication to being healthy. Now I feel absolutely great even though I gained 30 lbs leaving me a net loss in 5 yrs of only 20 lbs. It’s all in the rearrangement of your body and if you don't eat carefully none of it will work for you.
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starstarstarstarstar 		Don't Give Up!
by: Cpdldy

Hi, I was going through the same problem which was getting very fustrating! I workout every three days with one day rest in between all days I do 30-40 min of high intensity cardio then about 45 min of weight training alternating muscle groups and after about 2 months I wasn't seeing a whole lot of weight loss, but I was starting to firm up all over, I know that muscle weighs more but takes up less room so if you start to notice your clothes fitting better or looser then your on the right track, your body does take time to adjust but you also have to keep challanging it. Don't give up! I've now added Hot Yoga twice week, anyway slow is better I've lost about 12lbs and one pants size over three months.
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starstarstarstarstar 		thats unusual
by: Anonymous

Well the first comment is true... but dude, he's not weight lifting, he's running. My sister has the same problem. She joined track but found that it made her legs bigger, not skinnier. That would happen if shes eating too much I guess. But since your not eating much... i dont know what the problem is, maybe your eating only fat foods within the 1500-1700 diet?
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starstarstarstarstar 		obvious
by: Anonymous

I am not expert either but im pretty sure the reason is quite obvious, when you lift weights it tears muscle, the muscle rebuilds and gets bigger= it weighs more. i weight train 5 days a week, for football and i always gain, 3-4 lbs the next day when i weigh myself but it usually balances out.
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starstarstarstarstar 		Hmmm
by: Anonymous

I don't know for sure, since I am no expert, but could it have something to do with the speed as to which you are doing everything? It seems to me I have heard in the past that you need to ease into a diet/exercise regimen very slowly and gently or else the body will rebel against the sudden regular loss of nutrients and will begin to hoard everything in the body instead of losing it like you want.

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