I want the weight off!?

Question

Ok. I started drinking water, going to the gym (not as much as I should) doing weights and cardio, started eating better, and started taking vitamins. And what happens? I gain 3 pounds! Can someone point me in the right direction please. Should I just focus on cardio right now? Please help!

Answer 1

You're doing the right thing! Weight gain almost always comes along with the workouts, since muscle weighs more than fat.

If you want to lose fat, cardio is definitely the way. It's also really good for your heart and lungs, which are important to a long life!

One reminder, to help keep you going...You're healthier than you were when you started! Keep it up!!!!

Answer 2

Don't get excited about the 3 lbs. yet. It could just be a women's cyclical thing. Focus on weights/yoga, not just cardio. Weighlifting will burn fat, and tone muscle mass constantly burns calories. Join a gym, or workout at school or whatever, and try to get a friend to go with you - that will make you feel more inspired. Buy a medicine/yoga ball and an instructional video you can use at home. Combine the weight/resistance training with cardio routines on the off days. Of course watch what you eat, but don't go crazy - you still need energy. The weights and cardio are more powerful than dieting.

Answer 3

3 pounds is usually not a big deal unless you weigh 80 pounds.

i personally fluctuate 5-6 pounds per day heaviest being the end of the day.

try to weigh yourself at the same time of day everyday using the same scale. plus sneakers are heaving. wearing them one day and not the other could be those 3 lbs.

anyway onto your real question. it's very very common to gain weight when you first start working out. weight gain and loss comes in waves. keep it up and you should see a weight loss wave where you will literally lose 1-2 lbs per week. how long have you been at it? if it's 6 months than something is wrong, if it's just a fwe weeks then you are right on track.

also continue to watch you what you are eating. it's so common for ppl to work out, feel good about themselves are reward themselves with a chocolate sundae or a big mac. i know i'm guilty of it all the time (particularly the popeyes chicken), but that stuff really is bad for you and counter productive to all your exercise.

no need to switch to cardio only. just keep at it.

Answer 4

The 3 pounds you gained is most likely muscle! Muscle wieghs more than fat...So a good thing to do is start off with cutting all of your calories in half! The water drinking is great so don't stop with the water. When you go to the gym, start doing a little less of the things that are going to build muscle and a little more of the things that help you burn calories....don't stop with the muscles just slow it down a bit! After you start working off the weight gradually jump back in to the muscle building stuff! Don't give up!

Answer 5

Agreed - the scale is the worst way to measure, especially in the short term. I can swing 10lbs in a day with water weight if I want to. (Think a gallon is about 8lbs). If you are drinking more water then you may weigh a bit more. If you just began working out then your muscles may hold more water for recovery for a while.

Keep it up at the gym, eat right, and weigh yourself once per week maximum. I would recommend once per week, first thing in the morning after using the bathroom on the same day each week.

Answer 6

Top weight loss tips

Today there is too much information available on losing weight that has become more confusing and sometimes difficult to follow. It’s actually very easy to lose weight if you follow my weight loss tips.


* Be in right frame of mind
Before you can start any diet program you need to be in the right frame of mind. If you do not feel good about yourself you probably will not want to choose healthy foods. You cannot expect the act of going on a diet to make you feel better about yourself. The only way you can choose to eat a healthy diet to lose weight is if you have a positive self-image.

* Eat whole food
Top weight loss tips
Eat whole foods that are as natural as possible. When you eat whole foods that are full of nutrients your body will know how much to eat and how much not to eat. You do not have to count calories because your body is a wonderful machine.

* Eat fresh fruit
Eat at least two servings of fresh fruit every day. Choose whatever type of fruit is in season.

* Drink enough water
Drink the best weight loss supplement known to man, water. Most people do not know the difference from being hungry for food or thirsty for water. A great deal of times people eat when they should drink. Most likely you will not feel as hungry if you are getting enough water. You will be satisfying the thirst, which is confused for hunger. Water also helps you digest food better. Drinking water before you eat will help fill you up.

* Always chew your food
Always chew your food well. Chewing your food well will ensure that you get the most nutrients out of your food. Getting the most nutrients will satisfy your body therefore you will eat less. Another benefit of chewing well is that it helps aid in digestion.

* Take small meals
Eat small, frequent meals in a day. Large meals tax your digestion system, making it work harder. Taking too much time in between meals makes you hungrier for the next meal.

* Include protein at meal
Include good sources of protein at meal, chicken, fish, legumes, peanut, cottage cheese, eggs or yogurt.

* Shut off TV while eating
Shut off the TV whenever you eat – that includes meals and snacks. Studies show that we automatically eat larger portions when we snack in front of the tube, and typically those foods are high in fat and sugar, which means excess calories!

* Increase your physical activity
Increase your physical activity. Most people are over weight because of a lack of physical activity. Start walking more, bicycling, walks your dog for longer periods of time, swim, dance and leave the car at home when you can. It’s important that you choose a physical activity that you enjoy because you’ll stick with it.

Answer 7

Watch the mirror, or have you body-fat measured. Since muscle is more dense than fat, the scale is a BAD way to judge your progress.

Add a catalyst, like Lipodrene, if you have to. It will increase your metabolism and suppress your appetite with Hoodia Gordonii.

Answer 8

So, you have discovered that exercise and diet on their own are not effective and don't address the complexities of weight loss. Read my account of my weight loss and understand how your body works, in particular the role of insulin and how it will stop fat burning stone dead.

I have lost around 60 lbs in 6 months and I will tell you what not to eat. The first myth we have been told is that fat is bad. Sugar and carbohydrate are the big nasties. In fact, reduced fat food that has had some of the fat removed is actually more fattening than the regular food because the removed fat in most cases has been replaced with carbs! This is the main reason why you must absolutely stay away from ALL processed food with no exception. Eat fresh and natural. You must have 3 meals a day and get into a routine so your body knows when to expect food. Your body is capable of doing exquisite things to avoid weight loss if it thinks it’s going to get starved, so you must feed it and regularly.

The other thing you must do is keep your insulin as low as possible by getting sugar and carbs in your diet as close to zero as you can and not having ANYTHING between meals except water. Also having at least 5 hours between one meal and another. The last meal of the day must be no later than 9pm. Insulin is a hormone that will absolutely block fat and protein burning in your body and force it to burn sugar, that's how it works. You will NOT lose weight with your blood stream flooded with insulin, even with exercise. It’s impossible. You must have at least 8 glasses of water a day in order for your liver and kidneys to excrete the fat from your body this is crucial.

Now, what you must stay away from and I mean, non at all. Bread, pasta, rice, pastry, flour of any kind, sugar, potato, onion, parsnip, sweet potato, pumpkin, beetroot, carrots, peas, beans, beer, sweet wine, spirits, spreads like butter and margarine and be very careful of sauces and condiments. Fruit and milk should be taken very, very sparingly because they are fattening. Fruit is full of sugar too, only a very small amount. Avoid all processed food including diet soda it will stimulate insulin. 3 cups of black tea or coffee WITH meals a day is OK. Use Stevia for a sweetener.

OK, if you are still with me, what can you eat? In a nutshell you replace the carbs you have removed with protein and green leafy vegetables. Do not mix protein only 1 per meal. This is what you can eat. Lean meat, poultry, fish, cheese, yoghurt and eggs are your permitted proteins. Cauliflower, cabbage, sprouts, broccoli, capsicum, mushroom, celery, zucchini and a small amount of tomato. You can have unlimited amounts of lettuce and cucumber but ONLY at meal times. You can use balsamic vinegar as a dressing; mustard is ok too but only made from the powder. Shop bought is full of sugar! Curry powder in cooking can be used as well. One tablespoon of olive oil is ok per day, in cooking and as a dressing. Garlic is OK but not shop bought; you guessed it, full of sugar. Use fresh.

I will GUARANTEE if you stick to this you will loose heaps of weight, fast. I know it's not easy and you need the support of your family too.

Just another couple of things I forgot. NO breakfast cereal and avoid really heavy exercise you will just burn glycogen in your muscles, not fat and it will just make you sore and tired. You need prolonged gentle exercise to burn fat like walking. You don't need to exercise at all on this diet as long as you're moving about. Last but not least read food labels and look at the ingredients. Avoid foods like the plague with more than 5 grams of carbohydrate per 100 grams. If you like a drink, Semillon Sauvignon Blanc (very dry and low in carbs) with a little soda water is OK with meals.

Good Luck. Jules, lecturer. Australia.

Answer 9

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