Why is it then when I started working again I stopped losing weight? Could I be over exerting my body?

Question

I know that when you're body isn't getting enough nutrition it holds onto fat because it's not getting what it needs.

I was going to school and working out everyday for a week and had lost 3 pounds. When I got a job, working usually from 3-10pm 4 nights a week, I immediately stopped losing weight. When I work for 5 days straight, the scale doesn't budge a bit. Then, when I'm off from work for 3 days, I'll lose a pound. Why is this? Is it because when I'm working (I stand up / walk around the entire time) I'm over-exerting my body? Should I be eating more?

This has happened to me once before, as well, which is why I'm coming to such a conclusion that going to school, working out, and then going to work until 10pm is over-exerting my body. It's frustrating because I'm beginning to think that if I want to lose weight I need to cut back on how much I'm working.

I'm also not drinking a lot of fluids, especially during work, so good point smokersmax. I'll start drinking more water

Answer 1

Could be fluid your body is retaining while you are working and when resting your body releases these fluids. I do the same thing. Our female hormones make us retain fluids more easily.

Answer 2

First of all, you're body will loose or gain a few pound based on many factors. How much you've eaten is one. A salad doesn't weight as much as a steak and would make it seem as though you've lost weight until you eat something with substance. Secondly, muscle weights more than fat. When working out, you will loose weight for a while, since you're burning off fat, but once you actually start building real muscle you will gain weight. I've known many girls who got mad because they gained weight from working out, even though they were healthier than they were before. Third, stay off the scales. You shouldn't worry about a pound or two. You should look at your overall body. Do you look healthy, do you have energy, are you eating right? Your weight shouldn't be scrutinized to the pound every single day. It will make you crazy. Make sure you eat a good balanced diet and keep working out. You will benefit from it in the long run.

Answer 3

Your weight will naturally flucuate a few pounds from a morning weigh in to an evening weigh in. Working out is obviously good for you but everything needs to be in moderation. If you push yourself too hard when you're tired, you're only breaking down yourself rather than building yourself up and becoming stronger which is what you should work out for. Another thing is that weight really doesn't equate to much more than being a number- meaning, if you are in physically good shape and you're fit- sometimes you can actually GAIN weight by working out because you're building muscle mass. Its all relative.

As far as cutting back on how much your'e working- is it perhaps that you feel you're working too much and you're looking for a reason to cut back to not feel so bad about a decision? If you're exhausted, have no time for yourself and the extra work is becoming a price to pay for your wellbeing, perhaps you do need to cut back on work; but not just for the reason of losing weight.

If you are pushing your body too much, you won't be able to work out as well and that can be another reason you might not be losing weight.

Another reason- you can hit a plateau- meaning your body is either at a goal weight and happy being there or you need to change your routine to surprise your body back into losing a little more weight.

Eat healthy and listen to your body; over doing it only will cause injury, exhaustion and will put you in a pissy mood :-) Just be good to your body and it will be good to you! Good luck!

Answer 4

Well, my guess is that you are gaining muscle and that's why you think you're gaining weight when you start working out again. When you stop exercising, the fat tends to come back. Fat weighs less than muscle...
I never pay much attention to the scale. I check my muscle tone for changes and I also pay attention to how my clothes fit. A few years ago, I weighed 140 lbs (I'm 5'2"). By the BMI standards, that's not the right range, but I was solid and wore a size 4.
I wouldn't worry about the numbers.
Good luck!

Answer 5

Best exercise when you're starting over is walking and calesthenics. Minumum of 30 minutes per day. Do not consume: junk food like burgers, chips, pizza, beer, tv dinners, bread, red meat, margerine, french fries, and so forth. You should eat: lots and lots of fruit, veggies, easy on the potatoes, whole grain rice, dried fruit, olive oil, fish, etc. Cut way back on carbs, sugar and fat. Learn to read the ingredients labels. And no soda pop, not even the diet crap. You'll get lots of water in fresh fruit, so just drink water when you need to. In small amounts. Green tea is good, with a little sugar. That's okay. Don't over-irrigate yourself, Despite what people say, that is unhealthy and can hurt you. Exercise should make your muscles ache, but if you're "super sore", you're way overdoing things. Does the school have a gym? Even 30 minutes on an exercise bike is great. You probably have 20 to 30 pounds to lose. Figure 5 pounds per month. Very doable.

Answer 6

My guess is that your eating or activity is different on the days you work than on the days you don't. Its all a matter of calorie balance. If you take in more calories than you burn off, you'll gain. If you take in less calories than you need, you'll lose weight.

Your may want to look at your weight changes on a weekly basis, rather than a daily one. Remember that its normal for your weight to fluctuate several pounds during the course of a day, and also depending on the time of the month. The scale may go up a tad right before your period, due to fluid accumulation. This is soon lost, though.

I am a registered dietitian and certified nutritionist, and I help people everyday with their weight issues, eating habits, etc.
You may want to consider keeping a food record for several days (work and non-work days) and then have it analyzed. That should point out how many calories you take in each day, in addition to your vitamin and mineral intake. Let me know if I can help!

Answer 7

U need to stay off the scales completely and not weigh yourself.
When u feel u are at your goal look, then weigh yourself.