Exercise makes you smaller, not lighter

[Alexandra 55]

So three months ago I was getting ready for my summer vacation, buying clothes for the trip. I bought a pair of capri pants which, even though they looked a little small, I figured would fit by the time we left. I get them home and lo and behold I can hardly pull them up! So instead of taking them with me on vacation, I stuck them up top on a shelf.

Three months later I'm still hovering around that exact same number on the scale, but my clothes are getting a little baggy so I go rooting through my closets. What do I find? Those capri pants I couldn't even pull up.

THEY FIT!!! Holy crap, even without a single additional ounce lost I have slimmed down to a point where these pants I couldn't PULL UP are perfectly comfortable! Naturally, they're capris so I can't wear them now, and they'll probably be too big by next summer, but WHO CARES???

I love my band. And I love my personal trainer who makes sure I do the weight work every week. That's what's doing it, I'm convinced.

[New Hope 37]

Alex, Congratulations on a job well done! How often do you work out and for how long? Are you working the entire body? So proud of you!

[claraluz 2]

Alex, how wonderful for you! I'm sure you're right that it is the weights. I've gotten into weights off and on and everytime I do, I notice that my muscle tone and my shape improve very quickly. Keep up the great work and do share your routine with us, please!

Nancy

[Rebeccalee 2]

Wow! That's so cool. What a nice boost while the scale is stuck. I think how clothes fit is the real test of weight loss anyway. It leaves out all the Water fluctuations.

[lauri 0]

That is sooo great! I am so proud for you! Hey, I have a question? When you go back to the doctor for check ups or fills and such -do they weigh you on that BMI thing each time? I know my Curves uses one each month at the weigh-in but I wondered if the dr is going to. That should help give an idea about if you are losing fat/gaining muscle and such-right?

[La_madam 20]

Ok Alex thanks for that post..I read it then went to my stationary bike and rode for 3 miles and now I'm here responding. You got my butt movin'.

Your post inspired me

[paula 4]

Congratulations... Something like this always puts me in a good mood (when it happens to me)!

Ive BEEN wanting to ask about the personal trainer... hows it going??

[Iluvharleys 15]

Congrats! Isn't it wonderful how something like that boosts our ego? I love your attitude about not caring if they will be too big next year!

[sassaay 1]

Great Job Alex!!!

It sounds like you are moving into the 'addictive' stage of exercise... you know when you start to miss it if you don't go. It is a known fact that muscle weighs more than fat, but takes up less space... you are proof positive of this fact. You may not have seen the scale going down much, but you have replaced a lot of fat with valuable calorie burning muscles.

Did your training test your body fat when you first started working out? If not, you might ask if they can do it now and start using that and the measuring tape to track your REAL progress!

Congratulations! :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana

[Zoe 6]

That's great news! You've inspired me to hit the weight room again. I feel a little weird going to the gym with all those buff guys (and women) in their 20s, but what the hell!

[blossom 2]

Way to go, Alex!! :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana

[Alexandra 55]

Thanks for all the cheers!

Lauri, my doctor just uses a regular scale and calculates the BMI that way. There's nothing fancy about it. If you're talking about a machine that measures body fat, the answer is no, my doctor doesn't have one of those either. My PT has one and used it at our first session, but I honestly don't remember what the number was. Probably something horrifying like 98% body fat. I haven't gone back for a progress report as yet, since I still feel like I'm just "dabbling" in working out and didn't really expect to see any special results.

My "routine" is, basically, do what the PT tells me for one hour each week, and then do at least two additional cardio workouts during the week. The cardio workouts are usually 30 minutes or so on either a treadmill, bike, or reclining bike. I still can't really handle the elliptical--I think because I'm just not doing it right. There are only a few elliptical machines at my gym and they're almost always taken, so I haven't had much time to practice.

The weight routine varies a lot week to week, but just the fact that I'm using free weights rather than weight machines means that so much more of the body is involved in just keeping me upright and/or stable. My PT's job is to keep it interesting--and to make working out an "appointment" I hesitate to break--and he keeps a record of what we do. I know I should be doing some weight work on the other days when I go to the gym, but I'm always so pressed for time that it's hard. I'm working on that. Steve (the PT) is helping me figure out combinations of exercises that I can do to work various muscle groups in less time.

Zoe, there are loads of buff guys and gals at my gym too. But there are just as many who are like me (and even heavier) and there really isn't any problem. I had less trouble than I thought getting over being intimidated. I say go for it and just ignore everyone else!!

Bottom line: It's still not really what I'd call "fun" but it's definitely enough of a routine now that it doesn't feel lok a burden. The PT has helped me by teaching me why and how to do various things, and also just by being there every week. I'm thinking of shelling out another $400 for another 12 weeks of sessions, which I never thought I'd do. Maybe Santa will help me out.