Lose less weight when exercising

leanneakaliz
leanneakaliz Posts: 229 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
So when I exercise especially weight training I tend to lose no or very little weight compared to when I dont exercise. I'm presuming its because im working muscles that aren't usually worked.

I really want to do dvds like Jillian Michaels ripped in 30 but im afraid I will lose no weight which is my main goal rather than toning right now.

I am also doing the c25k and run/walk 3 times a week.

Should I do the dvds as well or will it stop me losing weight im only losing 1-2lbs a week max at the moment anyway ?

Thanks for your help

Replies

  • haylz247
    haylz247 Posts: 435
    bumping this for you!
  • Chief_Rocka
    Chief_Rocka Posts: 4,710 Member
    If your diet and exercise are inconsistent, your results are going to be inconsistent.
  • Jorra
    Jorra Posts: 3,338 Member
    Exercising causes your muscles to retain water for repair. If you care more about the number on the scale than your overall fitness, no one is making you exercise.
  • leanneakaliz
    leanneakaliz Posts: 229 Member
    Thanks guys the reason I care about the scale is because I used to weigh 10st and that's the sort of size I want to be again. So I want to get down to 10stone then use weight training to tone up :)
  • LittleBallofFurr
    LittleBallofFurr Posts: 242 Member
    Its your choice, I started doing 30 day shred and I quit loosing weight. Stayed at 176....however the inches on my body dropped drastically. My scale did not move, but my body looks and feels 10lbs lighter. I would never go back. :)
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    If you are more interested in fat loss, then exercise. If you are just as happy losing muscle and bone density as you are fat, then just stick with eating at your BMR level and sitting on the couch.

    FYI, the weight you gain when exercising is water retention to repair the muscles you used when exercising, provided you are hitting your target calorie goal, that is.

    And Fire_Rock is dead on about consistency. You have to be consistent over a period of time.
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    So when I exercise especially weight training I tend to lose no or very little weight compared to when I dont exercise. I'm presuming its because im working muscles that aren't usually worked.

    I really want to do dvds like Jillian Michaels ripped in 30 but im afraid I will lose no weight which is my main goal rather than toning right now.

    I am also doing the c25k and run/walk 3 times a week.

    Should I do the dvds as well or will it stop me losing weight im only losing 1-2lbs a week max at the moment anyway ?

    Thanks for your help

    Are you undereating for your level of activity?

    When you have the stress if diet, the stress of lots of exercise, and other stresses, you cause hormone changes that will retain fat and weight.

    Additionally you can suppress metabolism more or faster when you just made the deficit bigger than what may have already been too much, by exercising creating more.

    Also, the lifting should be helping you retain muscle you were likely losing previously without doing it.

    You exercise asking the body to make improvements, which may have little to do with weight loss, though it still may be fat loss.

    Diet is for weight and hopefully just fat loss, but you can make it more than that.
    Exercise is for heart health and body improvements, and it may help or hinder fat and weight loss.

    So eat correctly for your level of exercise.
    Don't over exercise with a big deficit.
    Expect fat loss and not weight loss by measuring, not just scale.
  • Amberonamission
    Amberonamission Posts: 836 Member
    My scale hasn't moved in 3 weeks but in that time I dropped a jean size. Maybe 2.
  • MySunshine76
    MySunshine76 Posts: 389
    I don't think the number on the scale should matter all that much. Measurements matter more sweetie. One woman could weigh 120 and be a size 6, another woman could weigh 150 and still be a size 6. It's all about muscle mass. Plus, the more muscle you have, the more calories you burn.
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    Its your choice, I started doing 30 day shred and I quit loosing weight. Stayed at 176....however the inches on my body dropped drastically. My scale did not move, but my body looks and feels 10lbs lighter. I would never go back. :)

    ^^ This too! (I didn't see it before posting.)

    I have lost some weight on 30 day shred, but I have a lot more fat on my body than the OP. I've just finished level 1 and have already shed three inches off my hips! Honestly, I am *much* more interested in burning fat and maintaining muscle/gaining strength than I am about what the scale says. The scale measures your total body weight, which includes fluctuating water levels. The only time the measuring tape fails is during times of being bloated. (Again, excess water weight) But I love the fact that I have finally gone down the the size pants I wore 5 years ago, and I'm about to go down another size in the coming weeks.
  • 2hmom
    2hmom Posts: 241 Member
    Yes to what all are saying.I have been doing JM for several months. No weight loss,dropped 3 pant sizes. I now show off my arms at 60 and have what some people are calling a thigh gap,who knew! I am throwing that scale away.
  • Shanel0916
    Shanel0916 Posts: 586 Member
    Then maybe you should just do cardio and no strength training
  • leanneakaliz
    leanneakaliz Posts: 229 Member
    Thanks guys I think you have all persuaded me to go back to the dvds I mean just googling the results people have and hearing about the inches you have lost is so motivational :)

    I do do regular exercise just all cardio based :) which has helped me lose a pound a week for the last 2 months I was just worried that doing weight training I would end up weighing more but you guys have made me see that im just being stupid and at the end of the day your health is more important than your weight which is why ive steered well away from fad diets and am loosing weight healthily now :)
  • itsmyvwbeetle
    itsmyvwbeetle Posts: 272 Member
    I understand where you are coming from. The number on the scale is just a number and doesnt reflect the total picture. I started c25k and the 30ds. I am in week 3 of c25k and today will be day 5 of level 2 of the 30ds. I havent lost much in the area of weight loss. My scale has basically stopped. Its very disappointing because I have a lot to lose. I have lost at least 2 inches on my waist and 2 more on my hips. I know I am in better shape and my muscles are happier. Its kinda a catch 22. I am bound and determined to finish what I started though. I know I could have lost more had I not been exercising but the number is just a number....
  • mjwarford
    mjwarford Posts: 35 Member
    My body has changed the most when I have done strength training and cardio together. I did all cardio to the tune of three sprint triathlons without losing weight and still having excess body fat. When I do strength, that is when my body size and shape changes.

    I started MFP about two months ago and as hard as it is for me to accept, the results are not linear. Two lbs off the first three days, no weight loss for 30ish days. Thank goodness I took measurements because even though the scale wasn't moving, the tape measure was. Now, that I have stuck with strength, cardio and yoga, both the scale and the tape measure are moving.

    My best suggestion it to take several gauges of your progress, scale, measurements, pictures, energy level etc because while one may not be changing, another one will.
  • Barbellerella
    Barbellerella Posts: 1,838 Member
    People see "you" , your body, not the number you saw on the scale that morning. I'd much rather have a fitter, stronger body than a smaller number on the scale that no one sees but me!
  • leanneakaliz
    leanneakaliz Posts: 229 Member
    I can't believe how many of you guys have responded to this so thank you :)

    All of your stories are so inspirational :)

    I think I will try do a JM dvd in the morning before work, run 3x a week after work and then maybe some yoga as I have just got a yoga dvd lol :)

    I will definitely take measurements regularly from now on and maybe even progress pictures once a month :)

    I can't thank you lot enough :)
  • kim200950
    kim200950 Posts: 12
    What about doing both? I know that it is more time and excerise but when I was going to the YMCA with a trainer he had me doing both because than u see the number go down and you are losing inches and gain muscle. Its a win win! at less it was for me. I did 30 mins of each that way its only an hour but I felt better at the end of the day.
  • Leadfoot_Lewis
    Leadfoot_Lewis Posts: 1,623 Member
    You lose weight by having a calorie deficit - either through exercise or eating less. I'd take a good look at your diet before you start ditching the weights. Also, how your clothes are fitting is a better indicator of progress than the scale.
    Then maybe you should just do cardio and no strength training

    Absolutely horrible advice.
  • vegasgirl36
    vegasgirl36 Posts: 37
    People see "you" , your body, not the number you saw on the scale that morning. I'd much rather have a fitter, stronger body than a smaller number on the scale that no one sees but me!




    EXCELLENT ADVICE!! I COMPLETELY AGREE!! AS LONG AS YOU LOOK AND FEEL GREAT THE SCALE IS JUST A NUMBER! THAT NO ONE BUT YOU SEE!!!
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    My body has changed the most when I have done strength training and cardio together.

    ^^^ This

    A little bit of both on a consistent basis, along with the right diet, is like synergy for fat burning!
  • dsmpunk
    dsmpunk Posts: 262 Member
    Cardio is overrated IMO for weight loss.

    It is helpful of course, but you should also lift and lift heavy.
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    People see "you" , your body, not the number you saw on the scale that morning. I'd much rather have a fitter, stronger body than a smaller number on the scale that no one sees but me!

    Basically ^this.

    Scale weight is only one indicator, and not even a good one sometimes, of progress and of how good you look.

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