crazy! question

[eschli35]

Okay I have a really weird question. Is there any way that exercise can keep me from losing weight. I have thought of asking this for weeks but I just keep telling myself that I am way crazy. But when I am perfect with my food i lose at a good rate. When I am perfect with my food and I exercise I do not lose or I even go up a little. This is especially bad when I ride my exercise bike. My brain says this cannot happen and is not logical but my scale proves it over and over. I know I am not gaining muscle weight that fast. I really wanted to speed up the weight loss with exercise and it is just not going that way. Any help is very appreciated.

[knicknack]

Re: crazy! question

Two things:

1. muscle weighs more than fat, so as you're losing fat and gaining muscle you might actually stay the same for a while til your muscles acclimate

2. when you exercise, your muscles retain water as they heal.

So, I don't know how long you're exercising for (1 week? 1 month? 1 year?) and having this happen, but it will even out and you'll start losing again if you keep at it.

[2big4mysize]

Re: crazy! question

actually the answer is a little confusing.
your scale only measures the effect of gravity on your total body mass. when you begin an exercise program you will have 2 things going on increased mass of your muslces beacuse of both fluid retention cause those muscles are genetically programmed to save you from whatever was after you that caused you to increase their work load that much. once they realize the new to them load is the normal load they will release the fluid and you will get a nice over night whooshie. then you are buiding new muscle cells in your muscles and repairing any damamged muscle tissues from your work out so you are adding permenant muscle mass to your total mass. all the time you are eating your Atkins correctly and working out so you are burning off fat mass.


the scale has no idea ifyou added fluid and muscle mass while shedding fat mass or just added more fat mass when it says you didn't lose today or gained today.

make friends with your tape measure cause while muscle weighs the same as fat it is denser so it will be a smaller addition to your body then a pound of fat and the difference in the volum of the fat last and the muslce and fluid added should be a negavtive number for you.

have fun working out.

[Chris]

Re: crazy! question

Remember, too, that muscle has to burn calories just to maintain, whereas fat does not. So, the higher your muscle to fat ratio, the higher your metabolism and the more calories you burn at any given time.

Keep exercising!

[ttdriver]

Re: crazy! question

I don't know where that "muscle weighs more than fat" concept ever came from. A pound of muscle weighs 16 ounces. A pound of fat weighs 16 ounces. Muscle and fat are both essential components of life. Muscle cannot become fat, and fat will never become muscle.

The difference is, the pound of muscle is more dense, therefore it takes up less room and you lose inches. Personally, for me, its about being smaller, better toned and firm; whatever the scale says is not reliable because EVERYONE'S WEIGHT FLUCTUATES.
Muscle Does Not Weigh More Than Fat, but it's Much Nicer to Look at


5 Lb. Fat vs. 5 Lb. MuscleAs you can see, the 5 lbs. of fat is much bulkier than the 5 lbs. of muscle, but five pounds is still five pounds. Muscle does not weigh more than fat.


Someone once said: "I don't care what I weigh, as long as I can fit into a size 8." The gyst of that statement is so true. Scales lie; clothes do not.

The ONLY way to lose weight, look great and feel fabulous is with healthy lowcarb eating and regular rigorous exercise. Period. That's why our beloved Dr. Atkins said "exercise is non-negotiable." If you're not exercising, you're not doing Atkins.


Betty

[eschli35]

Re: crazy! question

Thanks for the wonderful responses. I guess i was just looking for the results to quick. I am going to keep at the exercise. Thanks a bunch!