Working out but getting bigger... Why?
lanaloo30
Posts: 4 Member
I have been working out for about two months 5 days a week. I am very active. I am not seeing the scale change but I know that doesn’t necessarily matter. However, I am getting bigger and am not able to fit in a single pair of jeans I own, can’t get them past my thighs and even if I could I doubt they would button 
I have increased my water intake to make sure I am not retaining water but still feel bloated, can’t even get my rings on. I am starting to see my muscles defining but can’t seem to cut the fat off the top. Do I stick with what I am doing and hope that in a few more weeks I will see the fat come off or do I stop lifting weights (love the feel of listing) and just do more cardio (boring). What am I doing wrong? What should I start doing?
I have increased my water intake to make sure I am not retaining water but still feel bloated, can’t even get my rings on. I am starting to see my muscles defining but can’t seem to cut the fat off the top. Do I stick with what I am doing and hope that in a few more weeks I will see the fat come off or do I stop lifting weights (love the feel of listing) and just do more cardio (boring). What am I doing wrong? What should I start doing? 0
Replies
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Are you staying within your calorie limits each week?0
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How is your calorie intake? If you're eating at a surplus, you'll gain no matter how much exercise you do.
How long have you been on your exercise plan? It could be just water retention.0 -
less weight more reps... lift faster for cardio... walking lunges... more hills and stairs0
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It's what you're eating, not the exercise you're doing.0
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you are eating too much, which is putting you in a surplus, which means you are bulking....this is assumption as you provided no info about stats, current intake, etc...0
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Weight loss starts in the kitchen. If you aren't tracking what you're eating, then it's going to be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to lose.0
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/thread0
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Looks like you only have about ten pounds to lose, which probably means you are already a relatively healthy weight. When that is the case, you have to be really strict about staying under calories in order to lose, and loss will be slow and can be masked by water retention. Right now you are probably eating at a surplus, gaining a bit of muscle, and retaining lots of water. Keep really strict with your calories for a month or so and make sure you are eating below maintenance.0
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Are you tracking your calories? If you are not, it is actually fairly common for people who's tart exercising to gain weight, since you will feel hungrier and thus tend to eat more. It is also very easy to overestimate the calorie expenditure and feel less bad about overeating "because I exercised today."
Track your calories and be really strict with them, make sure you are eating at a deficit, and report back in a couple of weeks.
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I know it will be a slow process... I am at 1,200 cals and most of the time I am under so that can't be it. Maybe what I am eating? I increased my protein and curbed my carbs. I am also not sure why I am retaining so much water.0
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Are you using a food scale? You should be losing at 1200, because that's a low amount, but you're most likely eating more than that. What are your stats?0
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Sometimes you can be eating too little when you're strength training. First, make sure you're weighing your foods and super accurate about your calories, and be honest with yourself.
If you're really at 1200, try 1300-1500. Your body might be holding on because you're not eating enough to rebuild after your break down your muscles.0 -
I agree with malibu that if you really are at 1,200 you should be losing. I am a rather small woman and I still loose on 1,200 even if I nap all day. What you eat also won't affect your weight loss, only the amount of calories you eat will.
There is also no such thing as your body "holding on" to fat at low calorie levels. If you are eating at a deficit, you will lose weight.0 -
If you're really so bloated that you can't get your rings on, you should see a doctor to make sure there's not a medical reason.0
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You're either underestimating what you're eating or you need to get a pregnancy test.0
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http://www.livestrong.com/article/518807-negative-side-effects-of-eating-less-than-1-200-calories-a-day/
As a physique athlete, I know it may seem strange for me to talk about day-to-day advice, but your calories are incredibly low. Weight lifting as a means of exercise is excellent because it increases energy expenditure after you finish working out for hours (aka you continue to burn calories after you work out as opposed to steady elliptical work). It also allows you to build muscle mass which increases your metabolism as well since muscle burns more calories than fat. 1200 calories a day is the daily minimum a person should eat to function. You said you're usually getting less than that, which puts you in malnutrition range. This is causing your body to go into starvation mode - siphoning off your actual muscle mass for energy and slowing your metabolism to a snail's crawl. You're also not providing enough calories for an effective workout as well.
There is also a quality that comes with calories. Consuming 1200 calories of fat or carbs is much different than 1200 calories of protein as they are all process very differently. I won't pretend to know what your macro (protein, fat, and carb) ratios should be, but try upping your calories by a few hundred.
Also, really pushing yourself at the gym in terms of how much weight or volume you do is a good idea. Most girls are afraid of getting too muscular, but it takes a lot of effort to get bulky even as a guy with naturally more testosterone than women, so don't be afraid.
A good plan that my girlfriend tried and loved was Jamie Eason's 12 week live fit trainer. It has calorie recommendations, recipes, and workouts on a day to day basis.0 -
TL; DR version - eat 300 calories more, balance your diet, and exercise smarter.0
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Thank you to those who offered genuine advice. I always work out 5 days a week but have been pushing myself at the gym hard for the last two months and eating leaner and adding more protein. Like I said, my muscle definition on my arms and legs is becoming more noticeable. Also, I wouldn’t have posted this if I was “cheating myself” on what I was eating. I dropped my calorie intake because I noticed I wasn’t losing the weight how I thought I should be and welp, this didn't work. I will try increasing my calorie intake by 300 to start and give an update in a couple weeks.0
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jwconner87 wrote: »http://www.livestrong.com/article/518807-negative-side-effects-of-eating-less-than-1-200-calories-a-day/
As a physique athlete, I know it may seem strange for me to talk about day-to-day advice, but your calories are incredibly low. Weight lifting as a means of exercise is excellent because it increases energy expenditure after you finish working out for hours (aka you continue to burn calories after you work out as opposed to steady elliptical work). It also allows you to build muscle mass which increases your metabolism as well since muscle burns more calories than fat. 1200 calories a day is the daily minimum a person should eat to function. You said you're usually getting less than that, which puts you in malnutrition range. This is causing your body to go into starvation mode - siphoning off your actual muscle mass for energy and slowing your metabolism to a snail's crawl. You're also not providing enough calories for an effective workout as well.
There is also a quality that comes with calories. Consuming 1200 calories of fat or carbs is much different than 1200 calories of protein as they are all process very differently. I won't pretend to know what your macro (protein, fat, and carb) ratios should be, but try upping your calories by a few hundred.
Also, really pushing yourself at the gym in terms of how much weight or volume you do is a good idea. Most girls are afraid of getting too muscular, but it takes a lot of effort to get bulky even as a guy with naturally more testosterone than women, so don't be afraid.
A good plan that my girlfriend tried and loved was Jamie Eason's 12 week live fit trainer. It has calorie recommendations, recipes, and workouts on a day to day basis.
Thank you!0 -
Thank you to those who offered genuine advice. I always work out 5 days a week but have been pushing myself at the gym hard for the last two months and eating leaner and adding more protein. Like I said, my muscle definition on my arms and legs is becoming more noticeable. Also, I wouldn’t have posted this if I was “cheating myself” on what I was eating. I dropped my calorie intake because I noticed I wasn’t losing the weight how I thought I should be and welp, this didn't work. I will try increasing my calorie intake by 300 to start and give an update in a couple weeks.
Having the same issue. Did upping your calories work for you? I have been trying that, but feel like that isn't working either, or at least not yet
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I have been working out for about two months 5 days a week. I am very active. I am not seeing the scale change but I know that doesn’t necessarily matter. However, I am getting bigger and am not able to fit in a single pair of jeans I own, can’t get them past my thighs and even if I could I doubt they would button I have increased my water intake to make sure I am not retaining water but still feel bloated, can’t even get my rings on. I am starting to see my muscles defining but can’t seem to cut the fat off the top. Do I stick with what I am doing and hope that in a few more weeks I will see the fat come off or do I stop lifting weights (love the feel of listing) and just do more cardio (boring). What am I doing wrong? What should I start doing?
You're getting bigger and your pants don't fit anymore?
Weight lifting does not bulk women. I suggest changing your batteries in your scale or get a new one.
It sounds like you're eating too much or have a medical issue. Have you seen your doctor?0 -
Thank you to those who offered genuine advice. I always work out 5 days a week but have been pushing myself at the gym hard for the last two months and eating leaner and adding more protein. Like I said, my muscle definition on my arms and legs is becoming more noticeable. Also, I wouldn’t have posted this if I was “cheating myself” on what I was eating. I dropped my calorie intake because I noticed I wasn’t losing the weight how I thought I should be and welp, this didn't work. I will try increasing my calorie intake by 300 to start and give an update in a couple weeks.
Okay, if you are not losing weight you are eating too much. Raising your calorie goal, especially by 300, will not lead to weight loss.
Do you weigh your food and log everything you eat?0 -
I know it will be a slow process... I am at 1,200 cals and most of the time I am under so that can't be it. Maybe what I am eating? I increased my protein and curbed my carbs. I am also not sure why I am retaining so much water.
I think you are miscalculating, which is very common. It's easy to unintentionally underestimate food in an calories burned.0 -
I know it will be a slow process... I am at 1,200 cals and most of the time I am under so that can't be it. Maybe what I am eating? I increased my protein and curbed my carbs. I am also not sure why I am retaining so much water.
there's no way you're actually at 1200 calories and working out 5 days per week and getting bigger...the math just doesn't work. You're eating more than you think you are. If you're not using a food scale I can pretty much guarantee it. Also, I know people who makes these claims, but they don't actually log or log everything...when I've been able to actually get them to log everything and use a food scale...well, let's just say it's an eye opener most of the time.0 -
do you use a food scale OP?0
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This thread was originally created back in January so it'd be neat to hear OP's experiences since then!0
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This discussion has been closed.
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