why have a i gained 5 lbs when i've been trying to keep the weight off?!?

Question

i'm 5'2" and used to weigh about 105 lbs. that looked ideal on my small body frame. i've been working out for almost a month because i noticed i had started to gain weight and wanted to keep it off. but i ended up getting to 110 lbs! i use the treadmill for 30 mins (incline of 4 and speed of 5.2) and an elliptical cross-trainer for 10 mins (at the lowest resistance level). i also do lateral pull-downs (4 lbs) and push-ups (no weights). why have my thighs gotten bigger?! i don't restrict my eating, but i tend to make at least one meal a salad.

so i'm wondering why i can't lose the few pounds i want; i know it seems like i'm at my ideal weight, but the flabby tummy, big thighs and double chin is NOT suiting me! :)

i'd appreciate advice on how i can use the machines to my advantage to get back to 105 lbs.

thanks in advance!

Answer 1

It is normal to get some weight when you start exercise, because you lose fat and gain muscle, which is heavier. But you are not supposed to get bigger. If your clothes fit you worse and if you measure yourself and your thighs are bigger, it means you are eating more because you get hungry from the exercise. But don't judge by just looking at yourself, measuring and clothes will tell you the difference. Keep exercising, your metabolism will become faster and in 2 months you will be able to see good results. At the treadmill, use less incline and higher speed, make the exercise aerobic instead of toning, such as incline 0 and speed 7 (run).

Answer 2

You're doing alot of leg training (treadmill and eliptical), that could be putting muscle on your legs. That could explain both the weight gain and increase in the size of your thighs.

My advice would be to do four things:

1. Hit the weights - sure, muscle weighs more than fat, but it also looks better too.
2. Up the intensity on the eliptical - research has shown that increasing the intensity of your workout help you to burn fat for upto 24hours after exercising.
3. Pay better attention to your diet - make sure you are eating enough of the right foods.
4. Stop looking at the scale - instead concentrate on how you look.

Answer 3

Most of the weight is probably muscle that you have gained from working out, because muscle weighs more than fat. Also if ur eating less than 1200 cal a day you body will go into starvation mode and store all the food you eat, which might also cause a increase in weight. I suggest eating properly, and excerize, go to www.sparkpeople.com it's a great website to show you how to lose weight and to track all the calories you have eaten and ones that you burn off excerising!