Working and gaining weight - help!

newgoal87
newgoal87 Posts: 8
in Fitness and Exercise
I just started an exercise routine that I have been following for the past two months. I go to the gym 6 days a week for an hour. I mix weights and cardio. I alternate which areas of the body I concentrate on every time. My goal was to lose 15lbs and tone up but I have now gained almost 10. Can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong or why I'm gaining? I realize muscle weighs more than fat but I still think I should be losing and not gaining. Help!

Replies

  • DyanCB
    DyanCB Posts: 138 Member
    Newgoal87 - I was searching the board for just this topic but I am disappointed that no one has responded to you. I, for one, would like the answer as this is my issue as well. It is so incredibly frustrating that I am doing everything I think I am supposed to do but I am gaining weight instead of losing. I wish I had an answer for you.
  • sondra216379
    sondra216379 Posts: 174 Member
    I too have started gaining...not a bunch, but a couple pounds since I have been strength training.......I am not losing inches though so I also wonder what the heck is going on.
  • kalynn06
    kalynn06 Posts: 368 Member
    Without knowing what/ how much you're eating, it's pretty hard to say. For most, at least 80% of weight loss is diet. If you're watching calories. you could open your diary, so maybe people could give you suggestions. If you're just trying to eat healthy without logging, consider logging. A lot of people who start working out unintentionally compensate by eating more calories than they are burning.
  • hazleyes81
    hazleyes81 Posts: 296 Member
    I agree. You only mentioned your exercise and nothing about food. Definitely log because, as kalynn mentioned, you will often begin to eat more when exercising, either intentionally or unintentionally. If you log your food you will catch on to that.

    Also, what you're doing for exercise matters, too. I've definitely seen women go in and do 35 reps of bicep curls with a 3 pound weight (because they just want to "tone" not bulk lol), or guys who are throwing the weight around so much all they are doing is using momentum. You should also be seeing improvements in your cardio, whether it is distance, speed, time, or all three. Doing the same thing for 2 months won't get you very far.
  • rabetts
    rabetts Posts: 31
    Mind if I join you in this boat? Same problem here. I even talked to my gym's dietitian about this. She upped my calorie intake 300 calories per day because she thought my body was in 'starvation mode'. I've been working out 5 days a week for 4+ months and consuming under 2000 calories a day (most days), and am still 12 lbs heavier than when I started. Very frustrating, even though I feel ten times better. I won't give up, and I hope you don't, either.

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