Hello everyone

LiveWell11111

Hello myfitnesspal. I just wanted to share my story and ask for some advice.
I was basically always overweight my whole life. Last November of 2012 I knew I needed a change and it has been such a great blessing. I was about 275 at my biggest and last month I got to about 152. The problem was I was using the eliptical everyday and wasn't eating enough. I would only eat about 1,000 calories a day. So last month I decided to join a gym and started eating more. I've been going to the gym about 4-5 days a week. I do some cardio but mainly a lot of resistance training because I didn't do any resistance training only cardio. I'm also eating more calories but not bad junk food and having two protein shakes a day. Here's the problem I went on the scale today and it read 172 pounds. So I went up 20 pounds or so. Here's my question is it coming back as all fat or muscle because I'm doing a lot of resistance training. If anyone could respond I would appreciate it very much. Thanks in advance.

katznkt

Probably both. But honestly, you should see if somebody at the gym has a machine to measure body fat so you can keep an eye on it. At the very least you can see what it is next month so you know if your lean mass is increasing and at what percentage.

But you can also get a clue with how your clothes are fitting.

LiveWell11111

Thank you for writing back. I think I need to check my body fat percentage at the gym. The good thing is my clothes feel the same.

leslisa

First, congratulations on your changes. 120 lbs shed is great!!!

To answer question, clothes fitting the same indicates the shape is probably not changing. Even without a body fat check you can get a measuring tape and take your measurements. It's easier to monitor because you can do it on your own once a week or so. Just make certain you are hitting the exact same areas each time.

You can also take photos and likely see fat turn to muscle there. You can adjust your caloric intake slightly if necessary but 1000 is really low so need to watch. I run avg 5 miles at least 5 days a week and I average 1500 a day. I use a weekly adjust method though. I get 10500 a week. . Seems to work pretty well. I fluctuate 5 lbs up and down from 130 so I go 125 - 135 and don't worry about it.

Again - fabulous accomplishment!! Cheers :drinker:

LiveWell11111

Thank you so much! And congrats on your weight lost journey as well! I haven't been eating 1,000 calories anymore. I increased to probably about 1,400 than about 1,800. Now I'm eating 2,300 or so because I've read that to build muscle you need to eat more calories. So Ive been drinking protein shakes and eating good calories not like donuts and French fries lol

MariFitBody

It sounds to me like your turning your fat into muscle. Then again I could be wrong according to everyones opinion not being the same. U should be doing cardio and weight training alternating every other day or a mix of both. Interval training or circut training.

LiveWell11111

I would like to do a mix of both. I go 5 days a week. I'm going to start to try to do any time of cardio for 15-20 minutes when I get there. And than all resistance training and ab exercises. Does that sound like a good workout regimen?

leslisa

I think so. Also, remember the cardio can be jumping rope, elliptical, anything you want to get your muscles warm and "kick start" them

Good luck!