Why???

[fruitsalad]

I started a fitness regime 2 years ago and lost over 2 stone, I have kept the fitness up by doing spinning 3 times a week zumba once a week and resistance training 3 times a week I walk whenever I can and eat sensibly but do not deny myself treats now and again, the weight seems to be creeping back on again and I have but 6lb on in the last couple of months, but why when I do so much exercise?

[albaqwerty]

I'm no expert on these things, but it might be possible that you are building up muscle as opposed to fat.

[ladybirder]

Treats now and again? Once a month, once a week, once a day?

[rowanwitch]

start going by inches muscle is more dense than fat but also check that your treats are not becoming a bit more frequent than you think or portion sizes are increasing

[fruitsalad]

once a day ladybirder, yes measurements are the way to go def loss some inches rowan

[fruitsalad]

when I say treats i dont mean a takeaway every night, its more like a few nuts or a couple of squares of the bitter darkest chocolate I can find, although I do have a take away once a week

[ladybirder]

Could you bear to forego your treats for a week and see if that makes any difference, every day does seem a lot? Imagine all those treats in a pile on the table, you're probably having more than you think. Good luck.

[fruitsalad]

dont see why not ladybirder will give it a go, just think i deserve a treat with all the exercise im doing, i would expect to at least maintain my weight loss

[ladybirder]

Agree about the treat ....... but once a week. You might prove me wrong -usually am:-(

[johnk]

You would be better getting a body composition scale (% fat) and looking at the % of fat you are carrying, weight itself can be misleading. No matter how much exercise you do if you eat more than you use your weight will increase

[Old_Geezer]

One needs a lot of exercise to burn a ltittle fat. Input has more influence than output when it comes to weght control. But balancing both is good.

Try monitoring the calories you actually eat as opposed to guessing what you think you eat. It may provide a clue.

[Old_Geezer]

"just think i deserve a treat with all the exercise im doing, "
Ah not such a good attiitude. Sure treat yourself once in a while for the joy of it, but not because you did exercise and deserve it.

I just wonder what you presently weigh. Is that 6 lbs gained just your body "saying" you went too low ?

[porcupuff]

if you continue to do the same exercise routines, your body might get used to them and your heart rate will be lower compared to what it was when you started the type of exercises. if your heart rate doesn't seem to be up around 160 - 170 during the exercise, you'll need to find another routine or put more effort into your exercises to get your heart rate up.

[ladybirder]

or eat less.

[t_nguyen]

I believe what happens is that your body becomes accustomed to your new eating habits and your exercises. That's why it is encouraged to change your routine. It does sound like you are exercising quite a bit and eating properly, so I'm not exactly sure why you are gaining weight. Could it be muscle mass?

Either way, if you have not already, I would begin tracking and monitoring your activity levels and calorie intake. Something like the BodyMedia Fit armband is perfect to monitor your personal fitness. It has multi-sensors and tracks calories burned, calories you consume and the intensity of your activities (exercising or leisure activities). This will help you keep on track with your personal fitness plan and help you see where you can make improvements. Hope this helps.

Here's a link to their site: http://www.bodymedia.com/