[rose madder]

Hi all!

So I don't know if anyone is familiar with it, but I started doing the p90x videos in the end of January.... I just wanted to tone up, and as someone who is already very active I kind of wanted a new challenge.

Anyhow, I've loved the results, but I've managed to put on about 5 pounds since I started. :/ The workouts are very weight heavy (I'm sore ALL the time!) and I really like the results, but it's very discouraging to see the scale move UP again (I've been at a weight I've been comfortable with for a few years...)

Could this weight be from building muscle? I thought you had to lift SERIOUS weights to gain this kind of weight...

[Wildflower]

Were you counting calories while exercising?

[sacha]

A couple of thoughts... (ps I am a P90x graduate myself)

You shouldn't be sore all the time if you started in January. It can be a sign that you are stressing your body too much. The first few weeks yes, when starting a new program, but being sore is not an indication of muscle growth.

P90X, assuming you are putting in full effort (and I suspect maybe too much effort if you are always sore), will make you very very hungry - it is practically cardio because it is meant to be done with light weight/high rep (12-15). You would be burning a lot of calories. Are you following the nutrition program?

P90X itself is unlikely to produce 5lbs of muscle gain in a female in 2 months, even very heavy lifting (ie. a 150lb squat) would make that difficult due to hormones.

It's likely a combination of:
Recomposition (some muscle gain, but not 5lbs, with some fat loss)
Water retention (if you are pushing too hard and "always sore" then you are likely retaining a lot of water as well on a frequent basis)
Possibly eating too much food due to the amount of exercise you are doing.

BUT

"You love the results" ~ then please, TOSS THE SCALE! If you are loving what you see in the mirror, who cares what the # is !!!

[Dianne042425]

Ugh i would so love to see all the replies to this! I have been thinking recently that I need to just start lifting. I really am in good shape but i just need to get rid of the extra fat! I am just SO scared of building the muscle but not losing the fat. I can already see all the muscle I have. I dont want anymore muscle, just less fat! Does that make sense?

[rose madder]

I haven't been following the diet they suggest... I am a vegetarian, and I just don't feel well when I do high protein. I go on and off counting calories, but I've been doing my best to be consistent... I think I average about 1800 calories a day. I think I might have to cut it back to 14-1600...
I eat very clean, but I think at least in part the weight gain might have to do with the fact that I work in a restaurant. It is a vegetarian restaurant, and I don't really eat cheese or dairy, but I know for a fact there is a LOT of oil in the sauces.

Here's an average day;

Breakfast - Oatmeal or Heritage flakes with 1/2 cup of blueberries and 2 T slivered almonds
coffee or tea with soy milk

Lunch - Salad (2c veggies with 2T dressing and 1/2 c tofu)
or 2 pieces vegan pizza (just basically flatbread with veggies and sauce)

Dinner - Usually the same as lunch (I work Loooooong days and usually eat both meals at work)

Snacks; apple with peanut butter or luna bar