What am I doing wrong?

jmlew1 · August 2016

Hello
I started a fitness program that includes cardio and weightlifting about 6 weeks ago. I do 20-30 minutes of elliptical before lifting. Tuesday and hump day I have spin classes which are 45-60 min. Weightlifting I do on Mon, Wed, Friday and I just added Saturday's last week. I wanted to tone up and overcome my plateau. I started at 138, however, the scale is up to 142. Is this normal? Or am I doing something wrong? I am meal prepping and following a clean eating diet.

arditarose · August 2016

It's normal to see an increase on the scale due to water retention, when you start a new exercise program-especially if it includes strength training. That said, it's been 6 weeks. You should have seen a loss by now. Have you been logging your food and being sure to stay in a deficit?

malibu927 · August 2016

Are you counting calories? If not, start now. If you have been, then you'll most likely need to tighten up your logging.

Ws2016 · August 2016

In afdition to counting calories carefully, also take measurements. Are you in a calorie deficit it are you trying to add muscle?

RebecaSilva21 · August 2016

Weight doesn't say much... take measurement because of what they said before - water retention specially on woman and also that your muscles get bigger but you still shrink..... not sure if it makes sense.

jessef593 · August 2016

Are you counting your calories, weighing your food, and eating at a deficit? If no, then that's what you're doing wrong. Clean eating means nothing if you're in a surplus

JaxxieKat · August 2016

There are a ton of factors involved. Upping weights and/or reps can cause your muscles to become inflamed and create a slight, but temporary, weight gain. Menstrual cycles, not being diligent about food tracking, over estimating how many calories you're burning during a workout, etc. I highly recommend using a digital food scale and weighing food by the grams for accuracy.

GeoFan49 · August 2016

It's possible to lose fat yet maintain the same weight on the scale. There are fitness experts who can tell you how to measure body fat. Successful fat loss is the goal, forget about the weight on the scale. Skin fold measurements, underwater weighing, or DEXA body scan can measure fat loss. Some people get an official test every three or four months to measure their progress and make appropriate adjustments in their plans. How your clothes fit is also a good test.