Trouble with Exercise and Gaining

Holly Duncan said:

Is anyone out there experiencing this problem? I've been
gradually increasing my activity and this past week I
nearly tripled what I was doing exercise-wise. I do
aerobics daily on top of walking, gardening and biking.
I've noticed an increase on the scale. Two other people in
my WW class have gone through the same thing. Of course,
muscle weighs more than fat...but, should I continue
working out or take a day or two off as a break so I don't
overdo it? I'm a little troubled with this, as we all know
that cardio and any type of exercise for that matter is
really good for you. Any advice out there? Thanks so much!

It's true muscle is denser than fat. If you build muscle and
lose fat (which is actually very difficult) you will get
thinner not heavier.

Probably what is happening is that you are stressing your
muscles as you start to exercise. (Do/did all your muscles
ache a day or so after doing all that exercise?) In turn
your body retains water as part of the healing process.
This water will go away again in a week or so. You will
probably find that if you exercise your weight will
fluctuate more, but you will also become fitter and may
lose weight a bit faster.

Good luck

Ray
--
rmnsuk
273/198/182

You may also want to take measurements to see if you are
shrinking in ways that the scale does not show. Too much
concentration on what the scale shows to the detriment of
exercise is inappropriate. Also, one week does not make a
trend up or down.

Holly Duncan said:

Is anyone out there experiencing this problem? I've been
gradually increasing my activity and this past week I
nearly tripled what I was doing exercise-wise. I do
aerobics daily on top of walking, gardening and biking.
I've noticed an increase on the scale. Two other people in
my WW class have gone through the same thing. Of course,
muscle weighs more than fat...but, should I continue
working out or take a day or two off as a break so I don't
overdo it? I'm a little troubled with this, as we all know
that cardio and any type of exercise for that matter is
really good for you. Any advice out there? Thanks so much!

Good reminders Fred. Especially the one about not turning
one week's WI into a trend. Hoo boy, it so easy to fall into
the "why bother" pit of misery when the scale goes the wrong
direction after doing everything right.
--
Linda P

On Mon, 19 Apr 2004 18:14:56 -0700, Fred <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

You may also want to take measurements to see if you are shrinking in
ways that the scale does not show. Too much concentration on what the
scale shows to the detriment of exercise is inappropriate. Also, one
week does not make a trend up or down.

Holly Duncan said:

Is anyone out there experiencing this problem? I've been gradually
increasing my activity and this past week I nearly tripled what I was doing
exercise-wise. I do aerobics daily on top of walking, gardening and biking.
I've noticed an increase on the scale. Two other people in my WW class have
gone through the same thing. Of course, muscle weighs more than fat...but,
should I continue working out or take a day or two off as a break so I don't
overdo it? I'm a little troubled with this, as we all know that cardio and
any type of exercise for that matter is really good for you. Any advice out
there? Thanks so much!

My leader just told me that it could take up to six weeks for your body to
adjust so just stick it out, it was not easy to hear that after a 2.2 gain,
Lee
Holly Duncan <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Is anyone out there experiencing this problem? I've been
gradually increasing my activity and this past week I
nearly tripled what I was

doing

Quoted message said:

exercise-wise. I do aerobics daily on top of walking,
gardening and

biking.

Quoted message said:

I've noticed an increase on the scale. Two other people in
my WW class

have

Quoted message said:

gone through the same thing. Of course, muscle weighs
more than

fat...but,

Quoted message said:

should I continue working out or take a day or two off as
a break so I

don't

Quoted message said:

overdo it? I'm a little troubled with this, as we all know
that cardio

and

Quoted message said:

any type of exercise for that matter is really good for
you. Any advice

out

Quoted message said:

there? Thanks so much!

Another problem might be that you are not eating enough
points to make up for the exercise that you are getting. You
need to make sure that your factor in activity points where
figuring out how many points to eat on a day. If you do not
eat your minimum amount of points, your metabolism will slow
down and will not burn off the fat because it thinks you are
starving. When trying to eat points, try eating healhty
foods that are higher in points like cottage cheese to give
you dairly and allow yourself the occasional junk food so
you will not feel the need to binge later on.