Glad to stumble upon this, i was coming to post my frustrations!

I have lost 35 lbs so far without exercise, not really trying too hard, just cutting out certain things. Almost 2 weeks ago i joined the Gym. I have been going 5 days minimum and plan to continue that. 1-2 hours a day, doing weight machines every other day. 1400-1800 calories a day, track using an online tool but the scale is stuck! I even moved it to another room to try it!

I decided to order a measuring tape and took photos. I know i have to worry less about what the scale says and concentrate more on how i feel. Easier said than done.

I wont lie though, if theres no change in a few weeks i know i will be pretty PO'd!

[QUOTE=Meg;1142256]We see this question pop up over and over again here at 3FC - I started working out and eating healthy, so why am I gaining weight? So when I read this Q & A at msnbc.com, I knew it was worth passing along:



I totally agree that it all boils down to calories in versus calories out, so it's necessary for most of us to track our calories to have an idea of how much we're eating. I know that I personally could eat DOUBLE what I should, all of healthy food. :dizzy: I'm also glad to see the author acknowledge how hard it is to gain even a few pounds of muscle, so the common excuse of 'you're building muscle' or worse, 'muscle weighs more than fat' (of course it doesn't) is misguided.



When people first begin an exercise program most will gain a little weight. The way to track your success is to look at inches lost--and not the scale. That is lean muscle mass replacing fat--resulting in inches lost. The fat is fighting back--it's used to all this bulge and it's not ready to give up on it yet. After a month to six weeks the scale will start to cooperate with you.
IF

You're not consuming more calories because you're exercising--which is a real possibility when exercising. Physically you do get hungrier (at first). This is your body again fighting back--it's not used to all this new exercise and it thinks you're trying to kill yourself with exercise--so it says "feed me" so I can fight off what you're doing to me ha.ha. So some burn off 300 calories in a work-out but end up eating or drinking an additional 600 calories to feed this new found appetite. Definitely watch what you're drinking when you workout. All the sports drinks--energy drinks are loaded with calories and sugar. The best thing to drink is water. It's a challenge to stay on course and count the calories--but eventually when your body gets used to your new lifestyle change and your stomach shrinks to accommodate what you're doing--you will be well on your way to a new skinnier you.

Everybody who works gains weight and losses energy, but the simple formula for losing wait is to eat less. Therefore, I suggest to eat less because when I was gaining weight, I was eating much but when I did diet than my weight lost and now I am completely recovered.

Yes, and let's not forget that muscle takes up 1/3 rd the space fat does, so you're losing inches, not necessarily weight.

This is my problem before. I thought I am losing weight that time but when I weigh myself I gain. I felt sad that's why I decided to count the calorie I'm taking and do some cardio workouts in the morning. I make sure that I am taking the right calories per day.

This is what is happening to me. I started running, almost daily, for about an average of 45 minutes per run, on very hilly terrain. So, plenty of exercise, and a reduced calorie diet (about 1200 - 1500 per day, that doesn't leave me feeling hungry at all). I HAD been feeling a little bit down about things because I"d been working so hard, actually enjoying it, but had only lost about one kilogram (2.2 pounds? I think?) in the whole MONTH that I had been faithfully following my diet and exercise plan. That was, until, I started trying on some dresses that I hadn't worn in a while, and some shorts, because I had gotten too big for them and they FIT! Loosely! So, valuable lesson for me here - I've only lost about one kilo but I guess it comes down to how I'm feeling (great) and how my clothes are fitting. The journey will continue, and the fitter and healthier I get, the weight will come down naturally as my body adjusts to its new routine.

This is really godo to know, and great for those wanting to lose weight.

So true!

Actually I think my problem was that I was eating much more than I should after my workout.
The thing is that you think you can eat more because you were working out but I overestimated the calories I was losing.

One thing that I'm confused about is that when we work out vigorously doesn't that suck up the nutrients and puts a lot of stress on our body? Therefore, don't we need to take in more nutrients to help replenish our body?

Thanks
 

Thanks Meg for sharing :)

It's totally worth passing Meg! A lesson we should keep in mind! :)

Thanks For sharing
 

Great Article Meg :) Keep it up :)