I lose more weight when I don't work out

Mustang_Susie

I find that I lose more weight by cutting calories than by working out:huh:

I don't know if it's because I'm hungrier after I work out and I "eat back" my calories or

I'm building muscle mass or

Is it just from being better hydrated from drinking more water

But the weight always comes off better with decreased calorie intake alone

LisaMia66

That is really strange! I wonder why? My weight practically melts off when I watch my calories and exercise like a mad woman. Do you think if you added more protein AND worked out if it would help? I think that's why I've been losing so much weight lately. Also, do you change up your routine when you're working out?

waldo56

Over how long of a time period are you talking about?

The body makes adaptations to exercise that cause an increase in body weight that is unrelated in any way to fat or calories (mostly water in your muscles). This is a transient effect though, after it makes the adaptations (takes a few weeks) you'll cease to continue ot gain this weight. If you stop working out, after a few days/weeks your body will shed this excess weight. The noticable effect of this weight is muscle firmness (muscle firmnes sis not a sign of increased muscle mass, it is a sign of increased water/nutrients in your muscles). This effect can mask fat loss, making it invisible on the scale (though the tape measure will show it just fine).

Losing weight =/= losing fat.

It is in fact entirely possible and even probable once lean enough (point varies person to person) that you will pass a threshold where weight loss will cause a no reduction or even a gain in body fat %. This is because in the absense of exercise (or the right kind of exercise), % of muscle loss will exceed your body fat %, effectively keeping you fat or making you fatter as you lose weight.

liznotyet

for me in the short run this is true - that when I start a new exercise program it seems to stall weight loss. I do get hungrier and feel deprived if I don't eat a bit more. But if I look at the changes over the long term, I am always better off at maintenance when I am more fit. This last time when I started exercise I decided to not worry about the scale for the first two months and just to focus on building muscle mass. Even though the scale has not moved, my clothes are getting a little looser and that is enough encouragement to keep going.

Mustang_Susie

That is really strange! I wonder why? My weight practically melts off when I watch my calories and exercise like a mad woman. Do you think if you added more protein AND worked out if it would help? I think that's why I've been losing so much weight lately. Also, do you change up your routine when you're working out?

No, I would say I am a definite creature of habit
But I do try to increase the intensity of the cardio and the amount of weight lifted over time, so I guess I'm more progressive than diversified :happy:

redraidergirl2009

you're probably losing muscle when you don't work out.

Mustang_Susie

Over how long of a time period are you talking about?

The body makes adaptations to exercise that cause an increase in body weight that is unrelated in any way to fat or calories (mostly water in your muscles). This is a transient effect though, after it makes the adaptations (takes a few weeks) you'll cease to continue ot gain this weight. If you stop working out, after a few days/weeks your body will shed this excess weight. The noticable effect of this weight is muscle firmness (muscle firmnes sis not a sign of increased muscle mass, it is a sign of increased water/nutrients in your muscles). This effect can mask fat loss, making it invisible on the scale (though the tape measure will show it just fine).

Losing weight =/= losing fat.

It is in fact entirely possible and even probable once lean enough (point varies person to person) that you will pass a threshold where weight loss will cause a no reduction or even a gain in body fat %. This is because in the absense of exercise (or the right kind of exercise), % of muscle loss will exceed your body fat %, effectively keeping you fat or making you fatter as you lose weight.

I've been working out in some form or another for roughly 15 years.
Unfotunately, my consistency varies:frown:

Mustang_Susie

you're probably losing muscle when you don't work out.

That is one of the thoughts I have had.

LisaMia66

That is really strange! I wonder why? My weight practically melts off when I watch my calories and exercise like a mad woman. Do you think if you added more protein AND worked out if it would help? I think that's why I've been losing so much weight lately. Also, do you change up your routine when you're working out?

No, I would say I am a definite creature of habit
But I do try to increase the intensity of the cardio and the amount of weight lifted over time, so I guess I'm more progressive than diversified :happy:

Diversify, diversify, diversify! Remember: "Variety is the spice of life!." So spice it up! :happy:

And like the others have said, you're probably losing muscle weight. Don't forget to eat more protein and less carbs too.

Shake that booty! :laugh:

graham_l

Probably just me but I used to play tennis , go to the gym , run round the streets , do aikido ( not all at once mind ) and all of it was great but I never lost any significant amount of weight unless I actually dieted. I do believe that exercise keeps you trim and fit but not really makes you lose weight whereas dieting does. Just my opinion though...

Mustang_Susie

That is really strange! I wonder why? My weight practically melts off when I watch my calories and exercise like a mad woman. Do you think if you added more protein AND worked out if it would help? I think that's why I've been losing so much weight lately. Also, do you change up your routine when you're working out?

No, I would say I am a definite creature of habit
But I do try to increase the intensity of the cardio and the amount of weight lifted over time, so I guess I'm more progressive than diversified :happy:

Diversify, diversify, diversify! Remember: "Variety is the spice of life!." So spice it up! :happy:

And like the others have said, you're probably losing muscle weight. Don't forget to eat more protein and less carbs too.

Shake that booty! :laugh:

Ha!
I'm a carbaholic.
I may need an intervention:laugh:

Mustang_Susie

Probably just me but I used to play tennis , go to the gym , run round the streets , do aikido ( not all at once mind ) and all of it was great but I never lost any significant amount of weight unless I actually dieted. I do believe that exercise keeps you trim and fit but not really makes you lose weight whereas dieting does. Just my opinion though...

Thanks

ejwme

quality of calories you eat back after exercise also will come into play. If you're eating back a 486 calorie workout with a 486 calorie snickers bar, it's not going to do you much good in the weight loss department. Fitness happens in the gym, weight loss happens in the kitchen. Empty calories will not fuel your workouts.

Are you sure you're tracking your exercise calories effectively? Make sure you're using your own HRM, and it's correctly set to your age, weight, and activity level. If you're just looking up the calories burned in a table online, and you've been active for 15 years, you're likely more efficient than the table allows and you may be eating back extra calories, or you're eating back too few if you're judging the exertion wrong or weigh more than the assumed weight of the people who created the table.

LisaMia66

That is really strange! I wonder why? My weight practically melts off when I watch my calories and exercise like a mad woman. Do you think if you added more protein AND worked out if it would help? I think that's why I've been losing so much weight lately. Also, do you change up your routine when you're working out?

No, I would say I am a definite creature of habit
But I do try to increase the intensity of the cardio and the amount of weight lifted over time, so I guess I'm more progressive than diversified :happy:

Diversify, diversify, diversify! Remember: "Variety is the spice of life!." So spice it up! :happy:

And like the others have said, you're probably losing muscle weight. Don't forget to eat more protein and less carbs too.

Shake that booty! :laugh:

Ha!
I'm a carbaholic.
I may need an intervention:laugh:

You're preaching to the choir when it comes to carbs. Believe me! However, lately I've cut down dramatically on my carbs and don't miss them at all. I've switched to gluten free bread (it's VERY tasty, BTW) and I've added a lot more vegetables and lean meats to my meals. I don't deprive myself. If I want something with carbohydrates in it then I eat it. I don't feel guilty about it either. For instance, I ate an entire piece of turtle cheesecake on Tuesday night during my bowling league (unfortunately everyone else on my team saw it and got a piece too. Oops!) I stepped on the scale the next morning and guess what? I LOST weight! Lately my life has been about changing what I eat and what I put into my body. I'm not a vegan and I'm certainly not a vegetarian (I'm too picky for that yet. LOL) but I'm learning to like what's good for me. Take baby steps to changing your life. Start by eliminating all sodas or starting a meatless Monday routine. Then the next month maybe drink more water or try a new exercise routine. Small changes. You only have one life so be as good to yourself as you can!