Gaining muscle before losing fat?

I began working out on May 7, going to the gym and working out for about an hour or so. Cardio 45 min weight lifting 15 min. I can see that I am gaining muscle but I don't seem to be losing the weight on the scale? I love working out!! I have not changed my diet much, I thought that starting with working out would help to lose at least a pound a week? Has this happened to anyone else? I work out 6 days a week with little to no weight loss? I need some advice? Plus I am about 75lbs overweight, so this new workout routine should have kickstarted something right?

Thank you, Christine

Fri. May 25, 12:26pm

Hey Christine,
It should have started something. Bodies are weird though and sometimes they take time to adjust. But cal consumption is a big deal, at least it has been for me for the 20 years I've been up and down on the scale. If you're certain you're eating low cal and balanced, maybe you just need more time. The body is designed to resist change. You just might see a HUGE drop on the scale in the next week or so!

Friday, May 25, 2007, 12:48 PM

This happened to my daughter when she first started working out. She didn't lose weight initially, but her clothes became much looser as she apparently added muscle weight at the same rate she lost fat. After a few weeks she started losing total pounds also.

If your clothes are getting looser, you're on the right track.

Friday, May 25, 2007, 2:18 PM

Also, check that your cardio workout is in the aerobic range - ie @70 to 80% of your peak heart rate. And if you are doing weights everyday, make sure that you wait at least 48 hours before doing the same body are. For instance 15 minutes upper body on MWF and lower body/core on TThS.

Friday, May 25, 2007, 2:37 PM

I've read a couple of things that might help.

I read in fitness magazine that if you have not been active for a long time it takes from 3-6 months for your body to really figure out how to burn calories again.

Also you may be "over training". Take a look at the Body for Life website it has a lot of great info about weight training. Your muscles need time to "heal" after a strength training workout.

Try using a tape measure instead of a scale. I was really down on myself because the scale didn't move. Then I checked and I have lost an inch on each thigh and about a half inch on each arm. I'm also loosing in by rib cage area- go figure. And I lost all of that without losing a single pound. If I had just stuck with the scale I would have been so discouraged that I gave up. So try to find as many ways to measure improvment as you can. Keep going and it will all kick in.

Link

Friday, May 25, 2007, 5:05 PM

Hi Christine

I would advise swapping your regime around:
Do weight training for 30mins followed by your Cardio (High Intensity Interval Training) - you will need to adjust your calories (low carb, but good carbs and moderate protein). You will see the benefits of your workouts. Keep up the good work....be patient, it will come :)

Thursday, January 13, 2011, 4:46 PM

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