Not losing weight on Insanity?

ArtsieSarah

I'm on day 3 of Insanity and I've actually gained a pound or two. Is that all the water from the workouts? because I have been eating only the meals in the book, drinking a ton during the work outs, and logging all my calories right in MFP. I usually have only 3 meals a day instead of the 5 because it fills me up. What's going on?? I also have a protein drink every time after I work out.

peachyxoxoxo

I just did day 6, and I happened to write a post on my blog about this a couple days ago! I'll just copy/paste it:


"As you may know I started Insanity this week. I weighed myself and took my measurements on Sunday, and I happened to hop on the scale this morning. I’ve been pushing myself with these workouts and eating really well, but what did I see? A four pound gain! I almost had a heart attack. I was thoroughly confused because there’s NO way I could gain that much weight in a week unless I ate an extra 14,000 calories… and I’m pretty certain that I didn’t, haha.

Well of course I did some searching online and this is what I found in an article on Spark People:

'When someone starts a new exercise program, they often experience muscle soreness. The more intense and “unfamiliar” the program, the more intense the muscle soreness. This soreness is most prevalent 24 to 48 hours after each workout. In the first few weeks of a new program, soreness is the body trying to “protect and defend” the effected or targeted tissue. Exercise physiologists refer to this as delayed-onset muscle soreness, or DOMS.

This type of soreness is thought to be caused by tissue breakdown or microscopic tears in muscle tissue. When this happens, the body protects the tissue. The muscle becomes inflamed and slightly swollen due to fluid retention. This temporary retention of fluid can result in a 3- to 4-pound weight gain within a few weeks of a new program. Keep in mind that muscle soreness is not necessarily a reflection of how hard you worked. In fact, some people feel no signs of muscle soreness, yet will experience the muscle protection mechanisms of water retention and slight swelling.'

So, there we go! Very interesting, I had no idea this could happen. The scale is bad anyway, I always try to remind myself that it’s about how I feel or how my clothes fit. Never allow yourself to become too focused on the number on the scale… it is just a number after all and it’s not something that’s always necessarily a measure of health."


Here's the website where I found that info: http://www.dailyspark.com/blog.asp?post=why_the_scale_goes_up_when_you_start_a_new_workout_plan

And my blog if you're interested: http://choosing-healthy.tumblr.com. I'll be talking about my workouts more often in the coming weeks.

ArtsieSarah

Wow thanks that really really helped now I don't feel as bad as I did before! I never knew something like that could happen. I wonder when I should really weigh myself. In fact I have been feeling magnificent but the meals actually made me feel full. I'm worried I shouldn't feel so full? I'm used to being semi-hungry counting calories and seeing weight loss but maybe this is a new approach with the healthy eating and exercising? I'm still worried that I'm not doing this right... If u don't mind can I add u? I'm sure ur full or more useful information and ur doing insanity too

peachyxoxoxo

From what I've heard from others who've done Insanity, it sounds like the best thing to do is wait until your next fit test to get your weight and measurements. I usually weigh myself more often than every two weeks but I'm gonna try and wait it out. Also if you're following the nutrition plan that came with Insanity I'm guessing you're eating a close to 2000 calorie diet? That can feel like a lot of food depending on what sort of "diet" you've followed in the past. I wouldn't worry that you're eating too much though, you should never feel hungry when you're watching your calories, otherwise that's being too restrictive. The great thing about feeling full and satisfied is that you're much more likely to stick with it and make it part of a lifestyle change, versus just thinking about it like a diet. So that's good to hear.

robin52077

The "muscles retaining water to protect and repair themselves" answer is 100% spot on...

Thank you SOOO much for not saying "you gained muscle".....people who say that make me want to punch them in the eye.
It takes a lot of hard work to gain muscle, not a few days of a new routine.

It is most assuredly water weight.

Tenoreo90

I just did day 6, and I happened to write a post on my blog about this a couple days ago! I'll just copy/paste it:


"As you may know I started Insanity this week. I weighed myself and took my measurements on Sunday, and I happened to hop on the scale this morning. I’ve been pushing myself with these workouts and eating really well, but what did I see? A four pound gain! I almost had a heart attack. I was thoroughly confused because there’s NO way I could gain that much weight in a week unless I ate an extra 14,000 calories… and I’m pretty certain that I didn’t, haha.

Well of course I did some searching online and this is what I found in an article on Spark People:

'When someone starts a new exercise program, they often experience muscle soreness. The more intense and “unfamiliar” the program, the more intense the muscle soreness. This soreness is most prevalent 24 to 48 hours after each workout. In the first few weeks of a new program, soreness is the body trying to “protect and defend” the effected or targeted tissue. Exercise physiologists refer to this as delayed-onset muscle soreness, or DOMS.

This type of soreness is thought to be caused by tissue breakdown or microscopic tears in muscle tissue. When this happens, the body protects the tissue. The muscle becomes inflamed and slightly swollen due to fluid retention. This temporary retention of fluid can result in a 3- to 4-pound weight gain within a few weeks of a new program. Keep in mind that muscle soreness is not necessarily a reflection of how hard you worked. In fact, some people feel no signs of muscle soreness, yet will experience the muscle protection mechanisms of water retention and slight swelling.'

So, there we go! Very interesting, I had no idea this could happen. The scale is bad anyway, I always try to remind myself that it’s about how I feel or how my clothes fit. Never allow yourself to become too focused on the number on the scale… it is just a number after all and it’s not something that’s always necessarily a measure of health."


Here's the website where I found that info: http://www.dailyspark.com/blog.asp?post=why_the_scale_goes_up_when_you_start_a_new_workout_plan

And my blog if you're interested: http://choosing-healthy.tumblr.com. I'll be talking about my workouts more often in the coming weeks.

Wow! Thanks for this. I just started the C25k program and while I was feeling thinner and 'tighter' I was so bummed to see a 4 pound weight gain at the end of week 1. Thaaaank you!