General Discussion Triathlon Talk » making progress, losing body size, getting faster, going longer, gaining weight? Rss Feed  
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2009-02-28 8:11 AM

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Subject: making progress, losing body size, getting faster, going longer, gaining weight?

I have been training for my first tri for a few months now and I am making solid progress in all 3 diciplines. I am going faster, maintaining a quicker pace, I am really enjoying the training. I have dropped 2 pants sizes and have had to start buying large and xtra-large tops instead of 2-3xl. I can see the difference in my body size, muscle tone, my wife is all over me, and my fat zones are shrinking.

 I cannot for the life of me understand how it is that I have gained 4 pounds over the last 2 months. I am hydrating like a sponge and strictly controlling my diet...WTF?  I started cycling last summer and lost 40+ pounds, I started training for tri and have gained? My overall goals were weight loss and a healthy lifestyle and while I truly enjoying the tri training and it is really frustrating to see weight gain as a result of a great deal of hard work.



2009-02-28 8:16 AM
in reply to: #1987349

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Subject: RE: making progress, losing body size, getting faster, going longer, gaining weight?

You are gaining muscle and losing fat.  Fat weighs less than muscle so your weight is actually going up.  As you continue to train, I would imagine that you will eventually start to lose weight if your caloric spend exceeds what you eat.  If not, you might want to consult a nutritionist to help you craft a good weight-loss plan.

My suggestion for now is to ignore the scale and focus on the body changes.  FWIW, I had a similar experience when I started training.  Lost 0 lbs, but 2 pants sizes. 

2009-02-28 8:48 AM
in reply to: #1987360

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Subject: RE: making progress, losing body size, getting faster, going longer, gaining weight?
You might want to get a scale that measures body fat--that way you can watch the fat% continue to drop and not worry about your overall weight. That extra muscle will help your speed.
2009-02-28 8:53 AM
in reply to: #1987349

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Subject: RE: making progress, losing body size, getting faster, going longer, gaining weight?
Why worry about the scale at all?  You look better and feel better.  Weight's just one number among more important things.
2009-02-28 10:04 AM
in reply to: #1987349

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Subject: RE: making progress, losing body size, getting faster, going longer, gaining weight?
Agreed.  We call it "losing weight" but what we're really trying to do is "get in shape".  Last summer I got a lot of comments on my weightloss which was only about 5#, but all my clothes fit completely different and I looked and felt better.  I still have a fat loss goal, but the scale may not reflect that at all, depending on how much muscle I build in training.
2009-02-28 10:05 AM
in reply to: #1987419

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Subject: RE: making progress, losing body size, getting faster, going longer, gaining weight?

DerekL - 2009-02-28 9:53 AM Why worry about the scale at all?  You look better and feel better.  Weight's just one number among more important things.

x2. Congrats on all your accomplishments thus far. Good luck!



2009-02-28 2:04 PM
in reply to: #1987349

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Subject: RE: making progress, losing body size, getting faster, going longer, gaining weight?

Isn't tri training amazing? I also haven't lost much weight (5LBs) but my body has completely changed. I cannot wait to see what I look like by August!! I only wish I had taken a before picture so I could compare them a few months from now.

 Keep up the good work, eventually the lbs will drop off if you keep working hard.

2009-03-01 8:45 PM
in reply to: #1987349

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Subject: RE: making progress, losing body size, getting faster, going longer, gaining weight?
man it's hard to get that "number of pounds dropped" scale of success out of my head. maybe I will just put the scale in my closet for awhile. you guys rock!
2009-03-01 8:52 PM
in reply to: #1987349

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Subject: RE: making progress, losing body size, getting faster, going longer, gaining weight?
Sounds familiar!  I still need to learn one exercise to lose weight.  The push away!
2009-03-01 10:54 PM
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2009-03-01 10:57 PM
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Subject: RE: making progress, losing body size, getting faster, going longer, gaining weight?
Mrs. brown_dog_us - 2009-02-28 8:16 AM

You are gaining muscle and losing fat.  Fat weighs less than muscle so your weight is actually going up. 


Possibly, but unless the OP is also lifting weights (are you lifting?), muscle gain from endurance exercise is not likely. Most "big guys" (former football players and such) who switch over to endurance sports actually lose mucle mass.

The better explanation is that your body has become efficient at storing glycogen and is storing more of it. Glycogen is stored along with water so the weight gain is more likely the result of increased glycogen + water storage. Nothing to worry about at all, and it's actually a good thing. As people have said, scale weight eventually becomes a bit meaningless for an athlete and it can fluctuate on a near-daily basis. If I cut out carbs I'll lose 5 lbs. in one day.


2009-03-01 10:58 PM
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Subject: RE: making progress, losing body size, getting faster, going longer, gaining weight?

jdfrog - 2009-03-01 9:45 PM man it's hard to get that "number of pounds dropped" scale of success out of my head. maybe I will just put the scale in my closet for awhile. you guys rock!

It is really hard!  One thing you can do to help with this is to take your measurements once a month.  That'll give you an idea of how your body shape is changing.  You already have an idea of that with the change in sizes, but I like having the numbers to back it up.   

2009-03-02 8:22 AM
in reply to: #1987349

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Subject: RE: making progress, losing body size, getting faster, going longer, gaining weight?

From what you have said about your wife I don't see what you are worried about.  Keep it up as many people have already said muscle weights more than fat and if you are dropping the sizes and feel better and can see muscle tone then you are doing something right!

 

2009-03-02 11:13 AM
in reply to: #1987349

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Subject: RE: making progress, losing body size, getting faster, going longer, gaining weight?
Muscle...  I actually gained muscle AND size when I started doing tri's because my skinny little girl body couldn't handle the beating it was getting.  I'm much happier with my body now than I was before.
2009-03-02 11:59 AM
in reply to: #1987349

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Subject: RE: making progress, losing body size, getting faster, going longer, gaining weight?
Yeah, it can be a mindfrak...Dropped 75 lbs, then started really training, not just exercising and my weight moves around a bit as I up my volume and change my mix of disciplines. Right now, my weight's up about 5 lbs over where it was during HIM training last summer...but some of that is still holiday junk food weight that hasn't come off and some of it is definitely muscle (I've almost doubled my weekly swimming and slightly upped my weight training since last year). Wish I knew exactly how much of each...I can see the added muscle in my upper body...but the mirror isn't lying about the little extra fat in the belly that wasn't there last July...
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General Discussion Triathlon Talk » making progress, losing body size, getting faster, going longer, gaining weight? Rss Feed