Losing muscle and gaining fat at the gym

LALONDON2015
LALONDON2015 Posts: 9 Member
edited December 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
Sooo ive been going to the gym for around 6 weeks now twice a week. I do both running and resistance machines plus TRX and an ab circuit. The tracker machine says ive lost 3kg of muscle and gained 3kg of fat since i started :| not sure how its gone so terribly wrong! Has anyone experienced this or has any clue how to reverse it?

Replies

  • StealthHealth
    StealthHealth Posts: 2,417 Member
    The tracker; What is that? It is a scale that also calculates body fat?
  • Erik8484
    Erik8484 Posts: 458 Member
    Never trust body fat scales, look in the mirror and take photos to measure progress.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    doubtful
  • LALONDON2015
    LALONDON2015 Posts: 9 Member
    The tracker; What is that? It is a scale that also calculates body fat?

    Yes, body fat, muscle and water percentage
  • LALONDON2015
    LALONDON2015 Posts: 9 Member
    Erik8484 wrote: »
    Never trust body fat scales, look in the mirror and take photos to measure progress.

    Visually i havent noticed any difference so what if it is right?
  • StealthHealth
    StealthHealth Posts: 2,417 Member
    The tracker; What is that? It is a scale that also calculates body fat?

    Yes, body fat, muscle and water percentage

    This is the issue: these scales work on bio-electrical impedance and have difficulty in distinguishing between fat and water. When you exercise (specifically when you up your exercise levels or embark on a new exercise regime) you naturally retain more water (as the stressed muscles repair themselves). This can often show up on these scales as a fat increase, which, if you're eating at a calorific deficit and exercising is highly unlikely.

    as @Erik8484 says: Use the mirror, photos, measurements (and I'd add weight on the scales) as a measure of your progress. Do not use weight alone - it can fluctuate for lots of reasons and ignore the Fat % given by any scale or hand held monitor device.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,808 Member
    My "tracker" says I'm 33% body fat.

    I laugh at my BIA scales and you should too. :smiley:
  • LALONDON2015
    LALONDON2015 Posts: 9 Member
    The tracker; What is that? It is a scale that also calculates body fat?

    Yes, body fat, muscle and water percentage

    This is the issue: these scales work on bio-electrical impedance and have difficulty in distinguishing between fat and water. When you exercise (specifically when you up your exercise levels or embark on a new exercise regime) you naturally retain more water (as the stressed muscles repair themselves). This can often show up on these scales as a fat increase, which, if you're eating at a calorific deficit and exercising is highly unlikely.

    as @Erik8484 says: Use the mirror, photos, measurements (and I'd add weight on the scales) as a measure of your progress. Do not use weight alone - it can fluctuate for lots of reasons and ignore the Fat % given by any scale or hand held monitor device.

    Thanks for this! I think im going to have to stop using it as its winding me up too much!
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