Working Out and Gaining Weight?!?

nemiredi3
nemiredi3 Posts: 29 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hey All,
I am so frustrated right now. I have been on my fitness pal for about 2 weeks now and I recently started exercising and have been gaining weight! I only lost a 1.2 lbs the first week and got down to 138.8 but after working out for about a week I am up to 142.2 ... that's 3.4lbs. I thought with adding in working out I would actually start dropping weight but it's the opposite.It makes me want to quit working out. I have been eating the same and not going over my calories, been drinking tons of water, and been doing the Jillian Michael's Videos and some other workouts as well. What am I doing wrong? Has this happened to anyone else? I want to lose about 20lbs and I feel like that's not happening. I am pretty short at 5"3 and I am petite my clothes aren't fitting better and I feel heavier. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
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Replies

  • dwkelly
    dwkelly Posts: 2 Member
    The same thing happened to me! I bought the fitbit, which integrates with this site, and then I spent 2 days helping a friend move and went to the gym the following day. Gained weight everyday after losing 10 pounds. It is very frustrating. I am thinking it is because of building more muscle which weighs more and according to a friend who is a nurse - the muscle pulling in water since it is not used to being used. I am guessing it is just temporary and I will be surprised by a few pound drop one day for no reason. :) I am not gong to give up!
  • shelleylynnb
    shelleylynnb Posts: 11
    There could be a number of reasons for this weight gain you are having. You may actually be losing fat but building muscle and muscle weighs more than fat. Give it about a month and keep working out and eating right and you should see the results you want (the number on the scale going down).

    I also suggest you see a medical doctor to get a CBC blood test. I recently went to the doctor and found my thyroid hormones are a little low. This, he told me, is why I have to work harder than the average person to lose weight. I have lost 31 pounds in a little over 8 months. Now I understand why I have been working so hard and having slower results than some other people. Even with my slower progress I can say I'm happier today than 8 months ago. But it has been a very difficult battle along the way for me. I understand your frustration.

    So, my advice is talk to your doctor to rule out any possible medical reason for your weight gain and slower than average weight loss. The thyroid hormones you want to be sure to check in the blood test are TSH & T4 Free. Also, when the body feels under stress, the liver naturally makes more sugar and higher blood sugar can lead to weight gain. All this can be checked with a simple blood test.

    I know these things because my niece is a physician's assistant and my son is a certified personal trainer. They tell me all kinds of good bits of information about health & nutrition. Best of luck to you.
  • bbaker172
    bbaker172 Posts: 93
    DO NOT FLIP OUT!!! Apparently it's natural!!!

    You are putting your body through new things when you work out, and it's not used to it. From my understanding, you're body is retaining water around all the sore muscles to protect it...just keep doing what you're doing and your body will realize this is the "norm" and shed the water.

    Also, muscle weighs more than fat...so you'll gain a little more when you turn the fat into muscle, just make sure you measure your waist, hips and thighs and that's how you'll know you're loosing weight.

    Just don't give up!!!! I gained 7-9 lbs in 2 weeks, but it's now starting to come off....so do not give up!!!
  • sistahbigbone
    sistahbigbone Posts: 13 Member
    Muscles do not weigh more than fat. A pound is a pound. There could be many reasons why the scale isn't moving. For one, sometimes muscles will retain a lot of water, especially when you first start working out, thus causing the scale to go up. Also, with your increased activity, perhaps you may need to eat a little more? And I've also heard that sometimes it may take a few weeks, or maybe even a month for your loss to actually show up on the scale. In the meantime, a better gauge may be how do you feel. More energy? Clothes getting looser?
  • Garethkk
    Garethkk Posts: 21
    Hi, you can verify your fat loss with a tape measure. Chances are you're putting on some good lean mass!
  • ZoobityBop
    ZoobityBop Posts: 22
    Sorry to hear about your troubles, I've been there, too. The key is being patient, looking at long-term results, not giving up, and starting a program and sticking with it. I had most of my success with the Diet Solution Program by Isabel Des Los Rios, since it helped me lose most of my fat (and keep it off) in a relatively short amount of time. Highly recommend it for you. Here's a review on it of you want to learn more about it: http://fantasticfitnessreviews.com/the-diet-solution-program-review/

    Good luck and hope this helped!
  • astrampe
    astrampe Posts: 2,169 Member
    Calm down...You have been using muscles in a different way - they compensate for the stress and injury by holding on to water for repairs...It's normal...
    You did not gain muscle in a week...:sad:
    And muscle does not weigh more than fat...:sad:
    Its water retention, keep up with what you are doing, drink lost of water and stop panicking...
  • graelwyn
    graelwyn Posts: 1,340 Member
    Get the same thing happening to me, I put on a few pounds when I went from cycling to using the elliptical and treadmills, and yes, I must admit, I did find it offputting and went back to cycling more, but I still enjoy using the elliptical and feeling my muscles being worked with the interval training so I do both. I only hope the weight will settle down over time and that my bodyshape will change for the better which might make a few pounds gain worth it. Be sure to drink plenty of water and to eat enough to replenish, especially protein.
  • fueledbychange
    fueledbychange Posts: 132 Member
    Muscles do not weigh more than fat. A pound is a pound. There could be many reasons why the scale isn't moving. For one, sometimes muscles will retain a lot of water, especially when you first start working out, thus causing the scale to go up. Also, with your increased activity, perhaps you may need to eat a little more? And I've also heard that sometimes it may take a few weeks, or maybe even a month for your loss to actually show up on the scale. In the meantime, a better gauge may be how do you feel. More energy? Clothes getting looser?

    Yeah a pound is a pound, but a bowling ball still weighs more than a feather. A pound of fat is bigger than a pound of muscle because muscle is more dense.
  • thelovelyLIZ
    thelovelyLIZ Posts: 1,227 Member
    Gaining weight in your first couple week of a work out routine is very typical. Your body is often storing water to help cushion and repair the muscles. Just keep at it and you'll see results. Remember, it's a marathon, not a sprint.
  • Redtango76
    Redtango76 Posts: 144
    As long as you are noticing positive changes not worry about what the number on the scale says . Check out my blog from yesterday I talk in depth about this subject . keep at it ! Don't frett!
  • invisibubble
    invisibubble Posts: 662 Member
    Yup, muscles retaining water. It's cool. Chill out. Weigh and measure less often. Bodies fluctuate.
    And no, muscle doesn't weigh more than fat, we all know that, but we also all know that people mean a pound of muscle has less mass than a pound of fat. It's annoying when people mislabel something, but it's also annoying when we're all pendants.
    ... so says the pendant. (Me.)
  • maddiek1127
    maddiek1127 Posts: 1
    Dont feel bad its happening to me too!!! i hate it , but it happens
  • Katahna
    Katahna Posts: 326 Member
    Hi, I reccommend that you measure yourself, not weigh!

    When you are excersising, you're body weight will be fluxuating about 5kg per day, just due to water, muscle, food you've eaten, etc

    Don't let the scales drive you crazy, it's the golden rule to staying sane =]

    Measure, not weigh!
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,316 Member
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/200544-why-do-you-sometimes-gain-weight-when-starting-a-new-exercis
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,961 Member
    It's water retention and glycogen storage. It's common when you start working out or try a new workout you're not used to.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • likemeinvisible
    likemeinvisible Posts: 309
    Muscles weigh about 18% more than fat for the same volume.
    Check your body fat percentage, it's more important than weight.
  • Charloo1990
    Charloo1990 Posts: 619 Member
    Omg, this is completly my situation and i know how frustrating it is. We have pretty much the same stats too. Im also 5ft3 and im currently 144lbs. I do lots of Jillian Michaels stuff and plenty of cardio but it's slowed my weight loss down rapidly and has also made me gain on weeks where i have stuck ridgidly to my diet and exercise and it's made me gain. I'm talking a week away or 2 from being so hard core with the exercise espesh Jillian Michaels stuff and my plan is to just run this week for 30mins, 4 times. I wanna see what cardio only does. It's too disheartening doing all this working out and the scales going up :(
  • bodiva88
    bodiva88 Posts: 308 Member
    A cubic foot of fat weighs much less than a cubic foot of muscle. Therefore, muscle weighs more than fat. No one is saying a pound of muscle is heavier than a pound of fat. But you knew that. You were just being "smart" instead of smart.

    http://www.phentermine.com/forum/my-experience-phentermine/7630-1-lb-fat-vs-1-lb-muscle-picture.html
  • Crochetluvr
    Crochetluvr Posts: 3,240 Member
    When something like that happens to me, I take my measurements...usually they have changed.
  • XXXMinnieXXX
    XXXMinnieXXX Posts: 3,459 Member
    Muscles do not weigh more than fat. A pound is a pound. There could be many reasons why the scale isn't moving. For one, sometimes muscles will retain a lot of water, especially when you first start working out, thus causing the scale to go up. Also, with your increased activity, perhaps you may need to eat a little more? And I've also heard that sometimes it may take a few weeks, or maybe even a month for your loss to actually show up on the scale. In the meantime, a better gauge may be how do you feel. More energy? Clothes getting looser?

    This. A LB IS A LB!!! It's doms. Search it on here x
  • JmeHarris
    JmeHarris Posts: 38
    Muscle is more dense than fat. That's why you may actually be losing fat and thus measure smaller with a tape measure, but have more dense muscles which cause a slight uptick on your scale. Start measureing yourself. If your numbers are going down than don't sweat it. You'll look better in your little black dress with some nice firm muscles than you will just by dropping a few pounds.
  • ProTFitness
    ProTFitness Posts: 1,379 Member
    THIS MAKES ME CRAZY WHEN PEOPLE AFTER STARTING TO WORK OUT THEY THINK THEY ARE GAINING MUSCLE..............WRONG WRONG WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU CAN NOT GAIN MUSCLE IN THAT SHORT TIME AND WITHOUT HARD ASSS WORK AND PROPER CALORIES.

    PEOPLE CHECK WHAT YOUR STICKING IN YOUR MOUTHS! THEN RECHECK IT! THAT IS WHY YOUR GAINING WEIGHT OR ITS YOUR BODY ADJUSTING IF YOUR EATING IS PERFECT BUT I HIGHLY DOUT IT!
  • Charloo1990
    Charloo1990 Posts: 619 Member
    THIS MAKES ME CRAZY WHEN PEOPLE AFTER STARTING TO WORK OUT THEY THINK THEY ARE GAINING MUSCLE..............WRONG WRONG WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU CAN NOT GAIN MUSCLE IN THAT SHORT TIME AND WITHOUT HARD ASSS WORK AND PROPER CALORIES.

    PEOPLE CHECK WHAT YOUR STICKING IN YOUR MOUTHS! THEN RECHECK IT! THAT IS WHY YOUR GAINING WEIGHT OR ITS YOUR BODY ADJUSTING IF YOUR EATING IS PERFECT BUT I HIGHLY DOUT IT!

    URM!, Excuse me but why be so rude about it. This is Bull!!! Last week i 100% ridgidly stuck to my diet and exercise. One night when i was craving chocolate last week as well, i decided to go for a run at 10 at night all in the name of getting rid of my cravings so thats more exercise than planned, zero cheating and i gained 1lb.
  • Redtango76
    Redtango76 Posts: 144
    THIS MAKES ME CRAZY WHEN PEOPLE AFTER STARTING TO WORK OUT THEY THINK THEY ARE GAINING MUSCLE..............WRONG WRONG WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU CAN NOT GAIN MUSCLE IN THAT SHORT TIME AND WITHOUT HARD ASSS WORK AND PROPER CALORIES.

    PEOPLE CHECK WHAT YOUR STICKING IN YOUR MOUTHS! THEN RECHECK IT! THAT IS WHY YOUR GAINING WEIGHT OR ITS YOUR BODY ADJUSTING IF YOUR EATING IS PERFECT BUT I HIGHLY DOUT IT!



    I'm glad your not my trainer ... This post is unprofessional ,rude and in no way helpful . Instead of people wanting to listen to your expertise as a trainer we want to tune you out for your rudeness? Presentation is everything ! For you to say two weeks is not enough time to notice positive changes in our body is just incorrect. I definitely noticed changes as soon as two weeks into it!
  • invisibubble
    invisibubble Posts: 662 Member
    THIS MAKES ME CRAZY WHEN PEOPLE AFTER STARTING TO WORK OUT THEY THINK THEY ARE GAINING MUSCLE..............WRONG WRONG WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU CAN NOT GAIN MUSCLE IN THAT SHORT TIME AND WITHOUT HARD ASSS WORK AND PROPER CALORIES.

    PEOPLE CHECK WHAT YOUR STICKING IN YOUR MOUTHS! THEN RECHECK IT! THAT IS WHY YOUR GAINING WEIGHT OR ITS YOUR BODY ADJUSTING IF YOUR EATING IS PERFECT BUT I HIGHLY DOUT IT!
    I doubt you're really an authority on these matters. A person who "web-shouts" and uses that many exclamation marks with no provocation is a person I'd not trust for any source of, well... truth.
    Of course, I'm probably not perfect, but nobody is, apart from you, that is. Your eating doesn't have to be perfect. And weight fluctuates on a daily basis. But I'm sure you knew that. Then again, if you did, why would you smack your keyboard with your head for (sorry, type) your frustrations so eloquently?
  • invisibubble
    invisibubble Posts: 662 Member
    Bloody hell, you're a certified trainer. God help us all.
  • ProTFitness
    ProTFitness Posts: 1,379 Member
    Let me tell you I am not rude with clients not even Close and not a Rude person!!! I just get real sick of people belly aching about a few pounds, It gets old real fast. I Was not trying to be rude but when someone says something people dont want to hear people get there panties all in a bunch because they don't want to hear the TRUTH they want someone to hold there hand and enable them.

    Tuff Love! I am very kind hearted and want to help peple I was just Making a Statement GoD help me for doing SO :laugh:

    I Know what It Takes to Get Healthy and Stay Healthy.
  • ProTFitness
    ProTFitness Posts: 1,379 Member
    PS I never said I was perfect People Lighten up
  • bbaker172
    bbaker172 Posts: 93
    Calm down...You have been using muscles in a different way - they compensate for the stress and injury by holding on to water for repairs...It's normal...
    You did not gain muscle in a week...:sad:
    And muscle does not weigh more than fat...:sad:
    Its water retention, keep up with what you are doing, drink lost of water and stop panicking...

    Ohhhhhhhhh so they lied to me....."it's ok bernadette, muscle weighs more than fat" blah blah blah....I"m pokin them in the eye when I get to work!!!

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