Dieting and Exercising but GAINING WEIGHT :(

[PrettyPrincess]

I am 23 years old am 5'8" and am extremely over weight(273 LBS.) For teh past 2 months a friend and I have been dieting and working out 5 days a week. we are doing 30 minutes on the elyptical machine and the we do differnt kinds of weights for about 30 minutes and we are both gaining weight. I have gained 11 lbs and I am extremely frustrated. I feel better and I have so much more energy but my clothes are getting tighter and I am gaining weight and I just don't understand what the problem is. I eat as healthy as possible I have to wathc what I eat anyway because I am still breastfeeding my 4 month old. I have had 2 c- sections so i can understand why I am not seeing a big difference in my belly yet but why cant I see any changes anywhere?? URGHH..  My friend is having teh same problem except she has only gaines 3 lbs but still I dont think we should be gaining weight at all. Anyone know whats going on with us.. HELP! PLEASE!
Thanks in advance!

[Determined101]

How many calories or you eating per day?  I am told by my doctor no more than 1,000-2,000 calories per day.  I am also told not to do any resistance training. I am counting my calories by eating  Lean Crusine meals and eating protein.
Again, the calorie intake is important.Did you speak to your doctor about this?  

[omaritza7]

Also, when you lift weights you create muscle that weights more than fat.  So you shouldn't do any weight trainning until you have lost all the fat first, then you tone.  What you are doing is building muscle on top of the fat that you already have.  So do cardio for 30 - 1 hr (however much you can stand) and when you reach your desired weight then do muscle toning.  

[PrettyPrincess]

  Thank you so much for your advice. I started weight
watchers for breastfeeding moms and I also started to measure my body parts today. It is just so frusterating to be working so hard and to comit to something for so long and see no results, I am actually addicted to the exercise so I never think about giving up but I just get so depressed thinking about not seeing results. My friends husband is telling us to
switch to cardio and weights mon-wed-fri and then just do cardio and aerobics on tues and thursdays. because weights everyday isnt good... is this true? What would you suggest for our work out plan. right now we are doing cardio for 30 minutes and weights for 30 minutes both of them 5 days a week and we are both doing the weight watchers point system which really sucks cause its confusing.. I might switch to just a general
calorie counting.

   live4fitness It's really awesome how much you have accomplished. I hope someday I can share the same kind of weightloss testimony. I have 3 children and I really want to be healthy and to be a good example to them on how you should take care of your body. I tried to email you but it bounced back twice.
  Thank you for your support,
  Sara

[PrettyPrincess]

Determined101
I havent spoken with my doctor yet but I intend to as soon as  I can get an appointment. I have spoken with a nutritionist and she told me to keep doing what I am doing and not to give up.. That was a month ago and I still havent seen any results :(

[LeniuXenobia]

While I don't completely agree with  omaritza7 they do have a point if your most frustrated about the muscle gain. Don't do any lifting until after your at your desired weight. However know this, that the more muscle you put on the more calories you burn per day naturally.

About your cardio, in the first 15-20 minutes (depending on your body) you are burning carbohydrates not fat. So if you are only working out for 30minutes you are only getting 10 minutes of burning fat. It is better to work out closer to an hour if you really want to burn off fat. Don't push so hard on the machine either, try to keep a steady heart rate, and take your time.

Also you'll need to switch up your routine constantly to keep yoru body challenged. If you are not challenging your body then you will stop losing weight. Use a different incline or add minutes. Since you are doing cariod for a 30 minutes, tomorrow move it up to 35 minutes and go up 5 minutes per day till you reach an hour. After that increase your incline little by little.

Watch what you drink. Everything, but water has calories in it!

Have your thyriod checked. They didn't catch mine until I was 18 years old and I'd put on alot of weight by then :(

Hope this helps.

Tiffany

[lilrice]

Contrary to the belief of everyone else, I recommend to continue doing the weight training as well as cardio, switching up the days. Building muscle does increase weight however the more muscle that you have the more FAT and CALORIES that will be burned.