[Oaktree]

Hi All,

I wondered if anyone has the same problem I do. In the past, exercise has worked wonders for me in terms of weight loss and maintenance.

Lately I have found that working out harder results in me eating a lot more and not only negating the results, but actually adding weight. This is not added muscle or anything like that. This is just plain too many calories weight.

I had to stop working out for a while and dropped 5 lbs. because I ate less. I want to work out because it's good for me and I like it. But I don't really know how to handle the desire to eat more because of it.

Any ideas? Anyone else dealing with this?

[LandonsBaby]

I do eat more, especially when I've done weight training. However, I find I still progress if I'm not a total pig. (the key world being "if")

Maybe what you are adding is just water? Is it a substantial amount? How long has it been happening?

[sweetcakes736]

First of all, excellent question. I believe each one of us has hit this wall at one time or another. The question I have is what kind of excercise are you doing? I find the only thing that really works, at least for me anyway, is mixing it up. Somedays I do cardio, sometimes I walk, I samba dance, I do weights, yoga. I'm also mixing up my routine so my body never gets bored. You also have to retrain your mind. So many of us for so long have looked at excercise like it's a chore. If we start to retrain our thought pattern and view excercise as a reward for ourselves, it carries over after the excercise is completed. Hope this helps!!

[JayEll]

Hey!

My suggestion would be that you think food control first, and exercise second. 80% of weight loss is what we eat, I've heard--and although exercise is really important to keep metabolism going and to stop the loss of muscle, it's the food that's most important.

So, I would suggest that you don't get in the habit of trying to work off overeating, in case that's a strategy you've tried in the past. Instead, find a calorie level that works for you based on no exercise, and then consider that you can add 100 to 200 calories on days that you do exercise. Also, don't keep calories too low thinking you'll lose faster! This make it very, very hard not to eat more if you're actively working out.

Jay

[Oaktree]

I really appreciate all of the ideas. I think I really need to be more prepared for the time immediately after the gym. If I don't have a clear idea of what I am going to have for a snack, then I will eat everything in the house.

Sweetcakes, I have been mixing it up for a while cardio-wise and have just really gotten back into weights. I am going to try slowly upping my intensity level as well. That has dropped over the past few years and I need to get it up there again.

I love to exercise, though I am no athlete. It's the food control that gets me!

[jahjah1223]

Maybe its the kind of food you're eating?