18
August
2019
|
13:39 PM
America/New_York

I'm Exercising More So Why Does My Workout Cause Weight Gain?

Prevention.com reports there are several factors including lifestyle choices and health habits that can cause weight gain despite vigorous exercise.

Prevention.com spoke to Jason Machowsky, RD, CSSD, RCEP, CSCS, exercise physiologist at HSS, who suggested assessing other benefits you might have gained from your newfound exercise routine (i.e., do you have more energy? Do your clothes fit a little loser? Are you feeling more motivated and less stressed, etc.), versus giving the number on the scale too much credit. "It’s ultimately about how you’re feeling," said Machowsky. “Look for other measurements of exercise working—weight is not the only measure of success.”

However, if you’ve been exercising, eating right, and getting enough sleep, but notice that your weight continues to creep up, you may want to see a doctor, advised Machowsky.

Additionally, while it’s beneficial to eat something post-workout to recover, you don’t always need to. Machowsky explained that many people take in too many extra calories simply because they’re trying to eat a snack within 30 to 60 minutes of their workout. If you ate lunch or a mini meal an hour before you exercised, you probably don’t need something post-sweat, too. On the other hand, if you don’t eat before your workout because you’re waiting for the post-activity re-fueling window, you might be left starving after you exercise, which can also cause you to gain weight. “Reaching a state of extreme hunger tends to cause people to overeat,” cited Machowsky, advising to keep your satiety levels in check.

Furthermore, Machowsky underscored the importance of carrying out other daily exercises (i.e., keep moving throughout the day by taking breaks to go for a walk or taking the stairs instead of the elevator). “The most common mistake is that people will work out and then their other daily exercise goes down,” said Machowsky. 

Read the full article at Prevention.com.