Body fat increase, plus gained weight!!

[Green Life]

I was wondering about why it is that I have been raw for two months and I have gained weight, and also, they took my fat ratio on this little device that you hold in the hands and it is supposed to tell the amount of fat in the body..does anyone know if this is an accurate test? And, why did I gain fat and weight? I have been exercising more then I have done in the last year these last two months?? What gives?

It's VERY frustrating. Answers, anyone?

[CaliRaw]

I would find it hard to believe that such a device would be accurate. When I was working out with a trainer, she measured various parts of my body with skin calipers, a tape measure, and a scale. She determined my body fat and lean muscle mass that way. What type of exercise have you been doing? Supposedly, too much cardio will result in loss of lean muscle over time.

[rawzeit]

It's because you have been raw for only two months.

[Green Life]

So, maybe just give it more time, eh? That's what I was thinking, too.

The type of exercise is weights and cardio. I have only been doing it for two months, but this is so discouraging because mostly all people I read about here on this fourm loose weight and fat by now.
Thanks for your responses.

[CaliRaw]

Are you feeling your clothes get looser? That would be a good indication of fat loss.

[Green Life]

Nope. My clothes are tighter, too.

[cinnamon panda]

my experience with the calipers varies. i have been told by trainers that it has to be measured by the same person at the same time of day, preferrably in the morning BEFORE exercising b/c if you do it after, then you will be puffier.

my trainer also told me that some ppl measure the first pinch, which is always 'thicker' due to water in the skin or something, so he would pinch twice and measure on the third.

i bet you just gained some muscle, it's pushing out your fat and those calipers are wrong. just try to think positive and keep going.

today i woke up and my cheekbones are back. it just takes time and the slower you burn i think the better in the long run.

[CaliRaw]

my experience with the calipers varies. i have been told by trainers that it has to be measured by the same person at the same time of day, preferrably in the morning BEFORE exercising b/c if you do it after, then you will be puffier.


The trainer told me that too. There were times when I didn't get measured that day because I forgot and did my warmup beforehand. :)



i bet you just gained some muscle, it's pushing out your fat and those calipers are wrong. just try to think positive and keep going.


They're not using calipers on her. She's holding a device in her hands. Is that device supposed to work like those scales that measure body fat? I don't know how those work either. They even have scales that measure water. I don't know how accurate those are either. The place where my mother exercies, Workout Express, uses those. I don't know anything, do I? :D

[CaliRaw]

Nope. My clothes are tighter, too.

I know some think you don't have to drink as much water on raw, but for me, if I don't, I get bloated and gain abdominal weight. Do you feel like you're getting enough?

Maybe it will just take time for you and there are other healing things going on. You must at least be feeling better healthwise, right?

[Green Life]

Well, I'm not even really happy about the feeling better part. I have been sleepy and somettimes a little dizzy. My Migraines have almost vanished, though, so that's a good, a VERY good thing, so, I dunnaknow, maybe just need to give it more time. This is hard for me to stay on this lifestyle when there is so much weight to loose and I'm gaining it instead, ya know? It is intersting to think that work could be going on inside, that's why the delay? HUM..

Water? What's that? No, just kidding. LOL> I don't drink enough water. Maybe half a gallon max. that's not enough for my 6' frame I guess. Maybe all it is is that i need more water.

Do you really gain when you don't drink enough? Hum...interesting. When I had my fat measured by that hand held, she said that drinking caffine or taking a shower before measureing fat would change the reading. Now, I have never heard of that before. I did neither of those things. So I'm just not going to get my fat measured or my weight anymore,it's too depressing.
then again, I know I will get curious..

[CaliRaw]

Oh, yes. I gain weight when I don't drink enough water. 1/2 gallon or more seems to be what I need. I retain water. I seem to be doing it more as I've gotten older. I don't know why. This is especially true when I make recipes that contained nama shoyu....too much sodium and not enough water meant weight gain. I gained 3 or 4 pounds over the course of 2 weeks several weeks ago and couldn't figure out why until a few weeks went by. Once I realized it was the nama shoyu and lack of water, I started drinking more water and I lost the weight and bloating.

I certainly know about being discouraged when the numbers are calculated. I started to get that way too. Every 2 or 3 weeks, the trainer would measure me. I was working out so hard and eating right, according to the carbs/protein/fat/calories, etc. However, I didn't lose the weight/inches until I started eating raw. I increased my lean body mass and got smaller, but not as small as I am now and not as much weight loss as now.......and I don't exercise much now either. I plan to start this week though.

I thought caffeine would make the reading less...if it's been long enough since having it, since it is a diuretic. I don't know what the shower would have to do with it unless they're saying your body would swell and the inches would be higher. Interesting.

I would be discouraged if I were you too since so many (including me) have posted that they've lost x number of pounds in x number of days. Since you have seen some improvement in your health, that's reason to go on. You have nothing to lose by doing so.

[Green Life]

Yup, thanks. At the very least, the headaches are gone and who knows what else my body is working on right now, and trying to save the fat for something?? I don't know what for. According to their calculations, I am half fat!! Egads!:eek: :confused:

I'm staying the course. Afterall, it's only been two months, and I have had SOME cooked like frozen corn, ect. I would't think that would make a huge diff.

I'm not listening to that werid hand held machine. Maybe she (the machine) is just jealous of me! LOL!!! I'm not gonna let her ruin my life.

[crystalmoon]

Ive been wondering if the body concentrates on healing illness first then shedding fats, especially in women cos we store toxins in our fat?
Maybe your body doesnt want to flood you with toxins from burning fat yet cos it is busy healing other stuff. I also wonder about all the medications Ive had over the years - Ive had alot of blood thinners which are basically rat poison...Im pretty sure my body wouldnt want to release all of that at once so I reckon my weight loss may be slow when I join the 30 day November challenge.

[freebird]

Hi, sorry to hear your woes. Glad that your Migraines are getting less. That is awesome!

I was wondering what kinds of foods you're eating? Do you have a high fruit intake or nut intake? I know when I up my green intake with GS and salads and incorporate some avocado and drop the nuts and dates then I lose weight. Coconut oil has helped too. 1 tsp morning and night, helped bump my metabolism. But as others have pointed out, maybe your body is healing your illnesses first and then the weight will come off. best of luck.

[Green Life]

Hi and thanks alot for your loving responses. I will take into consideration the ideas mentioned for sure I will implement them. You have been a tremendous help. What an eye opener!! Our bodies are SO smart, aren't they? I'm off to the gym so gotta run...but I will update you on my progress, afterall, you can't fail if you're all raw,,,,right? It can only get better from here.

[CaliRaw]

One thing for sure...you're motivated! I can't seem to get motivated to exercise consistently. :( I was doing it very consistenly last year, but have had trouble getting into it this year.

[mikeshafer]

I wish I could offer advice. The first time I was raw for 30 days I lost 28 lbs WITHOUT working out a single day, but my bodyfat% didn't seem to actually drop much (according to my Tanita scale). On the other hand, 6 months earlier I was on a bodybuilding diet (eating 6 times each day, lots of broccoli, grilled chicken, brown rice, egg whites for breakfast)... and working out a lot... and I got down to 9% BF.

I'm trying it again now, and this time I'm working out almost every day. I'll see how things go -- I'm only on day 3 of 100% raw. :) (except for green tea and NoDoze -- I can't afford to sleep all day). My goal is 7% body fat.

[Green Life]

thanks for the responses :D

I'm just not going to give up, that's all. And I am still trying to find out how this could happen. Maybe my body is healing enternally is the only thing I can come up with, and it's storing the fat for future use in case I starve myself?:rolleyes: Kinda smart and silly at the same time, huh?

Mike, 7% percent body fat??:eek: that's awfully low, isn't it? Mines 42 % according to their silly hand held thingy....I can't imagine how anyone would look at 7%! Well, good luck is all I can say, that's a smalll amount of fat, for sure, isn't it?:confused:

[luckitri]

Trust me Green Life, a woman getting her body fat percentage really low is not healthy. Been there, done that.

I just wanted to mention the malnourished part of weight gain. Many people believe that when some nutritional element(s) are lacking the body will store nutrients in fat as a defense mechanism. (I suppose it is the complements of the nutrient it is waiting to receive so that it will be ready to absorb and make use of it immediately apon finally receiving it.) Finding out what that nutrient is - that is the challenge. Perhaps with raw your body is still in self-protection mode and is storing all the good nutrition you are giving it?

I have been having some major problems and have just found out that I have a thyroid problem. This is a huge problem in the US and is typically underdiagnosed on a grand scale. It can cause weight gain as well.

Also your body uses fat tissue to manufacture certain hormones. This could be a hormone balancing act by your body. (I think my weight impasse is partially because my body needs the fat to make hormones to rebuild my bones due to osteoporosis.)

Just some possibilities to try to cheer you up.

[Green Life]

HEE! GEE, Thanks!!:) It does cheer me up!! These are all very good possibilities.

[slmcarte]

I have been a personal trainer and actually own one of those scales that measure body fat and the kind you grip with your hands. Truth be told, they're not that accurate...(they're ok as a measuring tool, to compare from week to week, or month to month, but not necessarily accurate).
The grip kind, for example can be affected by the dryness/wetness of your hands, and really isn't a concrete indicator. It can also depend on how much water you have in your body, time of day, before/after workout, etc. and the fact that you've changed your diet and exercise routine so suddenly would make me think that you aren't really getting an accurate reading.

A skinfold caliper measurement is as good as the person measuring, still with possible errors...The gold standards for body fat measuring are the underwater kind or a bod pod. Your local clinic or university may have one and you can measure it more accurately if you're looking for something more concrete.

All in all, though, I think if you keep up your goals, your going to see some big changes as your body adjusts to a new homeostasis- that's just my guess though.

Anyway, long post, sorry. Best of luck!

[Green Life]

thanks. Thinking about all of this. Good suggestions:)

[irishserra]

I am pretty overweight and have been eating high raw on and off for a while. I've experienced the same thing you have, although perhaps not as long.

The first few weeks of eating raw, the detox was so bad. Also keep in mind that since your diet affects all aspects of your body, that includes hormonal. Things will fluctuate while your body is trying to clean itself and balance.

I went through weeks of horrid swelling, even though I was consuming nothing but organic raw fruits and vegetables and NO SODIUM. I cried and cried. But like everyone has said, if you keep on doing what you're doing, at some point it will suddenly change. Eventually, my clothes felt different, even though the scale didn't move for weeks. Just don't do what I have done at times and get so frustrated that you give up. Then it's harder to get going again.

I am so glad that you are sticking with it. I think I will try to keep track of you, because I need some new motivation and you are definitely motivating.

;)

[Green Life]

HI Irish,

Yeh, the ole bloating game! Been there, know whatca mean.

I'm seeing some results in how my clothes fit today. They are looser, if only by a near fraction. Which is great! 'bout time I'd say.

When I loose this weight, I will post a before and after photo. I have the before photo now cause I started in August this raw food thing, so, that's when I took it. Sure hope in a years' time I will see some results. This is so SO trying my patience to the max!!:eek:

Thanks!:)

[EZ rider]

I don't know if my experience with raw will help you but maybe there is something you can use from my raw story that will help. I have been raw for 80 days today (started Aug 1st). After going 100% raw I immediately had more energy and started exercising more as a result of the new energy. I try to keep my raw approach simple. For me that means eating all my foods as fresh as possible (I call this "fresh raw"). Also I have been eating a high fiber diet with the idea in mind that fiber removes toxins and keeps me feeling good. I also eat a semi-mono meal diet where I try to put less stuff into my smoothies rather then more along with many meals consisting of a single food. I have also adopted a totally grazing style of eating that is based on listening to my body's signals in what I call "instinctive eating", for more on that look at my posts #9 and #10 here: http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=33713 The result is the most amazing transformation that has ever occurred to me. I don't know how much weight I have lost because I don't have a scale, if I were to guesstamate the weight loss I would guess its at least 40 pounds. I have had to buy new clothes because my big gut is gone. I reach down to my gut and its flat now. It just melted away steadily since I went raw. I hope there is something from my raw experience that you can use to help you on your raw journey. Good luck.

[Green Life]

Hello EZ rider

That is very interesting info. thanks for sharing with me.

Did you do any execises to flatten your tummy? Are you female, btw because we carry the fat more round that section then men do. Just wondering.

[CaliRaw]

Hello EZ rider

That is very interesting info. thanks for sharing with me.

Did you do any execises to flatten your tummy? Are you female, btw because we carry the fat more round that section then men do. Just wondering.


We do? I thought it was the other way around. :) Men don't usually have problems with hips and thighs, like women. For me (female), the hips/thighs are more of a problem than tummy. :D

I bet EZ is male.

[Green Life]

You sound like a pear shape:) I am more of an apple shape: slim hips and thighs and big tummy:) have you ever heard of body shapes like that? It's very interesting, I think.

[CaliRaw]

You sound like a pear shape:) I am more of an apple shape: slim hips and thighs and big tummy:) have you ever heard of body shapes like that? It's very interesting, I think.

Yes, I've seen women like that. I have relatives who are shaped that way and work with some as well. I'm more hourglass shaped, but results are a little slower to appear for me in the hip/thighs. I don't have much more weight to lose, but I need some all over toning. I just got some DVDs that should help with that if I commit to doing them regularly.

I think if you keep doing what you're doing, you'll get to where you want to be. As long as you can tell that your endurance is increasing during the cardio and resistance exercises and you're getting stronger with the weights, you're making progress. I had to tell myself that when I was going to the gym regularly. The 'numbers' were slow to change, but I could tell that my endurance and strength were increasing. So, that helped me keep at it.

[Green Life]

Yes, I've seen women like that. I have relatives who are shaped that way and work with some as well. I'm more hourglass shaped, but results are a little slower to appear for me in the hip/thighs. I don't have much more weight to lose, but I need some all over toning. I just got some DVDs that should help with that if I commit to doing them regularly.

I think if you keep doing what you're doing, you'll get to where you want to be. As long as you can tell that your endurance is increasing during the cardio and resistance exercises and you're getting stronger with the weights, you're making progress. I had to tell myself that when I was going to the gym regularly. The 'numbers' were slow to change, but I could tell that my endurance and strength were increasing. So, that helped me keep at it.


Exactly.

My endurance and resistance and energy level is very much improved. My energy level is so high now, that I need many hours less of sleep, and I drink alot of chamomile tea to settle me, LOL. Today I feel like I'm on some kinda stimulant, but the opposite is true with taking the chamomile tea and such.
Also, I feel like running again after I have done cardio/weights, even. That is amazing to me that Ihave so much energy like this, but NO weight loss, only fat increase. Just weird:rolleyes: Hee Hee

thanks!

[EZ rider]

Hello EZ rider That is very interesting info. thanks for sharing with me. Did you do any exercises to flatten your tummy? Are you female,I am a guy who HAD a typical beer belly, not from beer because I don't drink any booze, but from SAD. Most all of my weight was centered around my gut like a spare tire. I don't do any stomach exercises but I started riding my bike regularly and also I started working out at home. Here's a link to the way I am doing my home exercises: http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=33324

I think comfort foods can be transitional foods on the way to "fresh raw". However I also think that transitional foods are compromise foods. IMO the key to grabbing the raw brass ring is to keep listening to your body and heeding its signals. If a person listens and heeds their body's signals they will continue to transitional through the compromise transitional foods and arrive at the "fresh raw" foods. I don't think a person has to "white knuckle" their way through the transition but to take their time making a long term commitment to the raw food lifestyle and listening to their body. Everybody needs to keep looking and find what works for them on their raw food journey.

[walnutty]

My favorite show on t.v. right now is "The Biggest Loser". I haven't missed a season yet! I am bringing this up because something VERY interesting happened on the show two weeks ago. The show went on vacation for a week. They sent the teams and trainers to Jamaica for the week. One trainer told their team...NO alcohol, NO cheating (food at the buffets), and WORK, WORK, WORK (as in work-out), another trainer told their team...NO alcohol, NO cheating, and work hard but have fun too! The third trainer told their team that they were adults and should make their own decision about alcohol and food intake and then did work outs in a very fun and relaxed way. The very last thing they do on each show is a weigh in on a big scale. Everyone (including me) thought that trainer #1's team would win the weigh in. NOPE! The trainer whose team relaxed and enjoyed their workouts and had less STRESS lost twice as much weight as the team that said NO to everything and worked their butts off. Soooooo interesting.... It taught me a valuable lesson. Our bodies need r & r. Stress can GREATLY affect weight loss and can even cause weight gain. Since I am such a big fan of the show it helped me very personally (because I have a type A personality...:D ). If I can't do something PERFECTLY I fail. So wrong! So hang in there Green Life...as it appears you are doing. The energy boost that you are experiencing is AWESOME!...and may be what will start causing that pay off on the scale that you are looking for. Good luck!

[Green Life]

EzRider and Walnutty~ thank you! ;)

This is such interesting information.

[CaliRaw]

Exactly.

My endurance and resistance and energy level is very much improved. My energy level is so high now, that I need many hours less of sleep, and I drink alot of chamomile tea to settle me, LOL. Today I feel like I'm on some kinda stimulant, but the opposite is true with taking the chamomile tea and such.
Also, I feel like running again after I have done cardio/weights, even. That is amazing to me that Ihave so much energy like this, but NO weight loss, only fat increase. Just weird:rolleyes: Hee Hee

thanks!

I don't think your fat is increasing. That gadget is wrong, wrong, wrong! Keep doing what you're doing and keep your positive attitude. :) When you start seeing the fat come off, your body will be toned and you will be able to see your muscles. You can't 'see' it now, but you're feeling it. Maybe you shouldn't let that person use that hand-held thing on you again because it's making you doubtful. Use other gauges of how your diet and exercise routine are working for you instead. Increased energy, needing less sleep, strength increase, more endurance, and how your clothes fit are all clues to determine what's working for you. The scale is a clue too, but how your clothes are fitting is more telling. :)

[Green Life]

Exactly and thank you :)

This is all so true what you have said. Also, in addition to not using that fat tester gadget, I'm also staying away from the scales for a year I've decided. These two inadequate devices are not going to control my life anymore.

[CaliRaw]

WOW! No scales for a year! I could never do that, unless I gave it away. Even then, if I went to the doctor, I'd probably take a peek. I know what you mean though. When the hot water heater broke in my apartment several years ago, the bathroom, which was in the room next to the water heater, got a bit of water in it. My scale no longer worked after that. I didn't get a new one for a couple of years. I didn't really miss it though. mmm...maybe I'll just look once a month. :)

Good luck to you. :D

[Green Life]

Thanks!:D

I concur. However, if you're like me, I have to do all or nothing. Like this raw lifestyle, for instance. I have'ta eat 100 percent all the time. And the same with the scale (which in now no longer in my home, btw), if I peek at my weight, then I will just want to obsess with it and check it eveyday. So, out it went.

I hope you, too, have a wonderful raw experiance;)

[rfn]

Hi, read Nora Lenz's story about how she did raw overnight and "didn't lose an ounce" for the first 6 months, but then had her first 'healing crisis,' and the pounds melted away thereafter. That helped me, b/c I'm not really seeing the kind of loss of 28 pounds melting away the first month that you read about. sigh.

[EZ rider]

Nora Lenz's storyI found her site and story and it looks interesting. Thanks.

http://www.rawschool.com/story.htm

[CaliRaw]

She has some interesting comments about colonics and enemas. http://www.rawschool.com/colonics.htm

[Green Life]

I found her site and story and it looks interesting. Thanks.

http://www.rawschool.com/story.htm


Wow, and thanks a bunch.

Can't believe it took almost 6 months on 100 percent raw for her to loose weight! You don't know how good that makes me feel:D ! I am not alone in this..hum..hope it doen't take that long for me.

[Green Life]

She has some interesting comments about colonics and enemas. http://www.rawschool.com/colonics.htm


OH! AMEN to this! I totoally agree. Thanks for the link SO much!:eek:

[Green Life]

Update:

Well, I must have lost inches, because my clothes are now looser, not tighter! Happy Dance. I had a major detox with my gallbladder and stomach over the weekend, and now feel so much lighter and better.

I'm not as happy as I could be, I want to loose weight more quickly, like the others here. I've got 100 more pounds to loose and it's going SO SLLLLLOOOOOWWWWWWWW.

Maybe I shall cut out the nuts, seeds, and have just half an avo a day. Surely, I can't loose (uh, I mean I CAN loose), well, you know what I mean, eating only fruits and veggies. Don't know if I can do it.

thanks for reading this and your support.

[CaliRaw]

Well, losing inches is good news! What does a gallbladder/stomach detox feel like?

I'm curious.....Are you eating more veggies than fruit?

[cherries]

I'm so happy for you! I'm glad things worked out finally. :) My Mom has a hard time loosing weight too.

[Green Life]

Well, if it truly was a gallbladder/stomach detox, I'm here to tell you that it didn't feel very good at all.:rolleyes: