Has anyone else put on weight?!!!!!

[Leolovelylady]

I know that muscle ways more than fat but I am putting on about a pound each week and am definitely not eating more (I actually feel fuller after a run and less likely to pick) I am feeling more toned but am now on week 4 and have put on 4 lbs since starting! Has this happened to anyone else?

[MaryAB Graduate]

I put on 6lbs in the 9 weeks! I didn't change what i was eating so it must have been muscle but I couldn't really tell.

Now I've lost a few pound since graduating so it does seem to be sorting itself out

[magicfee23 Graduate]

I follow Weight Watchers and had been losing a steady pound per week pre C25k. I didn't actually put on any weight but equally I didn't lose a single pound for the whole 9 weeks. I did tone up though (although not obviously until week 8).

I graduated 4 weeks ago and have continued to run 3 times per week for at least 30 mins, adding a little speed and distance. Like Mary AB in the 4 weeks since graduating I have started to lose again. In fact have lost 12 pounds. In 4 weeks!! Seems to be Mother Nature's incentive to keep us running when the programme is done.

So don't despair, just keep on going and it will all even out in the long run. Meanwhile just think of the benefits you are gaining for your overall fitness and well being which might counterbalance the extra pounds (although I didn't think so when my WW graph stuck on the straight line!!)

[Leolovelylady in reply to magicfee23]

Thanks for this - I too have been doing weightwatchers and it is soooo upsetting to have to log my weight and see it going up on my chart!

[magicfee23 Graduate in reply to Leolovelylady]

I think WW is a little like C25k- the further you go on with the programme the more it becomes mind over matter. The bad chart weeks will happen just like the bad runs but you have to dig in, be strong and not let the bad results throw you off the track of your ultimate goal.

You will get there! Good luck

[Alaiyo Graduate]

I have been doing C25K for 4 weeks now, and am up and down with it. Like you, I was dieting before I started - and I was successfully losing weight. Although gaining weight every week for 4 weeks (or not losing any weight at all for 9+ weeks) can be discouraging, you may not being gaining any fat.

Here's a plausible scenario: You lose 1/2 lb of fat, gain 1/4 lb of muscle, and retain some extra water (which binds to muscle and may be part of drinking more water since you are exercising more). On the scale, you would still be up each week. But would have less fat and possibly be shrinking with the measuring tape. Remember that people on diets tend to have significant weight fluctuations with water, waste, etc. If you are a women, this is doubly true.

And when people are exercising, they may find they eat more during the day without noticing. Are you recording what you eat? Are you sure how much of everything you eat (are you measuring or using pre-measured portions)? Don't panic if you find that you are having that extra 200 calories a day - it is very likely going to muscle repair.

Hopefully the weight will just fall off of us all when we keep running after week 9. With the extra muscle, and metabolism boost, this is entirely possible. It is pretty near impossible to gain muscle and lose fat simultaneously. Don't worry if you are in a building phase - it will help you keep the fat off long-term when you get back to the losing phase.

[Leolovelylady]

Thanks that was a very interesting and reassuring answer - I certainly don't feel 'bigger' and feel as if I have lost weight on my belly etc. The most important thing is that I am really enjoying the programme and feel great. This support network is fantastic too.

[henrietta Graduate]

Water has a big factor in weight, when the body thinks we aren't giving it enough it will retain water as a precaution. You should definately be increasing the amount of water you used to drink before you ever started running. As the graduates say, you are doing your bodies the world of good and you will reach target if you burn more than you eat.

[Leolovelylady]

Thank you I will try really upping my water intake - I didn't realise that is why your body retained water. Thanks for this advice

[AnnaJ Graduate]

i started gaining despite sticking rigidly to slimming world when i started running. i got so disheartened that i now just eat what i fancy but in smaller portions. and have carried on running. i am hoping that once my distance increases, it will all even out. i actually genuinly dont care any more cos i feel so brilliant. its not so disheartening now that i am enjoying my food every day!! but all the things that people have said about muscle and water and exercise is all true but for me, dieting or running- not the 2 together, it was just too much to continue with!so feel more able to sustain these good habits now good luck with weight and running x

[Hidden]

This is old but anyone reading it. When you execise musclea that’ haven’t been exercised you’ll tear them = water retention in the tears to heal the muscles which will show up on the scales and = not fat.

Muscle and fat weigh the same but muscle takes up less room than fat so you’ll look smaller but say you lost 1 lbs fat and gained 1 lbs muscle the scale adont about

“ hey you lost fat gained muscle “ they simply say about a number and that muscle has hidden the face that you lost that fat.

Simple really I do get sick of reading your eating too much well lots Pepe aren’t they are simply retaining water.