Every time I exercise, I get FATTER!!!!

[Coventina]

Does this happen to anyone else? Or am I just a freak?

Whenever I begin an exercise program (my favorite is running) I get fatter than I was before, so I get discouraged and quit.

It's happening again! I go to the gym, run on the treadmill, come home....and the rest of the day I'm starving, so I eat!

It doesn't seem to matter what I eat, either. Right now I'm eating pretty healthy. I've cut out almost all junk food from my diet. But I'm still getting fatter! It's driving me crazy!!!

And there's no way I can go around with my stomach growling all day.
I've tried that also.

[MissMillie]

1. are you getting fatter? or are you gaining weight?

There is a difference.

When you work out you build muscle mass, which weighs more than fat.

[Coventina]

9. Well, it seems like fat....my flabby areas get flabbier

and my clothes get tighter.

[Dukkha]

2. how are you measuring it?

If just by the scale alone, then you're probably gaining muscle mass, which is heavier than fat tissue.

Now if your waistline is increasing, then stop eating. Better yet snack on raw veggies and rice cakes. That's what I did during training.

[KurtNYC]

3. I dont think this is uncommon

How do you feel about low-carb diets?

[Coventina]

12. I did "South Beach" last summer with limited success

and I've tried to watch my carbs since then.

[kittenpants]

4. happens to me too!

I gained weight which I attributed to muscle mass, but my clothes are a little tighter too. Maybe I should go back to sitting on my ass.

[El Fuego]

5. Me too.

Whenever I go on an exercise kick, I gain weight. So I don't go in for extreme regimens. Exercise increases your appetite, so even though you're burning calories, it's a wash at best. I saw on 20/20 (or one of those shows) where they had a test group of people who were all trying different diet methods, and the extreme exercise person hardly lost at all. (The winner was the Atkins dieter)

And if you build up muscles, they just turn to FAT after you stop exercising.

[MissMillie]

7. the key is not to stop

even if it has no effect on your weight, it's still good for you.

[El Fuego]

17. I don't think it is.

You're just putting more and more miles on the car. Exercising causes oxidation in your cells, which releases free radicals, which makes you OLD.

To each his own...

[Fleshdancer]

26. With all do respect, where in the world are you getting this information??

The human body isn't a car. Proper exercises slows down the effects of aging by decreasing bone mineral loss, increasing flexibility, increasing muscle strength, and increasing oxygen intake which also has the added benefit of helping the body absorb nutrients.

Here is a link from the Encyclopedia on Sports Medicine and Science on aging and exercise:

http://www.sportsci.org/encyc/agingex/agingex.html

[El Fuego]

27. Common knowledge, but here are some quick links

Article entitled:
Is Exercise Causing Damage to Your Body?
http://www.nutrabio.com/News/news_free_radicals.htm

http://www.kroger.com/hn/Benefits_Sports/Antioxidants.htm
Quote: "Most research has demonstrated that strenuous exercise increases production of harmful substances called free radicals, which can damage muscle tissue and result in inflammation and muscle soreness."

Article entitled:
Is Your Exercise Program Causing You to Age Faster?
http://www.bodytrends.com/articles/diet/exerciseage.htm

The ‘Exercise Paradox’: It’s the "Free Radicals" man!
http://www.delmillers.com/Freeradicals.htm

Scientific study: "Exercise, Free Radicals, and Oxidative Stress"
http://www.biochemsoctrans.org/bst/030/0280/0300280.pdf

[taught_me_patience]

35. If you believe this "science"

I bet you also believe that there is no global warming... or the "science" that shows that cigarettes really arent bad for you
:eyes:

Also, the assertion that muscle turns to fat is pure misinformation.

[Rainbowreflect]

19. It is not physically possible for muscle to turn to fat.

If you stop working out you will lose muscle mass & if you continue to eat like you did when you were working out you will gain fat, but there are two different things.

[Fleshdancer]

25. Muscle does not turn to fat after you stop exercising

Muscle and fat are two totally different tissue matter. One can not change into the other. Building muscle requires a good amount of caloric intake and when people stop building muscle, sometimes they keep eating the same amount. The muscle then gets smaller and the body gains fat making it seem like the muscle is turning in to fat when really it isn't. It's just a decrease of lean muscle and an increase in body fat.

[Left Is Write]

34. It's not a wash.

Exercise not only burns calories for me while I'm exercising, it speeds my metabolism so I'm burning more calories ALL the time, even when resting. Also, I'm continuing to build and maintain lean muscle tissue, which burns far more calories than fat, again speeding my metabolism.

When you exercise, eat to hunger, and choose mostly healthful foods (everyone deserves and indulgence once in a while), the appetite should regulate itself.

[Serial Mom]

6. Sort of happens to me ..

I began an exercise program - went to YMCA for 11 months, 3 times a week, worked out on treadmill and weights for 45-60 minutes and lost only 4 lbs, but I was in better shape and began to eat healthier.

I stopped when our Y renewal came up, and of course, gained almost 15 lbs. in 6 months.

So we got a treadmill at home, worked out 5 times a week for 30 minutes each day and lost, you guessed it, 2 lbs. in 6 months. I even journaled my food for 3 months straight and entered everything I put into my mouth. (I will admit on weekends I tended to overeat more so than M-F)

I quit again and gained a little more, till this past December I was at an all time high. When I went to Dr. in Jan, she thought I was one of those people that would have to workout at least 1 hour a day and 5-6 days a week.

So I did that and after 9 weeks got tendinitis in my ankle so bad I had to stop for 3 weeks, but started again. So far I've lost 16 lb. since Jan - so it is working - just really tough!


Keep at it!

[Mizmoon]

8. This is how I lost 30 lbs.

I ate a small cup of oatmeal with milled flax seed in it for breakfast, with a multi-vitamin, extra calcium, and extra folic acid.

Then I have dinner with my family at night and eat sparingly from the regular food. Again with the vitamin supplements.

I never bothered trying to "fool" myself by gorging on "healthy snacks" like celery. For me it made it too easy to cheat and start in on the Oreos.

I walked 30 minutes on the eliptical glider at the gym every single day.

Every Saturday is "Cheesecake Saturday" when I go to the Cheesecake Factory and eat a piece of chocolate mousse cheesecake.

I lost 30 lbs in two months this way. TO maintain my weight I now include lunch - but I don't eat much of it.

[cleofus1]

10. exercise alone will not do it

unless you exercise like 3 hours a day...
i stopped gaining weight and lost about 40 pounds...but I'm stuck at 250 pounds...even walking 20 miles a week...

you have to eat better...
i never lost any real weight without a very strict diet...
i can't do it either...so I'll just exercise and try to eat as sensibly as possible...

but I've come to the conclusion that celery and rice cakes are not for me...

i do feel much better tho...

[dolo amber]

11. I get fatter too

I'm pretty rock solid under the pudge...it seems if I exercise too much the muscle just gets bigger, thus pooching out the fat even farther. :\

[ihaveaquestion]

13. Best snacks are fruit, dairy and nuts

They're filling and according to new studies, actually help you lose weight. Carbs are OK, but don't help you lose anything. Excess carbs are stored as fat so filling up on them doesn't buy you anything unless you increase your aerobic exercise to compensate.

Also - lay off the TV and keep moving. I cancelled my cable and started dancing 3-4 nights a week. The other nights I work around my house/garden.

[Patiod]

14. Research has shown that swimming WILL do this

Different studies over the years show that swimming in cold water (the only kind for doing laps, otherwise you get too hot) makes women's bodies pack on the protective fat.

[LSK]

15. do you eat more when you exercise??

Ive notice that too, but after I workout I seem to want to eat a lot.

[jswordy]

16. Weights loss requires TWO things:

1.) Increased exercise, partcularly aerobic exercise. 20 minutes three times a week is a good start, but an hour or more four times a week is where you want to eventually be for best weight loss.

2.) Decreased caloric intake.

Do both simultaneously, and you will lose weight. Period.

Way it works is, you eat less than your theshold maintenance calories, forcing your body to cannabolize itself for fuel. Then the exercise helps preserve your muscle mass, which is the first thing your body will burn when it is short calories. It also raises your metabolism.

Combine the two, and your body will be forced to burn fat to live.

[Taverner]

18. But don't cut back too many calories

usually decrease by at most 15% per week, otherwise you go into starve mode.

Also, best to find out if you lose weight with a high-carb high cardio diet/excersize program, or a high-protein, weight resistance diet/excersize program. Some people respond better to different programs. Experiment with each for 3 weeks and go with the plan that gives you the best results.

[Fleshdancer]

20. How much water are you drinking?

If you're not drinking enough, then you're body will hold on to as much water weight as it can.

When I start my exercise plan (usually I do Body For Life which works wonders for me) I tend to gain a little weight at first. I chalk it up to several factors: it takes a while to lose the water weight, my body is adjusting to the new activity, and I'm gaining muscle.

The best thing for me is to tell myself every day that I won't see ANY results until I hit the 6 week mark. Usually this isn't true because small results are noticeable after 3 weeks. By convincing myself that it takes 6 weeks however, I don't obsess in front of the mirror, I don't get discouraged when my clothes are tight, and I have no desire to check my body fat levels (which is far better than getting on a scale by the way). If you already know that you gain weight at first, then accept it prior to starting a program. Give yourself 6-8 weeks minimum to see positive results.

Keep in mind that to burn off a pound of fat, you have to burn 3500 calories. Losing weight in a healthy way is not a short term process and the best way to do it is to combine proper nutrition with cardio and weight training.

[Pithlet]

21. Yes. It happened to me, too. It's only temporary though

So, don't give up! Sometimes people put on some water weight when they first start an exercise program. It usually only lasts a couple of weeks for me. If you don't know that's what that is, it can be very frustrating. Keep at it, and it will stop, and the lbs will start melting off. I don't know the physical reasons behind this. It may just be your body's way of adjusting to the new physical activity.

[prole_for_peace]

22. when you begin an exercise program you body will

retain start retaining water. this will make you bloat and make your clothes fit tighter at first. just keep drinking lots of water, keep eating healthy foods and keep exercising and this should lessen in a while. you will still retain some water (it is a defense mechanism) but that should be offset by weightloss.

[undeterred]

23. STOP EXERCISING and have an ice cream cone.

Then you'll get thinner!

[newportdadde]

24. It could be your gaining muscle and muscle weights more then fat.

This happened to me too, that and if you start to lift weight etc you will naturally get hungry, the key here is to not increase your caloric intake. If your new exercise routines burns 300 calories and you get home and eat 400 your going to slowly gain.

If you want to loose weight I believe a pound of fat is 3500 calories. So if you want to loose a pound a week you will need to find a way to drop 500 calories each day. This can be a combination of cardio and diet. For instance you burn 300 on the stairmaster/treadmill and reduce your diet by 200 calories.

I'm actually trying to better my own diet right now and its really hard. I never realized how much I enjoyed food. I cut out candy, real soda years ago but now I'm working with portions and cutting out pretty much all deserts etc for once a week or so. Its really tough, much tougher then I thought it would be.

[ronnykmarshall]

28. I have that same problem.

The other day I was on the treadmill, with my chili burger and this snotty little queen said ..... oh my gawd your ass is sooooooooo fat!

I threw my milk shake at the little bitch, jump off and beat the shit out of him.

[dolo amber]

32. You are such a diva

:rofl: :D

[Hand]

29. Insh'Allah... nt

[RedCloud]

30. Methinks the fat is going ape and can't escape

This happens with some people. Fat likes the person so much it refuses to melt. About six lecithin pills a day ... oh wait, I can't say that, can I?

[taught_me_patience]

31. This is typical

If you start exercising too hard, your body will burn sugar and muscle and not fat, thereby temporarily making you appear fatter. Running faster will NOT burn more fat! You must run or walk at a much slower pace 70% of max heart rate to burn fat. This, in combination of eating more will also make you gain fat. The remedy to this solution is:

1) wait a couple of weeks for your body to adapt to the new stresses that you are putting on it so that you burn more fat
2) or slow down your running
3) eat smaller meals throughout the day (this is extremely important to keep your metabolism going)
4) reduce simple carbohydrates.

Recommended diet (assuming you are 180lbs)

breakfast: 9:00am 1/2 cup oatmeal and 1tbs flax seed oil
mid morning snack: Low carb tortilla with all natural peanut butter
Lunch (2:30pm): Salad with olive oil and vinagrette
Mid afternoon snack: 20 almonds
Dinner: 1 chicken breast w/ 1cup raw spinach
pre sleep snack: 1/2 cup cottage cheese with honey roasted nuts thrown in for taste

calories: 2300 (approx)

This diet does not taste good, but it'll fill you up and you will not have cravings for junk food

this combined with 45 min of low-intensity cardio 3x/week will help you lose fat.

throw in some weightlifting to add definition and tone.

[Fleshdancer]

33. that's true, I don't think many people understand what happens when

you exercise too hard. Oxygen is needed to burn fat so if you're working out so hard that you can't talk, then you're probably burning sugar and protein.