Exercise is making me heavier - WHY?

[danzargo]

Being not very bright with these sorts of things, can anyone explain as to why after 6 weeks of running my weight has gone UP by 3lbs?

Slightly depressed about this.......

[Oldgirl Graduate]

Don't be depressed, your fat is toning up, you are getting more muscle which weighs more. You will look slimmer and feel healthier in the long run (pardon the pun). Just be careful that you don't eat more and undo the good your exercise has done. Often after running and lots of exercise people think they are hungry, they probably are dehydrated so try a glass of water or dilute juice before attacking the food cupboards with a nice apple or pear which will give you some needed sugar. Better than a chocolate bar.

[danzargo Graduate]

Thank you. That has given me a bit of cheer!!

[Cazvs Graduate]

I put on weight too, and then lost it and went back to exactly what I was when I started. I'm a dress size smaller though! Try using a tape measure or a pair of jeans to measure your progress.

[kirble Graduate]

I am up to Week 7 Run 3 and havent lost an ounce! BUT, my clothes fit me be much better and I had to buy the next size down the other day so was over the moon!

I agree with Oldgirl, you need to make sure you are still eating carefully. Keep a food diary if necessary to monitor your food intake. Good luck

[danzargo Graduate in reply to kirble]

Ah ok. I do have a good diet with lots of fruit and vegetables. I do like wine though.....and beer.....and cocktails......dammit!

[Oldgirl Graduate in reply to danzargo]

Don't we all

[Hidden in reply to danzargo]

There is nothing wrong with wine, beer etc. as long as it's in moderation ~ God, I sound so boring! Just try to imagine how far you have to run to shed those empty calories ~ that said, a very successful runner spends his pre-race nights with the team crew and journalists downing beer.

[Dellacat Graduate]

Me too! When Laura says go home and have a drink and a snack I am not so sure she would approve of my glass of wine and bag of crisps!! Oppsie!

[Poppy2010 Graduate]

I have been running and doing weight watchers, have lost 2 stone 3lbs, but gone very slowly since Christmas (& only 5lbs in the last 8 weeks) but this week I have been called 'skinny' 3 times, and held up as an example of someone 'fading away before our very eyes!' by someone trying to encourage one of my team mates to get rid of her holiday lbs!

Running is definitely make me tone up and change shape, I'm losing fat on my ribs and back, I can see my legs losing the fat and gaining muscle - I even ventured out in 3/4 length running tights yesterday and didn't feel like the legs were wobbling too much!

Appointment booked for new uniform for work - 1st July, as I can take my trousers off without undoing them; will be interesting to see what size I end up with!

[greenlegs Graduate in reply to Poppy2010]

Being called 'skinny' three times in a week is a very powerful message! Well done you.

[Poppy2010 Graduate in reply to greenlegs]

Thank you... Hope one day I will feel skinny!

[Rollertoaster Graduate]

One of my friends who was doing 5x50 with me says she had put on weight during those 50 days and put it down to over compensating by eating after exercise. She is now doing an experiment and NOT exercising for 50 days to see what happens. In all truth she probably will lose weight on the scales, as she loses muscle tone, but this will get turned to fat. Two weeks in she has reported feeling stressed.. anyway, that's a side note.

I wanted to say that it is normal when doing a new exercise regime for your body weight to not fall until it adjusts. Here is a great blog about why this happens: couchto5k.healthunlocked.co...

Incidentally the exact same pattern happened to me as described in the blog. I lost nothing for the first 7 weeks, then a little in the last couple and then it rapidly fell off me after graduation with very little effort.I imagine right now, your body is building up muscle mass and is in the adjustment period, stick with it and you will see results I'm sure.

[Hidden]

This may be an insensitive question, but are/were you a little overweight? If so, the answer may be very simple and straight forward. You are burning off the fat and building muscle. Muscle is heavier than fat, but takes up less space. Therefore, 'step away from the scales' and use a tape measure or see how your clothes feel.

Whatever you do KEEP GOING. The health benefits are enormous.

I don't know where you live, but if you have a local river or canal, try running along side that, I find the sound of the water is so therapeutic...

[danzargo Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Not insensitive at all! I AM overweight for my age, height etc. I'm currently 13 stone 6lbs with a BMI of 26'ish - so I need to lose about a stone really.

It's funny but since reading all of your replies, I have found that actually, my trousers are more comfortable around the waist!! which means perhaps I AM losing fat! Hooray!!!

Luckily I DO live right beside the Thames and ALL of my runs are along the Thames path. You're right - running beside water is lovely.

A thousand thanks for all your replies. Most interesting to read and most educational. I had no idea that muscle weighed more than fat.

[Oldgirl Graduate in reply to danzargo]

I'm not overweight for my height I'm just too short for my weight

[AliB1 Graduate in reply to Oldgirl]

Ha ha, me too Oldgirl

[Saruma Graduate]

I've gained 7lbs since I started running!!

[Kimmiijay Graduate]

Muscle is much denser than fat, so when you exercise at some point it's normal for your weight to go up a little but then it will fall again. Sir Steve Redgrave was morbidly obese according to his BMI when he won an olympic gold, just because he was so much muscle (it's a flaw in calculating BMI).

Saying that I am pissed off on week 3, after being on a diet at the same time, that my tight jeans are - if anything - tighter. I get it's all about routines, and your body does weird things as you get used to new routines and stuff but it's still disheartening. Still - I know it will get better.

I'm thinking of moving from the treadmill to the Thames path. I like walking it, but I have nightmares of tripping and falling in the canal when running. Proper irrational fear.

[pingle Graduate in reply to Kimmiijay]

Great post on this subject from Alaiyo a while back

couchto5k.healthunlocked.co...

Also I'd recommend measuring yourself. I didn't and really regretted it but everything definitely toned up and I dropped a dress size before I lost an ounce. That said running does not burn millions of calories (sadly ) and if you really want to lose weight the diet does need to be right too. Good luck