Anyone have some ideas to help?

So where do I start this...well I suffered with anorexia for almost half my
life. Right now I am at a normal weight for my height and eat pretty healthy.
I have also always been pretty athletic. Well I joined a gym a few months
ago and really started lifting weights and running and getting on a good
schedule. Well I feel like I am doing all of the healthy things and now the
number on scale is getting higher. It is completely freaking me out. I
don't know if this is my eating disorder coming back into my head or what.
But that number is really bothering me. I also feel like my stomach has
gotten bigger (nope, not pregnant) and my legs. My clothes really don't fit
any different. So if anyone out there has any advice or can tell me what is
going on that would be great. And please, don't tell me to throw out the
scale...believe me, I would love to drive over that stupid thing, but I can't
right now. Thanks so much in advance :-)

JessAnne wrote:
So where do I start this...well I suffered with anorexia for almost half my
life. Right now I am at a normal weight for my height and eat pretty healthy.
I have also always been pretty athletic. Well I joined a gym a few months
ago and really started lifting weights and running and getting on a good
schedule. Well I feel like I am doing all of the healthy things and now the
number on scale is getting higher. It is completely freaking me out. I
don't know if this is my eating disorder coming back into my head or what.
But that number is really bothering me. I also feel like my stomach has
gotten bigger (nope, not pregnant) and my legs. My clothes really don't fit
any different. So if anyone out there has any advice or can tell me what is
going on that would be great. And please, don't tell me to throw out the
scale...believe me, I would love to drive over that stupid thing, but I can't
right now. Thanks so much in advance :-)


I forgot...I should probably also mention that I am a female, almost 27, and
I am training for 5k and 10k races...so my ultimate goal is to tone up to get
stronger and improve my race times but I don't want to get big and bulky.

JessAnne wrote:
So where do I start this...well I suffered with anorexia for almost half my
life. Right now I am at a normal weight for my height and eat pretty healthy.
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
scale...believe me, I would love to drive over that stupid thing, but I can't
right now. Thanks so much in advance :-)

I forgot...I should probably also mention that I am a female, almost 27, and
I am training for 5k and 10k races...so my ultimate goal is to tone up to get
stronger and improve my race times but I don't want to get big and bulky.

Sorry, one more thing...I guess now that I think about it, my pants feel a
little tighter in my thigh area.

On 5 sep, 09:53, "JessAnne" u45994@uwe wrote:
So where do I start this...well I suffered with anorexia for almost half my
life. *Right now I am at a normal weight for my height and eat pretty healthy.
I have also always been pretty athletic. *Well I joined a gym a few months
ago and really started lifting weights and running and getting on a good
schedule. *Well I feel like I am doing all of the healthy things and now the
number on scale is getting higher. *It is completely freaking me out. *I
don't know if this is my eating disorder coming back into my head or what..
But that number is really bothering me. *I also feel like my stomach has
gotten bigger (nope, not pregnant) and my legs. *My clothes really don't fit
any different. *So if anyone out there has any advice or can tell me what is
going on that would be great. *And please, don't tell me to throw out the
scale...believe me, I would love to drive over that stupid thing, but I can't
right now. *Thanks so much in advance :-)

Most important question: How tall are you and how much do you weight?

wrote:
So where do I start this...well I suffered with anorexia for almost half my
life. Â*Right now I am at a normal weight for my height and eat pretty healthy.
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
scale...believe me, I would love to drive over that stupid thing, but I can't
right now. Â*Thanks so much in advance :-)

Most important question: How tall are you and how much do you weight?


I am 5 ft 2in and weigh 115 pounds

On Sep 5, 9:53*am, "JessAnne" u45994@uwe wrote:
So where do I start this...well I suffered with anorexia for almost half my
life. *Right now I am at a normal weight for my height and eat pretty healthy.
I have also always been pretty athletic. *Well I joined a gym a few months
ago and really started lifting weights and running and getting on a good
schedule.

What specifically is your workout like? With a 5k/10k style in mind,
you want higher reps at lower weights to build long muscle, stressing
endurance, not explosive power. If you compare a long distance runner
to a sprinter, they usually look a lot less fit, because their muscles
are built differently because of their training.

*Well I feel like I am doing all of the healthy things and now the
number on scale is getting higher. *It is completely freaking me out. *I
don't know if this is my eating disorder coming back into my head or what..
But that number is really bothering me. *I also feel like my stomach has
gotten bigger (nope, not pregnant) and my legs. *My clothes really don't fit
any different. *So if anyone out there has any advice or can tell me what is
going on that would be great. *And please, don't tell me to throw out the
scale...believe me, I would love to drive over that stupid thing, but I can't
right now. *Thanks so much in advance :-)

How much is the number on the scale changing? If we're talking a
fluctuation of a few pounds, this is a completely normal thing for the
human body to do. You're not just weighing your body. You're also
weighing all the fluids and...well, solids inside of your body. Even
the time of day affects what your weight will be, and how much you've
had to eat or drink. Try to standardize your weigh-in if you haven't
already, to keep these daily fluctuations to a minimum. I recommend
waking up, using the bathroom, and hopping on the scale in the nude,
or whatever minimum of clothing is convenient in the morning. The
important thing is to keep a routine.

How long of a period have you noticed this apparent change? Our
bodies go through a lot of cycles, and women have it even worse than
men. Sometimes, your body just acts up, and you feel a little crummy
about your appearance. If it has only been a few weeks, and you
haven't changed your diet or your routine, give it a few more weeks,
and see if your body falls in line.


But the easiest way to get over the number is just to GET OVER IT.
Take a quick glance in the mirror (not a close-up scrutinizing exam).
Do you instantly notice anything different? Find an old picture where
you don't exactly look your best, and compare yourself to it. Try to
notice the good things more than the "bad" ones. Chances are, nobody
else even sees those.

If you absolutely MUST have a quantitative analysis, start taking
circumference measurements. Make sure you take them at the same spot,
and take them often enough to know your body at first. This way, you
can track your physical dimensions without eyeballing yourself in the
mirror and pondering if you're larger or smaller. Or track your
fitness through your running. If your times are going down, you're
improving, regardless of what the scale has to say that day.

Most importantly, recognize that you are harder on your appearance
than anybody else ever is. Learn to love yourself just the way you
are, and then you can start to approach your appearance in a detached,
empirical manner.



Oh, and hit the hills hard. I can't think of too many techniques
harder than running up/down a hill at full speed.

D'oh. I forgot an important point.

Another very important quantitative measurement for an athlete is
Percent Body Fat. Spend a few bucks and get a scale that can measure
body fat via Bioelectric Impedance (I recommend the ConAir Weight
Watchers one. It's built very well, and very rarely fluctuates. It
costs about $30 USD). Or see a professional clinic and get your %
body fat measured by the 'pinching' technique.

Hi James! Thank you for your great response. I did actually have my body
fat tested where I work out. It said that I have 14% body fat. That was
before I started on the weight lifting program....so I might get it done
again. I guess I am just scared it went up.

Also, I am lifting weights, like you said at a lower weight, higher reps. I
do actually notice a difference in my running. I am getting faster.

The weight on the scale goes between 110 and 117...I really don't get it. It
pretty much sucks. And believe me, I wish I could "get over it". I hate
seeing that stupid scale in the morning.

But thank you again for your great response! It was very encouraging :-)

James G wrote:
D'oh. I forgot an important point.

Another very important quantitative measurement for an athlete is
Percent Body Fat. Spend a few bucks and get a scale that can measure
body fat via Bioelectric Impedance (I recommend the ConAir Weight
Watchers one. It's built very well, and very rarely fluctuates. It
costs about $30 USD). Or see a professional clinic and get your %
body fat measured by the 'pinching' technique.

--
Message posted via WeightAdviser.com
http://www.weightadviser.com/Uwe/For.../diet/200809/1

On Sep 5, 6:53*am, "JessAnne" u45994@uwe wrote:
and eat pretty healthy.

When people start a new exercise program one reason they might go up
a
few pounds is because basically they are eating more - sometimes they
dont recognize or in
denial that they could be or they rationalize that they are working
out more so why not they deserve it etc.
I think you should to scrutinize your eating more, remember is fuel
and should be eaten with
that in mind, not oh its 'pretty' healthy. Processed vs fresh -
usually a big difference. So sometimes its not
just about how much you eat, but what you eat which determines if you
trim down or puff up.
An example: http://skwigg.tripod.com/id55.html
As others mentioned, get the bodyfat tested. Tape measure yourself
from top to bottom.
Stay away from the scale on a daily basis - make it weekly or biweekly
at most.

BTW have you also ramped up your marathon training as well?

joanne

On 2008-09-05, JessAnne u45994@uwe wrote:
So where do I start this...well I suffered with anorexia for almost half my
life. Right now I am at a normal weight for my height and eat pretty healthy.
I have also always been pretty athletic. Well I joined a gym a few months
ago and really started lifting weights and running and getting on a good
schedule. Well I feel like I am doing all of the healthy things and now the
number on scale is getting higher. It is completely freaking me out.

How about learning to assess body fat percentage?

I don't know if this is my eating disorder coming back into my head or what.
But that number is really bothering me. I also feel like my stomach has
gotten bigger (nope, not pregnant) and my legs.

Feeling is a poor substitute for measuring with tape.

My clothes really don't fit any different.

There you go.