Different workout = not losing weight?

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sshintaku
sshintaku Posts: 228 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
So, over Christmas I put on the expected three pounds or so. I've successfully lost 15 and maintained for the past year. Any time I got over maintenance, I scaled back for a few weeks and then I was fine again. This time around, I haven't been able to loose a darn pound. I'm doing the same thing as I always have, except I switched my major workout from power yoga to weights. It seems silly to think I've converted my 3lbs of Christmas fat into muscle in a month. I'm wondering if because I'm not sweating out a ton of water every workout the way I did with yoga if this is my normal non-yoga weight? Any thoughts on this? It's not a big deal, as my body still looks fine, but it does irk me.

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  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,150 Member
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    When starting a new program, it's normal to retain water.
  • battybecks
    battybecks Posts: 147 Member
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    Ahhh, this is exactly what has happened to me this year! My Christmas weight is not shifting, but my measurements are the same as they were before Christmas. I logged over Christmas so I knew exactly how many calories I was over (my calorie "debt" as I've been calling it) and despite having repaid them all, I'm still a couple of pounds heavier.

    Yes, it will be the lifting. I would like to think I've put on a little bit of muscle (hell, I can see that I have) but probably not very much - a lot of it will be the muscles retaining water as they repair ... which is a repetitive cycle. I lift, water floods in, muscles repair on my day off, I lift again.
  • I_Will_End_You
    I_Will_End_You Posts: 4,397 Member
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    It's not likely you gained muscle. You have to eat over maintenance along with heavy lifting to gain muscle. I would give it a couple more weeks. My weight always goes up a little when I start a new lifting routine or up the intensity. It's normal. It could have something to do with the sweating/water weight thing, too. If you're sure you're in a calorie deficit, you're fine. If your weight doesn't level out over the next couple of weeks, maybe reevaluate your calorie intake.
  • wildflower83558
    wildflower83558 Posts: 9 Member
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    I'm in the same boat as you. I usually gain a little over the holidays but am generally able to loose it with working out and counting calories. For some reason this year the process seems MUCH slower. I loose a lb and then I gain it back the next and then I loose it etc. It's irking me too! I'm not gonna give up though.
  • sshintaku
    sshintaku Posts: 228 Member
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    wildflower83558 wrote: »
    I'm in the same boat as you. I usually gain a little over the holidays but am generally able to loose it with working out and counting calories. For some reason this year the process seems MUCH slower. I loose a lb and then I gain it back the next and then I loose it etc. It's irking me too! I'm not gonna give up though.

    Exactly this! I know scale weight is just a number - I don't feel/look bloated or anything and I can certainly tell a difference in muscle tone, but it's frustrating to have worked so hard to hit a certain number and then not be able to get back there, even though I'm doing all the same things I did before that were very successful!

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