Gained 4lbs this month!

FluffnStuff

:explode:

I have gained 4lbs over the last month.
I started doing the ChaLEAN Extreme 90 day program and today was the end of section1.
For those who don't know what ChaLEAN extreme is, it's a fitness program based on lifting heavy weights, low amount of reps (10-12) with some cardio workouts (which I am hoping to add in a few more when school is out for summer).
Well I burn it up pretty good, crazy sweat, HRM hella high...
BUT... I've GAINED weight.

Now, I am trying to NOT focus on weight loss (because it literally drives me insane). I want to focus more on muscle tone, strength, appearance... which I am getting...my jeans are getting too loose.
It's just depressing to know that for some reason I'm also GAINING weight while slimming down.

My diet could be better... but I haven't found that good middle ground that I can live with and still lose weight. :huh:

Any tips, advice or insight would be appreciated.

imprettyamazing

just remember, muscle weighs more than fat. so you're probably losing fat and just gaining some muscle.
good luck!

justdoingit

You are gaining muscle weight which is great! On the scale, I only lost 2lbs last month but I've also been weight training. When I checked my Body Fat % with my caliper, it turns out I had gained 4.5lbs of lean mass. I'm down to a size 6, my clothes are fitting great and my body is beginning to look tighter, so I was not too concerned.

dr_sus

Yeah I would just focus on how your clothes are fitting. If you have a pair of pants that fit when you were at your ideal weight that can be the way you measure your progress.

FluffnStuff

Alright, does anyone set their Calorie intake lower (not unhealthy low) so when they eat back exercise calories it's not a huge number? Did that make sense?

Like to lose 1 lb a week... I need to eat 1610
BUT, with my workouts I am burning between 300-550 calories a day (which is a lot for me).
So, if I were to set my intake to 1300 (about 1.6 lbs a week) BUT eat back ALL of my exercise calories... that would MAX put me at about 1850. As opposed to 2160 that it has been.

Again, for me it's not ALL about weight loss... but I also pig out when I see I have more calories on foods that I shouldn't. So, I am hoping this will make me more concious about what I am eating.

I know it's a mind trick...but since I have to work out daily and eating back those calories is recomended... it's not a horrible idea is it?

justdoingit

You may not be eating enough. I would stick to eating my minimum daily plus half of my excercise cals for three weeks to see if that helps....