Is this a practical joke on me?

I had my "a-ha" moment 5 days ago and decided it's time for me to finally get healthy. I don't have a lot of weight to lose, but 8 or 9 pounds would be good, and I need to get more active. So for these last 4 days, I've been very good. I've cut out the junk food, eaten a lot more fruits and veggies, cut down on carbs, exercised, and done strenth training.

And I gained 1.5 pounds!

I've heard the whole "muscle weighs more than fat" thing... BS or true? Any insights?

I soooo want to say "screw it" and have a cookie.

Re: Is this a practical joke on me?

muscle does indeed weigh more than fat - kudos to you for getting on a good path - its only been 4 days and it is very common to "gain" in the beginning - especially since you said you are strength training - also - you said you are eating more fruits and veggies - so the extra could be from water weight - either way - it will work itself out once your body starts to get used to your new lifestyle!

Re: Is this a practical joke on me?

To answer your question, yes, muscle does weigh more than fat.

Did you gain 1.5lbs of muscle in 4 days? Not possible. Your first 2 weeks are going to shock your body, and unless you're putting in crazy hours at the gym, you may not lose anything significant until week 3. Because you are working out, you are probably drinking more water and that will show weight gain on the scale. The best thing to do is to take your measurements and every 3 - 4 weeks measure yourself and see how your body is changing. The number on the scale will drop eventually, but it doesn't always happen right away. At this point it's all about not getting frustrated and sticking to your new routine. The first month is the hardest, get through that and you'll be happy with the changes, just stick with it.

Sorry this is long - I'm a trainer, I have this conversation with people several times a week :) Good luck!

Re: Is this a practical joke on me?

This is totally normal, especially for someone who doesnt have much to lose! Stick it out and you will see results soon!

ALSO - I wanted to note that I stopped running for a month and lost 3-4 lbs. It may have also been a result of wedding stress too, but still I think I lost some muscle :( Just keep at it! You'll get there!

Re: Is this a practical joke on me?

Thank you all very much! I'll try not to get discouraged. I'm glad to hear it's normal.

Re: Is this a practical joke on me?

Dont get discouraged. Hang in there!