Gaining Weight By Walking?

tdelios
tdelios Posts: 1 Member
in Goal: Maintaining Weight
Hi All..


I am under my calorie count by at least 200-300 calories on an ongoing 7 day trending pattern.

With the recent good weather, I decided to take on walking 2-3 days a week for about 10 minutes in the past couple of weeks.

I weigh myself religiously every Monday morning when I wake up. Since I added walking to my weekly routine, I have gained 1-2 pounds each week.

Can a person gain 1-2 pounds by adding a leisurely walking to their routine? ugh!

Replies

  • AllOutof_Bubblegum
    AllOutof_Bubblegum Posts: 3,646 Member
    Do you know FOR SURE you are eating at a deficit? Are you logging and weighing everything? And are you eating enough? (Meaning MORE than 1200)

    edited for dumb typo
  • laurenawolf
    laurenawolf Posts: 262 Member
    Unless you're eating a calorie surplus, no. It's most likely water weight, if you aren't eating at a surplus.
  • nilbogger
    nilbogger Posts: 870 Member

    Can a person gain 1-2 pounds by adding a leisurely walking to their routine? ugh!

    Unless you're walking to someplace like McDonald's or Dairy Queen, no.
  • simplydelish2
    simplydelish2 Posts: 726 Member
    No. Adding walking to your routine will not make you gain weight. However, sometimes being outside when it's warmer will cause water retention. I gain about 8 lbs the first of summer and it doesn't come off until it is cool in the fall. It's just part of getting older I think.
  • carreen
    carreen Posts: 175 Member
    Worth a read:
    http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/health-fitness/exercise/why-exercise-can-cause-weight-gain

    http://www.livestrong.com/article/433244-i-am-gaining-weight-after-walking-a-mile-a-day/
  • links_slayer
    links_slayer Posts: 1,151 Member
    you're either underestimating your intake or overestimating your burns during exercise. or both.

    i guess it's also possible that you have a medical condition that is causing thing to go wonky but my money is on the things above.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    If you are actually trending up 1-2 Lbs per week then you are eating more than you think you are. If it's just going up and down and up and down and up and down, that's what maintaining looks like...and you're still eating more than you think you are if you are trying to lose.

    It has nothing to do with walking.
  • AllonsYtotheTardis
    AllonsYtotheTardis Posts: 16,947 Member


    Can a person gain 1-2 pounds by adding a leisurely walking to their routine? ugh!

    No, you can't.


    But if it's the first time you're doing any exercise, maybe your muscles are retaining water for repair.
  • SonicDeathMonkey80
    SonicDeathMonkey80 Posts: 4,489 Member
    Are you dragging a tractor tire behind you?
  • seltzermint555
    seltzermint555 Posts: 10,740 Member
    If you are actually trending up 1-2 Lbs per week then you are eating more than you think you are. If it's just going up and down and up and down and up and down, that's what maintaining looks like...and you're still eating more than you think you are if you are trying to lose.

    It has nothing to do with walking.

    I agree with this.

    Also...not trying to be a jerk but 10 minutes of walking 2-3 days per week? I am not a huge exercise fiend or anything myself but that is a very very small amount of physical activity to be logging even if you are set to sedentary level, in my opinion.
  • Flab2Fab27
    Flab2Fab27 Posts: 461 Member
    If you are actually trending up 1-2 Lbs per week then you are eating more than you think you are. If it's just going up and down and up and down and up and down, that's what maintaining looks like...and you're still eating more than you think you are if you are trying to lose.

    It has nothing to do with walking.

    I agree with this.

    Also...not trying to be a jerk but 10 minutes of walking 2-3 days per week? I am not a huge exercise fiend or anything myself but that is a very very small amount of physical activity to be logging even if you are set to sedentary level, in my opinion.

    Agreed. That's like logging shopping or walking to the bus stop as exercise as opposed to it being included in your daily activity level.
  • seltzermint555
    seltzermint555 Posts: 10,740 Member
    If you are actually trending up 1-2 Lbs per week then you are eating more than you think you are. If it's just going up and down and up and down and up and down, that's what maintaining looks like...and you're still eating more than you think you are if you are trying to lose.

    It has nothing to do with walking.

    I agree with this.

    Also...not trying to be a jerk but 10 minutes of walking 2-3 days per week? I am not a huge exercise fiend or anything myself but that is a very very small amount of physical activity to be logging even if you are set to sedentary level, in my opinion.

    Agreed. That's like logging shopping or walking to the bus stop as exercise as opposed to it being included in your daily activity level.

    Eh I dunno, I am set to sedentary so I do log little stuff sometimes. But 20-30 min of walking to me doesn't really sound like enough exercise for 1 week, unless the OP has a medical condition that prohibits more. JMHO, like I said...not trying to be a jerk!
  • nxd10
    nxd10 Posts: 4,570 Member
    I don't think it can. It's not muscle. But if it's hot out, it may be summer water retention. Surprisingly, drinking more water (and eating less sodium) will help.
  • _lyndseybrooke_
    _lyndseybrooke_ Posts: 2,561 Member
    Absolutely not. Walking burns calories. Burning more calories will not make you gain weight. Simple math.
  • Flab2Fab27
    Flab2Fab27 Posts: 461 Member
    Your probably under estimating cals eaten or overestimating cals burned.

    Or water retention? If its just been 2 weeks, give it more time if you are weighing/logging all food and not overestimating cals burned.
  • RaspberryKeytoneBoondoggle
    RaspberryKeytoneBoondoggle Posts: 1,349 Member
    It's normal for weight to fluctuate in a week. Mine can go up and down by five pounds in half a day.

    It's also normal, also, to start a new plan and then second guess yourself, or start to think that it doesn't work at all, or in your case, even believe that a ten minute walk is causing weight gain! It really is amazing what we do to ourselves with our minds.

    There are many different plans that work to help with weight loss, but only if you adhere to them. You have to be consistent and have faith. If you are eating at a calorie deficit and you know it, just keep going.

    The hardest part is having patience, and ignoring that negative voice in your head.
  • einzweidrei
    einzweidrei Posts: 381 Member

    Unless you're walking to someplace like McDonald's or Dairy Queen, no.


    Hey now! I walk to Wendy's all of the time just so I can eat Wendy's. (It's over an hour walk.)


    How many weeks has it been? Ten minutes of walking isn't going to burn much, unfortunately.
  • CindyMarcuzAdams
    CindyMarcuzAdams Posts: 4,007 Member
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

    This link helped get me going. Some good info...
  • jayme252014
    jayme252014 Posts: 16
    Not everyone's metabolic index is the same. You could be eating too little and crashing your metabolism or eating too much. The calorie goals are a guideline and not an exact science--and you may need to adjust up or down to get results. Also if you are counting what you burn from walking, I would look at other calculators because sometimes the ones generated about what you burn are a little too high for reality. Also are you monitoring your heart rate? Are you elevating it to a place where you are reaching an efficient burn or long enough?

    When you start exercising and build muscle not only does the muscle weight more, but the tearing of the muscle to build new muscle can actually cause water retention in the cells as a form of protection for several weeks causing the scale to go up.

    In a maximum situation one really only can add one pound of muscle a week, and if that is occurring you should be losing some fat. You could also check with a doctor because if you have a low thyroid function or other issues you can indeed follow a regular to the letter program and still gain weight.
  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    Not everyone's metabolic index is the same. You could be eating too little and crashing your metabolism or eating too much. The calorie goals are a guideline and not an exact science--and you may need to adjust up or down to get results. Also if you are counting what you burn from walking, I would look at other calculators because sometimes the ones generated about what you burn are a little too high for reality. Also are you monitoring your heart rate? Are you elevating it to a place where you are reaching an efficient burn or long enough?

    When you start exercising and build muscle not only does the muscle weight more, but the tearing of the muscle to build new muscle can actually cause water retention in the cells as a form of protection for several weeks causing the scale to go up.

    In a maximum situation one really only can add one pound of muscle a week, and if that is occurring you should be losing some fat. You could also check with a doctor because if you have a low thyroid function or other issues you can indeed follow a regular to the letter program and still gain weight.

    Water, yes it's possible, but the OP isn't gaining muscle.....on a deficit.....by only adding 10min of walking per day.

    Suggesting muscle weight addition in this situation is far fetched, at best, if not giving the OP false hope.

    How, if one is adding one pound of muscle per week, then how should they be losing fat?
  • homemadehippy
    homemadehippy Posts: 44 Member
    I gained 2 lbs when I first started walking this spring. I always have a little gain when I add something new to my exercise routine, but then it comes off the next week. From what I've read, when you use a muscle or joint that you haven't used much in the past, your body surrounds it with fluid to help cushion it for a few days. Kind of like a blister cushions a sore spot on your foot. It protects the joint/muscle from further injury. As long as you are measuring and logging properly, the weight will come off. Don't give up ! :)
  • chadya07
    chadya07 Posts: 627 Member
    weight will fluctuate often daily. naturally. if you dont already, save yourself sanity and weigh only once a week on the same day of the week, at the same general time of day in the same state of dress or undress. try to resist the urge to weigh daily.

    as you work out weight loss will start to look like it is decreasing, hen in fact you are rebuilding or building muscle. especially if you werent using them much for a long time and now use them very regularly.

    i have been stuck at the same weight for month and a half but i took up running around that time. my measurements are lower and my legs are rediculously toned and thin (not caught up with my mid section yet)

    try taking measurements every couple weeks too, see if you are losing size even if your weight isnt changing.
  • VeryKatie
    VeryKatie Posts: 5,961 Member
    Walking for 10 minutes 3 times a week won't do much at all, regardless - it's a good start to something that will help, but you need to have a higher heart rate for 15 minutes minimum for it to be effective in any way. It won't make you gain weight. Try being diligent with calorie counting and don't include the calories burned from walking until you're walking at least 30 minutes a day (for now).
  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    weight will fluctuate often daily. naturally. if you dont already, save yourself sanity and weigh only once a week on the same day of the week, at the same general time of day in the same state of dress or undress. try to resist the urge to weigh daily.

    as you work out weight loss will start to look like it is decreasing, hen in fact you are rebuilding or building muscle. especially if you werent using them much for a long time and now use them very regularly.

    i have been stuck at the same weight for month and a half but i took up running around that time. my measurements are lower and my legs are rediculously toned and thin (not caught up with my mid section yet)

    try taking measurements every couple weeks too, see if you are losing size even if your weight isnt changing.

    O.......M.......G. The OP states they are in a caloric deficit and only added 10min of walking. It's not muscle building affecting the scale, especially at 1-2lbs per week. Steady state cardio just doesn't do that, especially 10 min of walking.

    Sorry OP, I'm not trying to be harsh.

    There may be some water weight there, my question since you were losing before exercising is:

    Are you eating back exercise calories? If so, what %? What are you using to estimate the burn.
  • luckyFairy81
    luckyFairy81 Posts: 11 Member
    Check your Thyroid levels. I gained almost 10 pounds due to low thyroid levels.

    The more i diet ,the more i used to gain.

    This is because of screwed metabolism.


    say you are eating 1200 cal /day,and your Metabolic rate is say 1400. that means you are eating 200 cal less ,so you have to reduce weight. But if your body slows its metabolism because of bad endocrhrine system and wrong signals it recieved ,that means if your metabolic rate is reduced to 1100 ,that means even though you are eating less ,you will will still gain weight ,beacuse as per your body ,you are consuming 100 cal extra,

    so check your blood work if you find any issue
  • SomeNights246
    SomeNights246 Posts: 807 Member
    It definitely isn' tmuscle. I'm not trying to sound rude, but I highly doubt the op is going to build muscle from 10 minutes of walking.

    Most likely case scenario is one of the following:
    1) It isn't an actual gain, but a fluctuation. As it is normal for weight to occasionally go up or down 1-2 lbs, even on maintenance. When I'm really bad bloated (gallbladder disease and ED recovery suck) I can gain FIVE lbs! If I freaked out over that, I'd never be sane lol It's not a real gain, though. Just bloating. As can be the case for any minimal gain.
    2) If the Op is logging the ten minutes of walking and eating back the exercise calories, they could be overestimating the calories burned. Walking at a moderate pace doesn't burn much at all. I think I burn like 20 or 30 calories walking for 10 minutes. That's it. Walking slowly burns less. I would guess that it'sone of thesethings.
  • amandawillard3551
    amandawillard3551 Posts: 19
    I've lost 14lbs in a month, by roughly sticking to 1200 calories per day (sometimes over coz of meals out), plus I walk at least 3 miles every day and the most being 15 miles in a day. But reckon over the month I've averaged about 5-6 miles per day. So walking has helped me. It has also given me more energy to be more active around the house and garden, which means I'm burning more calories without even realising it, and the house and garden are tidier :)

    I only log the walks I do as a "work out" and not the day to day moving about, so if I walk to the post box and back, that doesn't count in my log. I also tend to round down my walking minutes, so over the month I'll be burning more calories than I've logged from walking.
  • ScottDowell
    ScottDowell Posts: 95 Member
    I don't think anyone can gain weight by walking. By walking you can maintain your weight but can not gain. To gain weight need to eat more than your daily need.

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