Working out and eating healthier....but what's the deal?

Sick of building muscle....want to loose instead of gain

Published on January 26, 2005 By alison watkins In Health & Medicine

My New Year's Resolution was the same as many. It involved leading a healthier lifestyle and loosing a couple of lbs. This meant switching to frozen yogurt instead of ice cream, no more bad starches, taking vitamins and mixing in 30 minutes of exercise at least 5 days a week. My pre wedding weight was 123 (in november), which is pretty decent for someone who's 5`2 with a medium-large bone structure. About a week and a half after all the wedding festivities I was up to 129...which still isn't bad, but I didn't want to gain any more because I know from experience that it's a pain in the but to get the weight off (about three years ago I used to weight 155). Anyways, 4 weeks ago I started to exercise and eat better. I'm not lifting weights....just doing 30 minutes of aerobic exercise. One would think that the lbs would come off, right? Wrong! I'm up to 133. What am I doing wrong?! ahhh!!! Any suggestions from any JU fitness experts?

Comments

Shovelheat

on Jan 26, 2005

One day it occured to me that all I had had to eat that day was 3 bags of cheetos, a snickers candy bar, and a Coke! NO WONDER I had been feeling so crappy and my blood pressure was up and the like eating like that all the time! So in the last several weeks I have focused on, not so much as dieting per se, but on eating "quality" instead of "quantity" so much. I can't tell you how much better I feel and what better frame of mind I am in! For one thing, I NEVER weigh, those numbers just depress you. I go by how I feel. Thant's the main thing anyway isn't it. Anyway, my advice (since you asked, that's another belief of mine- NEVER give un asked for advice, but that's another blog..) would be to throw away those scales and keep doing what your doing. The good things will come in time.

alison watkins

on Jan 26, 2005

Shovelheat:

That is true....feeling better is better than some stupid number. I do feel a lot better. Thanks for your opinion!

Denise Gardiner

on Jan 26, 2005

I am new to blogging so please be patient with me if I exclude something required when commenting or posting. This comment is in response to your request from any JU fitness experts. I do not regard myself as an expert on fitness, however I am a "retired" competitive triathelete and currently a critical care nurse. I do not know what your "pre" fitness and health plan weight was and therefore can not determine if your weight gain is of medical concern. Some basic things to be aware of are: muscle weighs almost 3x more than adipose tissue (fat), hard exercise causes lactic acid to build up in tissue and promotes fluid weight gain. This fluid weight is eliminated by (well you know how). You may find that you actually gain pounds but loose inches as you continue to work out. I wouldn't worry about the weight gain unless you put on 3-4 lbs suddenly overnight, in which case you should call your doctor. In the end it is how you feel, energy level, blood pressure etc. Our society has placed too much emphasis on weight, unless you are obese which is defined by the AMA as being 20% in pounds or more over the desired weight range for your height, enjoy your new found healthy lifestyle! Finally a real life example..I am 5'4" weigh 135lbs and a size 6, my girlfriend is 5'5" and weighs 143lbs and a size 12. One wouldn't think that 8lbs would make such a difference, but my weight is mostly muscle and bone density from years of exercise and hers is not.

NoneSpecial

on Jan 26, 2005

alison, you are a petite flower and i love you!

seriously, you look great....you should see how much tinier than me you are in my pictures from the Northside! I'll send them out to you asap!

alison watkins

on Jan 26, 2005

Denise:
I did loose a few inches...so I must be doing something right.

Chrissy:
Hehehe...you are a petite flower, too! Shut up about the tiny comparisson!! we are the same!! I'll give you a call later!

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