oh Sh*t! I am getting FAT

[JeffsWood]

I have noticed over the last few months that I have been getting fat. My weight has not changed, I am running more now then ever and my strenght in the gym has only going up, but my thighs ass and gut are bigger. I don't measure them, but I can tell by how my clothes fit, that my spare tire has grown and my thigh and ass are bigger then they should be.

Should I go on a diet (when I need to cut weight, I drop carbs, sugar and booze out my diet and just stick with moslty lean meats and green veggies) or shoudl a switch up my excercise routine?

 

[dimshum]

That depends, what are you goals? Since you're obviously gaining strength, the weight you've gained definitely isn't all fat. However, if you want to lean out, you're going to have to cut down on what you eat, which means caloric restriction.

At this point, I say continue doing what you're doing, just start eating smaller portions; if you're more anal about these things, and by the sound of it you're not, you can calculate your caloric intake through fitday.com. Meanwhile, keep shooting for strength gains and stick to what you're doing at the gym if it works.

 

[Kris]

Originally Posted by JeffsWood

... I am running more now then ever and my strenght in the gym has only going up, but my thighs ass and gut are bigger. I don't measure them, but I can tell by how my clothes fit, that my spare tire has grown and my thigh and ass are bigger then they should be.


A lot depends on what you mean by "running more now than ever." If that means once a week instead of once a month, it's still not gonna have much impact on your weight gain/loss.

As for strength in the gym, when you weight more, you can often lift, push and pull more weight, with the "benefit" of added inertia.

My guess is your diet doesn't match with an athletic lifestyle. You shouldn't go on a diet; you should sugars and booze, in general (occasional enjoyment is fine). For carbs, you should maintain a healthy level to support your physical activity- which come back to the question of how often you are running.

 

[JesseJB]

Im in the same boat as the OP and have been having great luck with cutting carbs waaay down, and cutting back on beer, refined flour and refined sugars. Plus eating more meat especially for breakfast and including a mid-afternoon snack of tuna.

 

[why]

Originally Posted by Kris

As for strength in the gym, when you weight more, you can often lift, push and pull more weight, with the "benefit" of added inertia.

Maybe if he's falling while lifting weights.

 

[Thomas]

Originally Posted by why

Maybe if he's falling while lifting weights.

Is this one of those Poliquin principles?

 

[lee_44106]

I wanna lose some weight too but don't want to cut the beer.

 

[Kris]

Originally Posted by lee_44106

I wanna lose some weight too but don't want to cut the beer.

San Miguel Light: 107 calories, 3.2 grams carbs, 5% alcohol

Thank me later.

 

[Lear]

JeffsWood, I hear your pain. You've come to the right place though. There are plenty of people here, who do know their stuff, have the experience etc. Earlier today, I was sitting outside Costa Coffee, Victoria Station. Instead of the usual 'shoe' watching, I decided to count the number of flabby, fat or obese individuals passing by. Most fell into one of those categories. I dread to think how the UK population will look in another 20 years. Flabiness is now a common condition in the UK. What is uncommon, is to be fit. Quite frankly, what people stuff into their cake-holes is none of my business; freedom of choice and all of that.... I'm just fascinated by the whole subject. I'm a novice myself, but know that the method of weight loss and attaining fitness is not a mystery. The problem. for most, is the inability to stick with it. So, good luck with your transformation. I've found www.fitday.com to be very useful. Lear

 

[Taxler]

Originally Posted by Lear

..I'm a novice myself, but know that the method of weight loss and attaining fitness is not a mystery. The problem. for most, is the inability to stick with it....

That's very true, and to complicate matters more, you have to keep inventing new ways and means to maintain the motivation.

 

[Lear]

Originally Posted by Taxler

That's very true, and to complicate matters more, you have to keep inventing new ways and means to maintain the motivation.
Very true. I'm hoping that I don't exhaust all permutations, before I exhaust myself. Slightly off-topic (referring back to the other part of my post): I've been talking to people who remember Victoria Station, London in the 1960's. Apparently, once the rush hour was over, that was it. Hardly anywhere to get a sandwich, let alone hamburger and chips. Today, the place is stuffed with food franchises. They're now encroaching on space originally designed for passengers; when passenger numbers where a fraction of what they are today. Once you get onto the train, a trolley groaning with confectionery is slowly wheeled past. Every other passenger seems to be stuffing their gullet with hamburger & chips. Hardly surprising that the UK is wobble-bottom capital of Europe. Lear

 

[JeffsWood]

Just checking in.

A few answers - by "running more" I run about 20-25 miles a week. 5 miles at a time. I am not a fast runner asmy pace is just under a 9 minute mile most days. I also swim 1mile - 3 times per week and do a 20mile ride atleast once per week. (I am training for mini-tri)

I lift 3 times per week - basic stuff, bench press, powercleans, rows, then some arm work.

My diet can be ******. I have an executive job where I host or attend many meals. I stickwith salads with no dressing, fish with no sauce or a 7oz steak or veal. I do my best to eat light and right, but some weeks I go out for dinner and lunch every day, so this does catch up with me.

Lately I have drank far too much wine 10-15 glasses per week this last month. I need to cut this in half.

When I am not eating out, I tend to eat very lean items like green veggies and chicken breast.

Recently I was at my tailor and when he measured me up we discover that my chest, ass and thighes had all grown but my waist was the same. Maybe I am bulking up with muscle?

Still I would like to lean back down, I have heard that swimming could be the cause of my growing legs and ass. Is this true?

 

[Say]

I'm training for a sprint tri as well and I've noticed I'm ravenous after strength training. I'm still figuring out my diet, and how much of what will keep going without feeling like **** or bonking.

Seems to me, that since your diet is ******, you're gaining muscle and strength from it. I noticed when I ate ******, and I did a 5x5 heavy lift workout routine I gained a lot of strength and some muscle. Maybe thats happening to you as well. (take my words with a grain salt)

I also believe that any form of exercise, whether it be ping pong or the tour of california, you lose weight if you consume fewer calories than you burn. (grain of salt)

Swimming, if anything, has helped tone my arms and shoulders than make ******/legs bigger.

Anyways, I've lost a little bit of lbs. 185-172, I think its more of muscle loss though since I dont do 5x5 anymore, and do splits. My goal is to hit 165, but I have to discipline my diet! Less carbs at night, smaller meals throughout the day. blah blah blah