Exercise and weight loss

[Shawnamarie]

Hi Shelley,

I am just a little confused. I tend to exercise somewhat regularly and recently got a mountain bike. I have started biking for about 30 minutes 3-4 times a week along with doing yoga or pilates twice a week. Granted, I live in Seattle and we have a bunch of hills that make biking really challenging. It feels like a great workout and I love it!

But I feel like my clothes are fitting me a bit tighter in the thighs and abdomen now. I haven't changed anything in my eating except for maybe upping my fruit from 2 to 3 pieces a day and cutting down a bit on meat. I don't know if that makes a difference.

Shouldn't I be *losing* weight/inches from biking? I think that right now I am at about 125 pounds or so and 5'5".

Thanks, Shelley!
Shawna

[shelley]

It depends on where your weight is in terms of ratio of fat to muscles. In general, yes, we do get slimmer when we start exercising. but if the slimness was due to a lack of muscle tone and we have the type of body that builds curvy muscles, then we can increase inches in muscular areas and it's entirely appropriate. Bicycling is a great way to increase abs, thigh and calf muscles!

It helps to observe our bodies in tights and leotard next to someone else who is in shape, since size is relative, to see whether the inches gained are good inches, altho, considering how much exercising you're doing, I would automatically assume that those are good inches.

I know I felt weird gaining inches when I was going to the gym every day and seeing a personal trainer 3x a week. It didn't help that the gym tilted all their mirrors so bodybuilders would see more bulk! I felt positively freaky at first with immense thighs.

It takes about 6 months for us to be comfortable and fully aware of changes to our bodies. For the most part we're really relying on our mind's eye, our mental pictures of our physicality, and these pictures can be way off course!

[Shawnamarie]

Yep, I think I recall this happening to me when I was younger. I remember that I suddenly stopped exercising as much and lost weight! It was crazy.

I guess I am just hoping that some of the fat in those areas will melt off, too. Isn't it bound to? I can handle curvy muscles as long as they aren't just padded in fat, you know?

Thanks,
Shawna

[shelley]

the fat is bound to burn off so long as you only eat the number of calories you burn. Women tend to keep more subcutaneous fat than men, it's unavoidable, and we lose it from top - down - arms slim first, then waist and hips. So once your arms are mostly muscle, your waist and hips will soon follow!

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