What The F... I am Gaining Weight!

If you are like the rest of us who started a new program or workout, you are probably stepping on the scale this morning and possibly thinking WTF! So let's address the elephant in the room. Program Weight Gain!

New Program Weight Gain

Ok let me start this by saying, gaining weight your first few weeks of a new program is rare! Now - please if you fall into this category don't think something is wrong with you - because you are totally normal! But across the board most people are seeing the scale drop. 3lbs, 5lbs some even 6 or more. Then there are others  {insert hand raise here} that are gaining 2-3lbs. K, let me break it down for you.

When you start a new program, whether it's 80 Day Obsession or any regime you are going to be using muscle groups that you haven't hit in a very long time. If we are really honest, they might even be muscles that you haven't even hit before! Or you could be an even bigger bada** and increased your weights to  a higher set. These muscle groups are going to start retaining more water. They are going through this "tear and repair" phase, which means they are filling with fluid, to protect themselves, but also it helps in muscle growth. That muscle growth = your body turning into a FAT BURNING machine!

A Marathon Not A Sprint

Ok so the second reason that it's not a accurate to measure your results in week 1 - you can't really realistic progress in just one week. ESPECIALLY if you don't have a lot of weight to lose. I am talking about those that are wanting to shed the last 5-12 lbs. That often is the hardest weight to lose. If you have 30, 40 or 50lbs to lose, and you are doing a huge overhaul in your diet, the water retention you are losing based on diet changes is going to be more than the water retention in your muscles. Bottom line, the less weight you have to lose, the longer its going to take to see the needle on the scale move.

Timed Nutrition

So this topic of timed nutrition, I am talking to all of you who started the new 80 day obsession program. Timed nutrition is a very new concept to a lot of us, including myself. I have done portion control, intermittent fasting, using my bodies cue's to letting me know I was hungry, but I have not done timed nutrition. So this is new to me right now and guess what's happening right now... bloat! This is because I have been having so many much more vegetables, fiber rich & green veggies. Broccoli, cauliflower {wait that's still in the fridge}, spinach, kale, brussell sprouts. All really amazing greens that I love and that I could eat all day long. I really could. And if you have added in supplements like the Performance Line or Shakeology, you are filling your body with this amazing dense nutrition that if you have had it, could still be a long time since your body has been fueled this way. Naturally its kind of like whoaaaaa, what's going on, and it's trying to figure out what to do with all this awesomeness that's coming into it. Be patient. Allow the process to happen, and trust it.

Mother Effing Nature

We are women, right. I don't know about you, but my weight can change on the scale weekly. Which is why I tend to stay off that thing. Monthly, my weight changes, because uh {TMI fellas} mother effing nature. I was joking with a friend that just started 21 Day Fix, and I said, there is probably a week during a month that I feel like a ROCKSTAR on the scale. One cycle just finished, and there is this week and a half or so time period before my body is gearing up for the next one. Which is just so rude of my body, and hormones, but it is what it is. We can't let that derail us where we say ok I am going to go eat crappy now for two weeks while we go through our cycle and fill our bodies with crap. If you have been following me for awhile you know that I have been eating really clean, mostly plant based since about August. And GUESS WHAT, the fluctuation in my weight around that time of the month still happens. Its impossible to manipulate our hormones in that regard naturally.  As women each month we go on this roller coaster internally, so embrace that.

Roll With It

Here is what I suggest. Once a month, on the same day of the month, use that as your guide in weight loss if you must step on the scale. Now you can take photo's every single week, because you  could potentially see the visual changes, but you can't expect to see a change on the scale each and every week. There are too many variables. Don't get discouraged! If you are experiencing weight gain in the first week, 2nd, or even 3rd week of this new program, or any program you are following, and give your body time to adjust. Trust the process. This is a 3 month journey we are on. Not a 21 day program, but 80 days to see what we can do internally, to see how we can challenge ourselves, how we can stay on our game, and really and truly feel the difference when we have such structure in our life. Give yourself grace ladies. You got this.

If you aren't already a part of our MomStrong Community we would love to have you! Wave two of 80 Day Obsession is going to be starting soon! You can get more info there, or let me shoot you some more information by filling out the form below.