Why and how could this be happening?

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Registered: 03-28-2003
Why and how could this be happening?
5
Tue, 08-16-2005 - 10:23pm

I have been to the gym 23 of the last 31 days(got back into a pretty regular schedule starting July 16th) and have not gotten anywhere. In fact, my wieght has gone up 2-3 pounds(varies). I tried on a pair of jeans I have about a week ago and granted they were tight to begin with but I could not button them at all the other day or even come close. I feel fatter and def. look fatter than I did months ago when I was not going to the gym no 23 out of 31 days. I weighed around 158-160 in November and yesterday the scale said 170.5(I was 167-168 in July). I know it is normal to go up in wieght at first(working out) but in the past I generally start to lose it after about 2 weeks.

My eating habits have never been great but I have been trying to eat better now than ever before and it seems that doesn't help either. In the mornings I generally have a slimfast shake with banana or yogurt and banana or cold cereal. I do go all day without eating at work(bad I know) but have been eating a meat and cheese sandwhich when i get home around 2-3 with some little candies we have around(tootsie rolls/starburst/rice krispie treats) or chips or crackers. what i eat in the evenings always varies. After working out I have been eating one of those zone perfect bars: figure it will give me protein which i am never getting enough of it seems. The zone bars have like 16 grams to 22 grams of carbs. I probably don't take in as much as I should calorie wise but I have always had a problems with that.

I just don't understand why I seem to be getting/feeling fatter even with having gone to the gym as much as I have lately. Any input? Thanks for listening!

 

Free Blinkies to Brylee Carys dob: 4-26-08

 

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Registered: 06-18-1998
Wed, 08-17-2005 - 12:56am

well critter I am not an expert but just from what you said a couple of thoughts.
could it be water weight is it around the time of the month - generally the week before af is expected you can easily get bloated especially if your eating salty type foods. for eg chips crackers, even meats like ham.
Your breakfasts sound good although are you eating the low fat or fat free yogurts because some of them can be quite sugary. I am really not big on those diet shakes so I make smoothies for bfast I use frozen fruit yogurt and a little juice. Going for long periods like your doing with out eating puts your body into starvation mode so when you eat it all gets stored as fat rather than used as energy. I like sandwiches too but make sure your eating whole wheat of even better whole grain bread, and use low fat cheese, and low fat low salt meats like turkey or chicken, for me I had to cut out all chips and really read labels for cracker too because guess what a lot of crackers are just as bad a chips!!! I am not a sweets person but I made sure to get low fat stuff like bryers smart scoop ice cream for the kids so if I was tempted at least I could keep it in check. I am also careful to not eat too much bread and no white bread or rice or pasta only whole wheat. We swiched from butter to margarine, and from mayo to low fat miracle whip.
switched to lite iced tea and still I limit myself to a couple of glasses a week.
what kind of workouts are you doing at the gym, I need to do a lot of cardio to lose any weight. I'm talking like 45 min to an hour of cardio a day at least 5 times a week. I am not sure what else to tell you, sounds like your on the right track, good luck I KNOW it is hard.

wendy
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Registered: 03-28-2003
Wed, 08-17-2005 - 1:36pm

Thanks for your input/thoughts. My nutritional ways have always been terrible but like I said I am trying. I could give the smoothies a try every once in a while: I hate to shop so I probably wouldn't be sure to have all the needed frit/yogurt, etc at the house all the time. I will switch my meats: i do lik turkey and have ben eating alot of ham(because BF brought it home: again, i hate to shop). No matter what I do I will alway sneed work in this area.

As much as I hate cardio I spend 35-50 minutes on it at the gym(always some running then either the stair climber or elliptical). I then do 30-40 minutes of weights.

Thanks again, I will keep at it it is just frustrating

 

Free Blinkies to Brylee Carys dob: 4-26-08

 

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Registered: 03-20-2003
Thu, 08-18-2005 - 9:54am

HI Christy,


I'm sorry your having such a rough time.

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Registered: 02-17-2005
Fri, 08-19-2005 - 3:00pm

Hey Christy,

I want to tell you that the same thing has happened to me. I have been doing this for a month the healthy way. I don't even eat candy or sugary snacks and I also eat healthy foods throughout the whole day. I am also stuck. I haven't lost a pound or gone down an inch. My pants are not tighter, but just as tight as when I started. Yesterday I had a day like you're having and I was really just mad at the whole thing.
The last time I weighed myself I weighed the same as when I started. I used to do a bunch of cardio and never lift weights. Now I have incorporated the weights because by the time I am forty I'll have to walk half the day to maintain my weight unless I increase my metabolism through strength training.
I don't really have any more advice than the other girls, but if it is possible to take an apple to work or some carrots or something, it would be good to get it in on your breaks. By law I think work has to give you breaks.
I hope it gets better for you though.

Take care,
Chelse

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-07-2005
Fri, 08-19-2005 - 6:37pm

There are a few possibilities for your problem:

1) You might have put your body in starvation mode. When your body is hungry all the time, it starts to think that food may be scarce in the future and holds on to all calories that you take in. I would suggest that you see a nutritionist.

2) working out creates muscle. You most definitely have gained muscle mass. Muscle weighs more than fat. That would contribute to your weight gain.

Hope this helps. You should probably see a nutritionist in your spare time to estimate your calorie intake and output.

Good luck!