gaining weight through exercise

[beastmonkey]

i would say i am about 1 to 1.5 stone overweight, to combat this recently i have started going 3 times a week to a circuit training session at a local boxing club. i would describe the activity of an hours cardiovascular session of 30 sec exercises with a 15 sec break before moving on to the next exercise.

i have been going a couple of weeks and whilst i now find it easier to last a session, i seem to be gaining weight, my belt has gone up a size, my chest fat now protrudes even further and my stomach is like a huge beach ball sticking out of my shirt.

i had images of me getting toned up with a flat chest and stomach, but i seem to be doing the opposite. my diet is good i don't eat much junk nor sweets and nor am i doing to old mistake of thinking the exercise enables me to 'off set' other foods.

whilst i wasn't expecting to lose a lot of weight instantly, i thought there might be some difference, but my weight seems to have stayed static.

can anyone explain this as i am finding it very very frustrating and also upsetting that despite trying to do something, my weight is not moving and i am looking fatter.

[karenmac60]

Is it fat or is it muscle? Also, are you tempted to 'treat' yourself after a session? Or eating a little bit more and justifying it by saying to yourself that you are getting more exercise so you deserve a treat or need more calories to keep your energy up?

[pa___ul3]

in Boots they have a weighing machine that can take your body fat % too, 70p a go.
I'm sure you know muscle weights more than fat, what it could be is the muscle building under your layers of fat that aren't burning away just yet but do this in Boots to find out.
Either way, it's going to get you fitter and you'll feel better. I started doing something similar last night, the 30 seconds on 30 seconds off circuit for 40 mins and it's bloody hard work and I'm pretty fit! So good going!

[Old_Geezer]

You have to do a heck of a lot of exercise to burn off the calories in even a small snack bar. Don't get me wrong, exercise is good, but don't rely on it for weight loss. Unless you are active all day then IMO you are unlikely to notice much weight loss in what you pack in to the 3 times a week exercise session.

However you may build muscle which raises metabolic rate, and should eventually get toned to have a better silhouette. Not to mention getting fitter/healthier.

Yes exercise can allow you to eat more for a set weight loss, but not a lot more.

IMO you would do best to keep the exercise up, but also keep track of what you are eating to ensure you are burning up more calories than you are taking in each day.

[Old_Geezer]

Oh, and if you build muscle up faster than you lose fat, then it will push it all out more in the early stages.