Does Anyone Else Gain Weight… From Exercise?!

I know. It goes against everything the experts have told us over the past few decades. Exercise more. Eat less. Lose weight. But many have learned with soul-crushing frustration (myself included), it’s not always the case. Like Sherlock Holmes, I decided to solve this riddle, and I think I finally did.

Here’s how it happened…

A few years ago I joined a Zumba class. Three times a week, I strode into that studio, dancing and sweating profusely to J. Lo’s “Get on the Floor” and Ricky Martin’s “La Vida Loca.” I couldn’t wait till I could buy my “skinny clothes” again.

Then a strange thing happened.

Instead of my pants getting looser, they got tighter. I’d look at the scale in despair as the needle edged up. WTH? I thought I was doing everything right. Instead, the opposite was happening.

I also noticed another strange phenomenon. Some of my Zumba teachers (but not all) were a little “heavy” around the middle. I was perplexed. How can you work as hard as they did, year after year in some cases, and not be a string bean?

Then I realized something else.

It wasn’t the Zumba that was luring the weight on. It was what I was doing in-between classes. I was always hungry — especially for high-sugar carbs. I was ravenous for that mid-morning cookie (or two) and that mid-afternoon bowl of ice cream. I told myself all this extra noshing was fine, since I was exercising so strenuously.

Then one terrible morning on the scale, it hit me. Was all this exercise revving my appetite? Did my body crave sugar because it needed energy back that it lost in sweating? Was I eating more calories than expending?

I decided to experiment.

I quit Zumba cold turkey. I never went back. My only exercise became a few gentle yoga stretches each morning. My sugar cravings came down. Within a few months, I lost seven pounds.

Now, I know we’re all wired differently. I know Zumba bunnies that are truly slim and toned. You could bounce a quarter off their butts. I also know people who never exercise and are rail-thin.

Which makes me wonder…is it all individual? Is there no such a thing as a one-size-fits-all fitness plan?

This past year I went on a quest to find that perfect exercise – not so rigorous my body starts craving tons of carbs. But not so light I become a couch potato that never moves. I needed to find middle ground.

So I started paying attention to my appetite. That became the true barometer.

I began a walking regime, about 20-30 minutes daily. Before I knew it, the scale started going up again. I started obsessing over fudge ripple ice cream and chocolate chip brownies. The appetite was revving. I gave up the daily regime. The weight came down.

It soon became apparent that for my odd metabolism, very light exercise is best.

I still do gentle yoga each morning. I love the way it makes me feel both empowered and serene. I also still walk.

The difference is I walk just a little (10-15 minutes) when my body feels like it, usually after lunch or dinner. If it’s a busy, tiring day with lots of movement, I give myself a pass. In the old days, I would’ve still gone to Zumba or taken that stroll. And I would’ve paid for it later with sugar cravings.

I’m happy to say I’m now a few pounds away from my favorite weight (fingers crossed), but it’s a tough, challenging battle. It doesn’t help to be female of a certain age and on the wrong side of the hormonal fence. It’s the perfect storm for weight gain.

But for me, it’s a battle worth fighting. When doing well, my body’s more than just a vehicle. I like feeling strong and in control, something my jittery nature seems to need. I like knowing I’m doing my best.

We all have to find our own formula, which apparently varies. We all have to release our own Sherlock Holmes and solve the riddle of ourselves.

For now, this works. In two years, who knows? All I can do is keep listening to that one true expert I’ve learned to trust… myself.

 

Has anyone else found that “less is more” with exercise? Comments are always welcome and if you’d like to share, feel free! Thank you.

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