Feeling huge

ctownson

I recently went from a 3rd shift job constantly being on my feet and moving around to an office job sitting at a desk all day. Working that job I was still chubby and all, but everything that went into my body I sweated it out while working. Although, I was sleeping all day and doing nothing on my days off I never gained any weight. I also had braces recently so I was eating a lot of soup and my face began to slim out. I started the office job in August and have probably gained 5 or so pounds.... I began working out last month and consistently do circuit training 2-4 times a week. I track my calorie intake and usually am under my 1200 CAL goal. But the problem is I feel HUGE... and not my legs or my belly.... but my arms, back, and neck feel so much bigger. Clothes I wore BEFORE working out (even since switching jobs in August) fit loosely and comfortably, but now ever since I began exercising my shirts feel tighter. I don't even know if this makes sense, but I feel very aware of my neck. It feels like a giant turkey neck.

Diet wise.... I really enjoy fruits and vegetables. I don't indulge with sweet or salty snacks because quite frankly I don't really crave anything. I have only been drinking water since I began working out plus 1 cup of coffee a day (sometimes 2). I have my fruit with lunch and veggies with my dinners.

I've read about muscles swelling and gaining muscle before losing the fat, but everything I read mainly says people feel like they have more belly fat. But I feel it in those 3 areas. I actually feel like my belly is the same and my legs a little bit tighter.

Am I just swelling and everything will balance out like what I've read?? Or maybe it's something else? It's making me feel discouraged but I'm still trying to maintain my workouts. It's hard tho...

Any suggestions or ideas or comments?????

aeloine

1. Have you taken measurements to make sure that you're ACTUALLY swelling?
2. Is it that time of the month?
2. You tend to retain water when you first start to work out.
3. Are you eating sodium high foods? Salt makes you retain water.
3. Are you using a food scale to weigh and log your food?

ctownson

aeloine wrote: »

1. Have you taken measurements to make sure that you're ACTUALLY swelling?
2. Is it that time of the month?
2. You tend to retain water when you first start to work out.
3. Are you eating sodium high foods? Salt makes you retain water.
3. Are you using a food scale to weigh and log your food?

No I haven't, but all of shirts are tighter in my upper back and my shoulder area. I do have 'buy measuring tape' on my list of things to do tho to help keep track of meaurements.
It's not near that time of the month. I've been feeling like this since about week 2 of workout out.
Nothing too high in sodium or out of the norm and definitely no adding salt on my end. I hate salting my food.
Not using a food scale either. I'm logging all my meals and snacks through MFP.

janejellyroll

ctownson wrote: »

aeloine wrote: »

1. Have you taken measurements to make sure that you're ACTUALLY swelling?
2. Is it that time of the month?
2. You tend to retain water when you first start to work out.
3. Are you eating sodium high foods? Salt makes you retain water.
3. Are you using a food scale to weigh and log your food?

No I haven't, but all of shirts are tighter in my upper back and my shoulder area. I do have 'buy measuring tape' on my list of things to do tho to help keep track of meaurements.
It's not near that time of the month. I've been feeling like this since about week 2 of workout out.
Nothing too high in sodium or out of the norm and definitely no adding salt on my end. I hate salting my food.
Not using a food scale either. I'm logging all my meals and snacks through MFP.

Accurate logging relies on a good understanding of how much you're actually eating. A food scale can help with that. If you keep seeing results that are different than what you expect, consider picking up a food scale and tightening up your logging to ensure you're actually eating what you think you are.

aeloine

ctownson wrote: »

aeloine wrote: »

1. Have you taken measurements to make sure that you're ACTUALLY swelling?
2. Is it that time of the month?
2. You tend to retain water when you first start to work out.
3. Are you eating sodium high foods? Salt makes you retain water.
3. Are you using a food scale to weigh and log your food?

No I haven't, but all of shirts are tighter in my upper back and my shoulder area. I do have 'buy measuring tape' on my list of things to do tho to help keep track of meaurements.
It's not near that time of the month. I've been feeling like this since about week 2 of workout out.
Nothing too high in sodium or out of the norm and definitely no adding salt on my end. I hate salting my food.
Not using a food scale either. I'm logging all my meals and snacks through MFP.

This is your problem. You're most likely eating more than you think. Add "buy food scale" to you list of things to do as well

DebLaBounty

Circuit training, at least when I did it, involved a number of weight stations. I developed a few muscles while I lost fat. It changed the proportions of my shoulders, biceps and triceps. My shirts fit differently because my upper body shape was reconfigured (in a good way!).

I also experienced the feeling that I was getting bigger, but I think now that I was just finally becoming more aware of my body the more I used it. That happened a lot because my muscles were fatigued and slightly sore. I never noticed my shoulders until I started lifting weights and experienced awareness of those developing muscles.

It’s normal to feel some body dysmorphia. I can’t explain why you’re fretting about your neck, but that might go away soon.

aeloine

DebLaBounty wrote: »

Circuit training, at least when I did it, involved a number of weight stations. I developed a few muscles while I lost fat. It changed the proportions of my shoulders, biceps and triceps. My shirts fit differently because my upper body shape was reconfigured (in a good way!).

I also experienced the feeling that I was getting bigger, but I think now that I was just finally becoming more aware of my body the more I used it. That happened a lot because my muscles were fatigued and slightly sore. I never noticed my shoulders until I started lifting weights and experienced awareness of those developing muscles.

It’s normal to feel some body dysmorphia. I can’t explain why you’re fretting about your neck, but that might go away soon.

My concern is that it's only been two weeks. Not much muscle can be built in that time. If weights are involved, consider that you might be retaining water. When you begin a new lifting program, it can take up to 6 weeks to fully lose the initial bloat.

Unknown

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marissafit06

What @aeloine said seems right. I also wouldn't underestimate the impact of changing your sleep and wake cycle. I would start measuring and weighing food and keep at your current workout plan for 6-8 weeks and then see how things feel.

kshama2001

DebLaBounty wrote: »

Circuit training, at least when I did it, involved a number of weight stations. I developed a few muscles while I lost fat. It changed the proportions of my shoulders, biceps and triceps. My shirts fit differently because my upper body shape was reconfigured (in a good way!).

I also experienced the feeling that I was getting bigger, but I think now that I was just finally becoming more aware of my body the more I used it. That happened a lot because my muscles were fatigued and slightly sore. I never noticed my shoulders until I started lifting weights and experienced awareness of those developing muscles.

It’s normal to feel some body dysmorphia. I can’t explain why you’re fretting about your neck, but that might go away soon.

Ya, when I was doing a different workout, my biceps seemed bigger, but when I took measurements, they were actually smaller. You have good explanations for why I was feeling that way.

@ctownson if you haven't been taking measurements, start now so you have something objective for comparison.

MichelleSilverleaf

ctownson wrote: »

I track my calorie intake and usually am under my 1200 CAL goal.

Stop doing the bolded. 1200cal is a minimum. Odds are you're eating more than you think as someone else pointed out, but once you do start weighing 1200 should be a minimum. And even that low is probably not necessary.