Distribution of Body Fat with Diet and Exercise

swing35

Hi! I have been running routinely for the last 2 weeks and have been watching my calorie intake but I feel and look bigger. I look like I have COPD or E.T. you know round barrel like abdomen and thin legs. I would like to know if there is an explanation for this? I can’t find info on the internet but my guess is that it’s how my body metabolizes fat or that the muscle I am building is pushing fat toward the surface giving the appearance of a bigger and rounder abdomen?

MikePTY

What you described seems unlikely. Two weeks is not much time to make any real changes in your body composition. What I imagine is happening if it is in fact happening (sometimes our minds play tricks on us and you may be seeing something that isn't really there), is that your body is retaining additional water due to the change in exercise routine and that is temporarily making you appear "bloated". That usually corrects itself once you continue with the routine.

Hannahwalksfar

Have you changed your diet at all?

jelleigh

Inflammation and resulting water retention from a new exercise would make you look bigger or bloated or maybe puffy? Could that be it?

swing35

Hello Mike, Hannah, and Jelleigh- (I am new to posting and do not see where I can reply to individual comments)
The inflammation and water retention sounds like a good possibility, how long does that last? It’s almost discouraging but I am just going to keep plugging away.
Yes I did change my diet but I am eating more veggies and fruit daily. Since I am running I am still eating carbs however.
Thank you for your insight!

quiksylver296

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants/p1

grimendale

swing35 wrote: »

Hello Mike, Hannah, and Jelleigh- (I am new to posting and do not see where I can reply to individual comments)
The inflammation and water retention sounds like a good possibility, how long does that last? It’s almost discouraging but I am just going to keep plugging away.
Yes I did change my diet but I am eating more veggies and fruit daily. Since I am running I am still eating carbs however.
Thank you for your insight!

To address your forum questions:
There is a "Quote" link under each post, which will automatically quote the post as you see me doing here. If you want to tag a particular member in a post, simply type "@" before their username.

mmapags

swing35 wrote: »

Hello Mike, Hannah, and Jelleigh- (I am new to posting and do not see where I can reply to individual comments)
The inflammation and water retention sounds like a good possibility, how long does that last? It’s almost discouraging but I am just going to keep plugging away.
Yes I did change my diet but I am eating more veggies and fruit daily. Since I am running I am still eating carbs however.
Thank you for your insight!

A couple of thoughts. You have started exercise and you are eating more veggies and fruit. The exercise and the increased fiber from the fruit and veggies with both contribute to water retention. If you are accurately weighing, measuring and logging, in time it will all normalize. Though you may still have higher than normal water retention from the fruits and veggies that might mask some fat loss.

I didn't really understand your last comment about carbs. Carbs have nothing to do with fat loss. If you cut carbs, you might lose some water weight. But for fat loss, cutting carbs has no advantage unless you have difficulty moderating those foods and staying within your calorie goal.

kshama2001

swing35 wrote: »

Hello Mike, Hannah, and Jelleigh- (I am new to posting and do not see where I can reply to individual comments)
The inflammation and water retention sounds like a good possibility, how long does that last? It’s almost discouraging but I am just going to keep plugging away.
Yes I did change my diet but I am eating more veggies and fruit daily. Since I am running I am still eating carbs however.
Thank you for your insight!

Despite what you may have seen on social media, it is not mandatory to cut carbs to lose weight. All you need is a calorie deficit.

kshama2001

swing35 wrote: »

Hi! I have been running routinely for the last 2 weeks and have been watching my calorie intake but I feel and look bigger. I look like I have COPD or E.T. you know round barrel like abdomen and thin legs. I would like to know if there is an explanation for this? I can’t find info on the internet but my guess is that it’s how my body metabolizes fat or that the muscle I am building is pushing fat toward the surface giving the appearance of a bigger and rounder abdomen?

Did you take measurements before you started? Most likely it is your eyes fooling you and some normal water retention.

However, I have uterine fibroids which get enlarged around menstruation and when I ovulate. My stomach dimensions can increase 3" overnight at these times.

Jthanmyfitnesspal

Weight control is a life long process.