Weight - why?...

KateSykerd · 2011-07-18T16:34:52+00:00

So, this last year I've put on a stone, and I've got a few ideas why... But they're oposite! Firstly, let me just say I don't put weight on easily (before now), although I am only 20 and in the words of my mum "I'm a growing girl" (eurgh lol). I'm only 5"3 so you think a stone would show up loads, and my mum says I've put on weight but I just can't believe its a whole stone... With my BMI now being about 24.5 :S I'm still the same dress size, although I used to be a little UK10 and now I'm a bigger one, and I've gone up 2 cup sizes. So, why? Well, I now do more exercise than EVER before - I've taken up dancing and poling, and because of pole I do more strength exercises (push ups, etc), so is it muscle? I've literally gone from NO exercise, to a "moderate" amount - being able to actually *shock* run up staires without getting out of breath. However, I am now the fabled creature of university student, and if you've ever met my species you'll know students tend to put on a lot of weight (esp. in their first year)... I drink a lot more alcohol, and eat a lot more (although its normally more healthy than I used to eat, since fresh is cheaper). So, which seems more likely? Obviously if its fat, I should aim to loose it, but if its muscle its ok and I'll just carry on. Like I said, I've never put on so much weight before, but I've never been so active or eaten so much, so I don't know anything about these things....

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Hana Granados · 7/22/2011
This is a really good topic! I love that BMI is being challenged! When it first came up as the new ubiquitous measurement I could not understand why we had traded 5 variables (height, weight, age, gener and body type) for two variables (height and weight) and were acting like we had more or better information! It makes no sense at all!!! My husband is a martial artist who is 6'6" and weighs 210 pounds.... he is extemely slim and muscular but his BMI is "overweight" That is a useless tool! If you have gone up a bra size and are fitting your close a little tighter then you have probably gained some fat. If you are much stronger and have been working out a lot more then you have deffinitely gained muscle! If you feel good and look good and are comfortable with where you are AND you are not continuing to gain then relax, forget you ever heard of BMI and enjoy your new strength and your more voluptuous figure! :)
Runemist34 · 7/22/2011
lol, Can I point out that boobs can also gain size up to (I'm hoping) the age of 25, and then they settle down! It's a hormonal thing. After I stopped taking the birth control pill, I gained 4 cup sizes in 2 years or so, and no other part of me really changed. I had to learn a lot about boobs, and bras, pretty quickly! I actually learned that I was smaller in the band size than what I was wearing. But I agree, if you're gaining strength that you want, and you fit into all your clothes, and you feel good, then just...feel good! Seriously! (I should take my own advice :P)
Cocoa0 · 7/22/2011
Ok so my original post to this thread was F the scale, go by how you feel. I stick by that. But I have had body comp tests done before I started pole and after 1year of doing pole. In one year I lost 20 lbs of fat and gained 10lbs of muscle. So my bathroom scale only showed 10lbs of weight loss but I had really lost 20lbs of fat. THAT is why you should never trust a scale. They really do lie. And as for BMI... It's the single largest load of BS that I have ever come across. The upper range of healthy BMI for me would leave me at 12% body fat (unless I loose muscle). The average body fat % of a swimsuit model is 18%. I hope to never enter a healthy BMI range. P.S. Your boobs don't stop growing till your 21(if you are lucky). That's why good plastic surgeons won't do breast augmentations on teenagers. So if you've gone up a cup size consider yourself lucky.
nymphdancer · 7/22/2011
although I will admit to getting on the scale daily I really take my measurements and clothes fit into consideration. When i first added Jillian workouts last year my weight didn't budge when I first started doing them, however my clothes were getting loose and those that had seen me over the summer then saw me in Jamaica all commented on my weight loss ( I hadn't lost a pound just inches) I did after that lose 17 lbs and even more inches and went down a size, now when my scale tells me I'm gaining I consult my measurements and as long as they are the same or lower I tell my scale its lying to me ;) I wear a size 6 (actually 6's are a bit big on me) and am right at 140 at 5'5.
Runemist34 · 7/22/2011
Cocoa0, I actually said "I hope" because I'm 25, and I want them to stop growing! Buying a bra every 3 months because they've gotten bigger is very expensive...especially when you've passed (and then completely left behind) the DD's.
KateSykerd · 7/24/2011
Woah quite a few more posts! Ironically I picked up a stomach bug recently, so I'm now off food but want it more than ever! Thanks everyone! Starting to love myself a little more now - I guess I really should throw those scales away :P I know your cup size is meant to change but I was an early-starter and I guess I thought I'd done with most of my growing already! Just shows you your body is amazing and can really surprise you at times. @poledanceromance - really good idea to measure the resting rate of a pulse. My boyfriend still says I look nice etc (typical man with his "No of course you haven't put on weight, your still beautiful to me", even though other people tell me I do look different haha!), so I guess I'm just worried about health more than anything. I know some girls were doing a body fat calculator thing on a "girls pamper night" at a club I went to recently - kicking myself for not getting it done then because I don't know where else does it! @Sassafrassle - good to bring up rugby players, my fave. is Castro (the Italian prop) and he's about 20stone of pure muscle so, good point! haha. Thanks guys for all the advice! Its really opened my eyes to a lot of things :) I guess I have a lot to learn about loving myself haha! Thanks :)
poledanceromance · 7/24/2011
Here's a caliper for $6. http://www.google.com/m/products/detail?oe=UTF-8&client=safari&q=caliper+body+fat&hl=en&bl=/m/search?q%3Dcaliper%2Bbody%2Bfat%26ie%3DUTF-8%26oe%3DUTF-8%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari&source=search&channel=products&cid=13557378898679725698&ptab=c&ei=fKksTsDMJaX2MdT7mBk&ved=0CBkQ8wIwAQ# Some come with basic instructions.