I don't get it

chimpoco

I have been trying so hard!! I have jogged atleast 12 miles weekly for the past 3 weeks. I have been eating much healthier than normal. I can't believe that I have actually gained 4 pounds-about a pound a week. I have been the exact same weight for almost 2 years and now I'm gaining!! My boyfriend says that I look great and that it's probably muscle, but I just don't understand. My measurements are the same! My waist is actually a little larger and my belly looks hard. I've been drinking alot of water and I'm not pregnant. Since I've started working out, I've had less desire to smoke cigarettes-which is awesome. I smoke less than a pack a week, most of them on weekends. I've heard that quiting smoking makes you gain weight, but I'm not replacing cigarettes with food. I have no idea what's happening to my body. I'm so disappointed!!

chimpoco

I have been trying so hard!! I have jogged atleast 12 miles weekly for the past 3 weeks. I have been eating much healthier than normal. I can't believe that I have actually gained 4 pounds-about a pound a week. I have been the exact same weight for almost 2 years and now I'm gaining!! My boyfriend says that I look great and that it's probably muscle, but I just don't understand. My measurements are the same! My waist is actually a little larger and my belly looks hard. I've been drinking alot of water and I'm not pregnant. Since I've started working out, I've had less desire to smoke cigarettes-which is awesome. I smoke less than a pack a week, most of them on weekends. I've heard that quiting smoking makes you gain weight, but I'm not replacing cigarettes with food. I have no idea what's happening to my body. I'm so disappointed!!

MisdemeanorM

A couple possibilities:

1) Added muscle = added weight

2) How were you eating before? There is a good chance that as you cut way back on your calories (as most of us have found, to get to a NORMAL amount of calories we have had to cut WAY back from the 2,500 or 4,000 we HAD been eating!) that your body has been taking this to mean - Hoard your calories!! We're getting ready to starve!! - So, there is the chance that your body is just adjusting to a new calorie intake (likely while putting on muscle weight). With the addition of exercise and burning more calories than usual your body thinks - "Hey. Wow! I went from sitting around getting fed all the time to eating less and What?! burning calories?! I better save all I can (fat) because at this rate I will have to burn it all off!!!" Once it understands that this is constant and that burning it off is the goal, it should adjust!

Perhaps within a month of your new habits your body should adjust - so I would think that it should be soon...

Good luck! It can be frustrating! But in the mean time - focus on - can you run your mile(s) faster and easier than usual (are you getting healthier) etc?

chimpoco

This makes perfect sense. Thank you. It just really stinks when the scale moves in the opposite direction.

pavang82

when i first started exercising in march i gained three pounds in a month...i was so disappointed. but then after the three pound gain i lost 7 pounds shortly. you're just probably gaining muscle which is a good thing. trust me, i hate to get on the scale, especially when my weight goes up, i used to be a scale addict, but no more. well good luck though!