Experienced dieters, riddle me this!

[oatmeal]

So,

You're dieting - not going off the diet, you start working out five days a week. At the start of the five days you're 148, then you weigh yourself three days later and you're 150.

I have not broken diet and have only increased my physical activity by about 200%?

Any ideas why I'd gain 2 pounds???

[Geofizz]

Working out builds muscle. Muscle weighs a lot.

Muscle also burns more at rest than fat. So, building muscle will increase your metabolism and ultimately make you lose the remaining fat more quickly.

Good job. Keep it up.

[oatmeal]

I knew that about muscle but I could not have built that much muscle (2 pounds worht????) in the three days!!

[BrandyMama]

Did you weigh yourself at the same time of day? My scale is most friendly first thing in the morning after I've gone pee Personally, my weight can fluctuate up to five pounds during the course of a day. I just read in Prevention magazine that you sweat and breathe over two pounds of moisture out of your body every night. On a related note, that's why you shouldn't make your bed first thing in the morning, but rather let it air out. You needed to know that, right? lol

[moss]

What are you eating? If you've changed what you're eating, your body might decide to stash away some extra water, especially if you've cut calories really drastically. Also, are your bowels still moving regularly?

I also agree that when you weigh yourself is important, my weight fluctuates drastically t/o the day.

BrandyMama~that's interesting about making the bed...i dont think my bed would get made if i didnt do it as soon as i get out of it though! :LOL

[Piglet68]

I'm sorry but no commercially available bathroom scale is capable of making a statistically real distinction between 2 lbs.

It helps if you weigh yourself at the exact time of day (I think first thing in the am before eating is pretty consistent), with no clothes on, and in fact you are much better to do that every day and take the average for the week. Honestly, my weight fluctuates by at LEAST 5 lbs over the course of the day (from morning to evening), wintery clothes can add a whole pound or more, and within a week my weight usually varies by about 2 - 3 pounds, but the weekly averages remain remarkably constant (well, until last week, but I am pregnant! ).

Also, two days of exercise isn't going to make a bit of difference.
You have to be patient woman!!

(but it is true that muscle weighs more than fat, so try to look more at your shape and the inches of various body parts rather than the scale, if you are working out alot and not doing so well with the dieting part, you really can gain weight and yet appear thinner over time; ask me how I know! ).

[JoyfulMomma]

Also consider water weight.....

May I recommend ditching the bathroom scale - put it out of sight. Continue exercising and gauge your success by how your clothes fit and how you feel not by some arbitrary number on a scale.

Good luck!

JoyfulMomma

[maddysmommy]

Another theory is that exercising a lot more than normal causes slight muscle damage and then fluid retention. I personally can fluctuate 5 lbs from day to day (also from morning to night) - also my cycle makes me gain at least 5 lbs. Weigh yourself once a week if you have to - and for the real test try once a month, then you're at the same place hormonally. Sorry nothing is easy or fast...

[HomeBirthMommy]

Oatmeal, I'm right there with you girl! I've been exercizing since January and have only lost (an average of) 5 pounds. And yeah, I know the muscle stuff, too, but my pants don't fit any better either. I'm very discouraged, but sticking with it. Dammit-I think my body just loves being FAT
I have a love/hate relationship with my scale. Somedays it makes me feel like the hard work is paying off and somedays I actually get off and "zero" it b/c that couldn't possibly be right. I'm learning to use it as an average indicator, though and certainly not the gospel truth. Ugh-I don't ever want to face a medical scale though
But seriously, even though I'm not getting a lot in the weight loss department, I am noticing other changes, like eased menstual cramps and just a better feeling overall. Now if my damn thighs could just get with the program...:
for you for your hard work. Feel free to PM me if you want a non weight loss buddy

[Ravenmoon]

I started working out and gained 5 lbs in a week.But i believe it was water weight and i was eating more because i was burning so much more.For me i have to cut out sugar and carbs or i can not lose weight.I'm drinking nettles and dandylion tea and green tea to kick start my metabolism.Good for you working out!