Fat, muscle and weight question

[MeImAllSmiles]

Last week is was 10 stone 10lbs, watched diet, swam loads, this week I am 11 stones. Can i assume that I'm turning the fat into muscle? If so, how am I going to reach my target weight if I'm converting to muscle iyswim? Off for a swim now but will look in later, tia.

Well, firstly, you cannot turn fat into muscle because they are two different mediums. As you reduce your fat composition, it is replaced by the muscle that you are building.

Are you being honest about your diet and have you written down everything that you have eaten because there is no way that you have built 4lb of muscle in a week just by swimming? Is your period due and do you suffer from water retention? Have you weighed yourself at the same time, same place in the same clothes?

Also, remember that muscle burns more energy than fat and occupies less volume so as you become more toned, you will burn more calories even when you are not exercising, your physique will start to look leaner and therefore, your clothes will fit you better or become too big for your physique.

IMO, you should check your calorie intake, continue the exercising, judge your progress by how well your clothes are fitting and before you know it, the scales will be moving in the right direction.

Swimming doesn't tend to cause weight loss, from what I know. I'm not sure why.

And as speedymama says, judging progress by size (maybe get out the tape measure?) rather than the scales, anyway.

You might find this article about swimming and weight loss interesting.

You need to incorporate more effective cardio exercise such as running, cross training, fast walking etc to supplement your swimming to promote effective weight loss in addition to dieting.

Thanks everyone. Interesting article Speedy, may have to look into becoming a gym bunny!

OMG, this is serious now. Just checked my measurements from August last year and todate I have only lost 2" from my tum, everything else is the same!!!!

So, seriously considering the gym, but blimey am I scared or what! questions for you gym bunnys out there -

How do you chose a gym?
How much does it cost?
What should I be using for toning up?
What do you wear?

TIA, just need to convince dh that I really need to spend the money on a gym and convince him and myself that I will go regularly, wish me luck.

Running is cheaper and easier than a gym. You just need some trainers. And you can do it just about everywhere.

Cycling is also a very practical form of exercise, and brisk walking is easy and still good exercise.

Most people who have gym memberships never go, from what I know.

That's what I wondered. Am also looking into keep fit classes, step etc, wondering if they will do the toning up trick.

I've had reasonable success with TaeBo tapes. I don't think classes would suit me, although some like them.

Hi Meimallsmiles, you could take a look at the exercise buddies thread, lots of good info on there.
exercise buddies