Weight loss heart ache

**nattynoona** · 08-25-2011 02:34 AM

Hi, I'm Natalie

Juts having a few teething issues with my weight and wondered if anyone could shed any light:

I've been dieting (slimming world) and exercising religiously now for 3 weeks.
I spend 1-2 hours in the gym 5 or 6 days a week and can burn anything from 400-700 calories.

And yet in that 3 weeks, i have GAINED 3lbs.

I feel very disheartened and "what's the point?" thinking.
Before this diet I ate chinese once a week, rarely did exercise and ate out a couple of times a week where I would usually have fries and/or some other fatty food, and I never gained weight, I maintained.

So why now, after I'm working so hard to LOSE weight am I gaining it?? =(

**Karen63** · 08-31-2011 01:11 PM

Hi Natalie: I saw your post was made 6 days ago and nobody answered, so I thought I would. The fact is that sometimes your weight just goes a bit crazy for a while, irrespective of what you're doing. Remember it can vary by as much as a couple of pounds in a day or several pounds over several days. It can depend on the time of day you weigh yourself, what you're wearing, the state of your digestive system, the time of the month, how hydrated or dehydrated you are, whether you have gremlins in your scales ... the list goes on. Some days I manage little or no exercise and diet less strictly and yet next morning I've still lost a pound; some days I do an hour on the Wii Fit and another in the swimming pool, eat three very careful, moderate meals and no snacks and bingo! a pound heavier next morning. You're right, that does make you think "What's the point?" But if you persevere and keep taking in less than you use up, eventually your body will stop playing silly beggars and start burning excess fat for fuel. Remember also that your weight can redistribute itself in odd ways as you diet, so you may still be changing shape a bit at the moment even if you can't see it yet on the scales. It's six days since you posted, so maybe you've had some visible success by now. I hope so

**LanaBear** · 08-31-2011 01:20 PM

I think a better measure of weight loss is by body measurements rather than the scale. However, also keep in mind that muscle weighs more the fat.

It is frustrating... Like the above poster, for some reason, I can guarantee I will lose on my off days of working out, the days I work out, I will either stay the same or gain a little.

You are doing great, so keep it up and eventually your body will get the message.

**DrPiyushP** · 08-31-2011 08:21 PM

Originally Posted by nattynoona

Hi, I'm Natalie

Juts having a few teething issues with my weight and wondered if anyone could shed any light:

I've been dieting (slimming world) and exercising religiously now for 3 weeks.
I spend 1-2 hours in the gym 5 or 6 days a week and can burn anything from 400-700 calories.

And yet in that 3 weeks, i have GAINED 3lbs.

I feel very disheartened and "what's the point?" thinking.
Before this diet I ate chinese once a week, rarely did exercise and ate out a couple of times a week where I would usually have fries and/or some other fatty food, and I never gained weight, I maintained.

So why now, after I'm working so hard to LOSE weight am I gaining it?? =(

Hi Natalie,

What you're experiencing is quite normal. Since you are working out quite often, you probably have gained lean muscle (a good thing) which weighs more than fat does. This is what you want to happen because muscle burns fat. The more lean muscle you have, the more fat you will burn (higher metabolism).

Continue with what you're doing and I'm sure in the next few weeks you will start seeing the weight drop off. Also pay attention to the inches you're losing and how your clothes fit. I think that oftentimes we get stuck on what the number is on the scale, but in actuality what's more important is how you look and feel.