Question:
Why am I gaining weight even though I exercise for an hour at least 5 days a week?

I recently joined a health club and I go to a water aerobics class 5 days a week. We exercise hard and I definitely work up a sweat and my heart pumps harder than it has in 30 years. I haven't changed my eating habits so I assumed that if I was losing weight before, I would really lose weight now. But I am gaining!! What a major disappointment. I just want to know if I am doing something wrong or what? I am 21/2 months post op and I had Open RNY. Thanks Gail Brown St. Petersburg, FL    — dramamomma (posted on April 25, 2002)

April 24, 2002
Before you get that myth of 'muscle weighs more than fat', have you checked your measurements? If you are exercising you can be burning fat and gaining muscle. As I said muscle does not weigh more than fat. A pound of muscle and a pound of fat both weigh a pound. However a pound of muscle takes up less room than a pound of fat. Think of an ounce of popcorn kernels, then an ounce of popped corn. Each weighs an ounce, but you could hold the kernels in your hand. An ounce of popped corn would be too much for you to hold in your hand. Anyway, sorry for that little diatribe. Do take your measurements. I'll bet you have lost some inches, even if you have not lost any weight. Keep it up. The pounds will come off.
   — garw

April 25, 2002
As the previous poster stated: your puttin on muscle. But your are doing your body good! The pounds will probally be dropping pretty soon. Your doing great!
   — Danmark

April 25, 2002
And once you build up that muscle, your metabolism will be much higher. Muscle burns those calories!!
   — Cheri M.

April 25, 2002
Gail- I too do water aerobics. Our instructor told us at the beginning of our session to just take measurements because the workouts can/will cause weight gain due to the intensity. Keep track of your measurements, you are doing just fine.
   — Ginger J.

April 26, 2002
I think it will probably just take a while for your metabolism to kick in with the exercise. I agree with the other poster that you are probably still losing inches. ANother thing you could check is if your body fat PERCENTAGE or composition has gone down. Most health clubs have the "clamp" that measures that. THat's another good way to see accomplishment. I'm sure you are just gaining muscle mass, not fat. Keep up the hard work!
   — emilyfink