Lose more when I don't exercise!

Fitnin6280
Fitnin6280 Posts: 618 Member
edited October 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
Okay, so I know it sounds crazy, but my first few weeks here I was walking every day, and this week I have been super busy, so I have not exercised at all. However, I weigh myself twice a week, and this week I have lost 3lbs! Every other week I have only lost between 1-2. I am going to start walking again today anyhow because I have my designated walking time free, plus I know that it is essential for proper health, but why oh why did this happen?? Any ideas??

Replies

  • brewingaz
    brewingaz Posts: 1,136 Member
    Okay, so I know it sounds crazy, but my first few weeks here I was walking every day, and this week I have been super busy, so I have not exercised at all. However, I weigh myself twice a week, and this week I have lost 3lbs! Every other week I have only lost between 1-2. I am going to start walking again today anyhow because I have my designated walking time free, plus I know that it is essential for proper health, but why oh why did this happen?? Any ideas??

    Because you are decreasing your caloric intake and not working your muscles. Your body consumes muscle first for energy, then fat later. So you're losing muscle mass (and some fat too I would guess). It's best to keep the muscle mass and lose the fat. So exercise.
  • jenbit
    jenbit Posts: 4,252 Member
    Changes in muscle mass must likely. Working out puts on muscle and since you havent worked out you probably didnt build any muscle this week. However muscle is good it burns more calories. So I would keep up with the walking if I were you
  • maysflower
    maysflower Posts: 180
    A similar thing happens to me. If I workout more than 4 times a week my body does not lose as much as when I only workout 3 to 4 times a week. Everyone is different, but for me my body likes its breaks from exercise. Maybe try walking every other day and see if that makes a difference. Good luck!
  • pokyfamily
    pokyfamily Posts: 20
    fat weighs less than muscle, but muscle will naturally burn fat for later. There is often a gain when you first start to exercise, but you will notice inches falling off even if the scale doesn't budge.
  • evelynnalfred
    evelynnalfred Posts: 4
    Oh, that makes sense. I wondered why I lost more weight on a juice fast, than when I exercised regularly.
  • Artemis_Acorn
    Artemis_Acorn Posts: 836 Member
    It can also be that when you were working out, you retained some water for muscle repair, and this week that water flushed out of your system making it APPEAR that the loss happened this week. The "when" of weight loss can be mysterious and confusing, but the 'how' and 'why', we know those answers!
  • clarkie1971
    clarkie1971 Posts: 2
    Could be that you weren't 'eating back' your calories when exercising. To explain, you could be well below your net calorie count if you're exercising and not eating them back, and when you stop you're hitting the target. See the blog http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/russelljclarke for a longer explanation if this is the case.
  • kmtetour
    kmtetour Posts: 300 Member
    Similar to the losing muscle mass concept, but kind of opposite:

    When you are exercising you are *building* muscle, which, by volume, weighs more than fat. Therefore, when you exercise you are losing fat and gaining muscle, which makes you lose less weight. You are, however, still losing fat.

    I'll admit that when I started I didn't exercise much. My body couldn't handle it until I lost about 30-40 pounds. Now I try to exercise about 4 times a week. The scale hasn't moved as much, but my body has changed dramatically.
  • brewingaz
    brewingaz Posts: 1,136 Member
    fat weighs less than muscle, but muscle will naturally burn fat for later. There is often a gain when you first start to exercise, but you will notice inches falling off even if the scale doesn't budge.


    Fat does not weigh less than muscle. 1 pound of fat equals one pound of muscle. Fat is just less dense than muscle.
  • pokyfamily
    pokyfamily Posts: 20
    Thanks, that is the correct way of saying it. I just know that when you put the same pound of fat next to a pound of muscle, the muscle is much smaller.
  • ilookthetype
    ilookthetype Posts: 3,021 Member
    fat weighs less than muscle, but muscle will naturally burn fat for later. There is often a gain when you first start to exercise, but you will notice inches falling off even if the scale doesn't budge.


    Fat does not weigh less than muscle. 1 pound of fat equals one pound of muscle. Fat is just less dense than muscle.

    I just had flash backs to the thread of the crazy lady with the bricks and feathers and reams of paper....


    When you were exercising if you were eating back the calories (which you should) that MFP says you burned you may have been eating too much, MFP is generally way over on calories burned. Keep that in mind.
  • Fitnin6280
    Fitnin6280 Posts: 618 Member
    fat weighs less than muscle, but muscle will naturally burn fat for later. There is often a gain when you first start to exercise, but you will notice inches falling off even if the scale doesn't budge.


    Fat does not weigh less than muscle. 1 pound of fat equals one pound of muscle. Fat is just less dense than muscle.

    I just had flash backs to the thread of the crazy lady with the bricks and feathers and reams of paper....


    When you were exercising if you were eating back the calories (which you should) that MFP says you burned you may have been eating too much, MFP is generally way over on calories burned. Keep that in mind.

    When I walk I actually don't log all of my time because I don' t want it to subtract so many calories.
  • Qarol
    Qarol Posts: 6,171 Member
    My guess is when you exercise, your muscles can retain water. Make sure you're drinking MORE than normal on the days you exercise. That might help.
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