Kinda new...3 months with a gym, gained 5lb??

rickyjshorter
rickyjshorter Posts: 2
in Introduce Yourself
Hi, as it says, I'm kinda new, as I created this profile over a year ago, but haven't been using it.
I'm 5'7/8, and around 3 months ago, I weighed in at around 204lb, and it wasn't muscle :(

I've been going at least twice a week, sometimes 3 times, and I started at around 40 minute sessions, that are now at least 70 minutes, sometimes 90. Of these, 30-35 are on a crosstrainer, burning around 300-400 calories, and 15-20 on an exercise bike, burning another 150-250. The rest of the time is spent on resistance machines, initially the Seated Row and Leg Press, with some Lateral Raises on freeweights. As time has passed, I've started using the Chest Press, Pull Down and Ab Cruncher machines, usually rotating which ones I use each time, rather than do them all.
I started at around 27Kg for the Row, and 35Kg for the Leg Press, and I'm now at 59Kg for the Row, 80Kg Leg, doing 2 sets of 16 reps each.

My diet is, admittedly, bad, consisting mostly of sandwiches, chicken curry, chips, and bolognese, with a salad maybe once a week, and possibly 3 portions of fruit a week, but I wasn't expecting to have gained weight so badly!
Is it just the extra muscle weighing so much? I know it weighs more than fat, but I still expected to have lost more weight in fat than I gained in muscle.

Any suggestions on what I should change in my workout? I'm trying to fix the diet, but finding it difficult with work and so much time actually at the gym!

Replies

  • sweetchildomine
    sweetchildomine Posts: 872 Member
    You answered your own question when you talked about your diet. I know it's hard to change habits but if you really want this, that's what you're going to have to do. Yea, when you gain muscle you do tend to put on a few pounds BUT someone wise once said "Abs are made in the kitchen". If you're not eating right you're pretty much ruining all that hard work you put in at the gym. Good luck on your weight loss journey! :)
  • kparks2
    kparks2 Posts: 121 Member
    The previous post said it best. It is what you eat as well. A personal trainer once told me this quote and I have found it to be true: "What you do in the gym is 20%...what you do out of it is 80%"

    Case in point I was going to the gym daily but not losing rather gaining because I was eating like crap. If you want it you are going to have to count the cals too. No way around it and you will be eating healthier too so it will benefit you and your body in the long run.
  • tambrand
    tambrand Posts: 22 Member
    The diet is the problem. You should utilize the calorie counter tool it's quite efficient and helps set a realistic daily calorie goal centered around weight loss. It really works once you stay within your target.
  • rickyjshorter
    rickyjshorter Posts: 2
    Regarding the diet, that wasn't a description of what I eat in one day, just the major food groups.
    Yesterday I actually ate more than I usually do (1953 calories, with a pre-exercise target of 1530, and post target of 2048), so I would estimate my normal intake to be around 1300-1600.

    I have/had been noticing a drop in fat, some clothes don't fit me as well as they did, some fit better than before. I've had to get a new belt, as the old one got too big.
    I had measurements taken when I started at the gym, and as of 5-6 weeks ago, I had lost 5cm around my waist, and I weighed in at ~200lb. I don't think my waist has changed much since then, and it certainly hasn't got larger. I weighed myself again this morning and it's now saying I'm 224lb!
  • dusty8907
    dusty8907 Posts: 350 Member
    aim for 2300 calories, 1gram of protein per lean body mass which is your total bodyweight minus your bodyfat %. so a 200 lb man with 20% bodyfat would need 160g of protein just for example. after getting the protein i would get a minimum of 20% fats in the diet and the rest of your macros all as carbs. whole grain pastas, long grain brown rice, fruits sparingly. fruits are good but they have alot of natural sugars so if you eat fruits try it in the morning before workout for a nice boost of energy. hope i helped
  • kparks2
    kparks2 Posts: 121 Member
    Regarding the diet, that wasn't a description of what I eat in one day, just the major food groups.
    Yesterday I actually ate more than I usually do (1953 calories, with a pre-exercise target of 1530, and post target of 2048), so I would estimate my normal intake to be around 1300-1600.

    I have/had been noticing a drop in fat, some clothes don't fit me as well as they did, some fit better than before. I've had to get a new belt, as the old one got too big.
    I had measurements taken when I started at the gym, and as of 5-6 weeks ago, I had lost 5cm around my waist, and I weighed in at ~200lb. I don't think my waist has changed much since then, and it certainly hasn't got larger. I weighed myself again this morning and it's now saying I'm 224lb!

    Maybe you are gaining muscle. If the measurements are smaller and some clothes fit better sometimes you need to go by that. If I read the original post correctly you do a lot more muscle workout than cardio. Take the others advice but also a lot of trainers at the gym I go to and myself do not eat carbs at night or very little carbs. That has worked for me.

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