The decision to lose weight and improve your health is a big step for most people, but sticking with an exercise and wellness program past the initial phases can bring many ups and downs. Even if you’ve stayed with your diet plan and exercised every day, you may not like the results on the bathroom scale for the first month or so.

Working Out but Gaining Weight

Despite the seeming illogical nature of the concept, it’s actually normal to experience weight gain during the first few weeks of a new exercise program. If you haven’t exercised regularly for several months or years, this can be a very discouraging factor. But the good news is that your body is building lean, healthy muscle tissue, which is denser than fat. Rest assured you’re on the right path.

Many people who become discouraged by their increasing weight and thicker arms or legs in the early stages of new exercises regiments. The trick is to be patient – once that fat burns off, the muscle tissue pushing up beneath layers of adipose will give way to toned, beautiful limbs.

Other Possibilities

Of course, there are some instances in which your body may be accumulating fat and undoing your hard work at the gym. Most commonly, people who undertake regular exercise don’t also change their dietary habits. While exercise does burn calories, it increases levels of ghrelin, the hormone that promotes hunger. Without strict portion control and regular meal planning, you may feel the urge to eat more than normal.

Excess stress also contribute to exercise problems, as exercise is a form of physical stress in itself. It’s a good, constructive form of stress, but when it’s coupled with excess stress at work, home, or within your relationships, a person’s body can respond negatively to new exercise routines.

It’s important not to lose sight of your wellness goals no matter your level of fitness. With a guiding, helpful expert at your side, you can achieve your desired fitness level and commit to a health-positive lifestyle, but the first step must come from you. Rather than putting it off until next week and the next and the week after that, make an appointment with the team at Velo Sports Rehab to learn about your body’s limitations and strengths with a Functional Movement Assessment. We can provide expert insight into injury recovery, improving athletic performance, and correcting long-term misalignments or injuries. Contact us today for more information or to make an appointment.

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