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Body Change
So I have been poling for about four or five months now. I started because it looked cool and continued because I got addicted. I mean how can you not? Anyway my goal is to learn pole well enough to both teach and compete. I was also hoping I would lose weight. I changed my diet and started going to the studio once a week. Three weeks ago I increased this to three times a week. I have some how gained weight. I just started doing the Nutri bluet once a day. Now for some reason I’ve gained. I know my muscles are building fast, my instructor pointed this out to me last night when she had me feel the muscle in my forearm. Id this why I seem to be bigger. Could the muscles be developing faster than my weight loss and making it appear as though I have gained rather than lost? Or do I just need more of a diet change? Thanks
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9 Replies
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This is actually very common.
“Weight” is usually what we say when we refer to the amount of fat on our bodies, but it is also intrinsically linked to the number we see on the scale. This, unfortunately, is quite incorrect!
Since beginning running last April, I’ve gone from 175 lbs to 205 lbs, but I’ve not gained any more fat on my body- on the contrary, I’ve lost some, though not all of it (I’m not particularly interested in “losing weight,” I simply want to be healthier and stronger!).
The loss of fat is difficult for the body. You require at LEAST 20 minutes of cardio exercise in order to burn fat (the presence of oxygen and heat is necessary, and more oxygen in the blood than resting, especially). Your body will do it’s very best to keep that fat, too. I’ve gone through random cramps, huge amounts of psychological warfare, and even the need to go to the bathroom when I don’t need to, all from my body not wanting to lose the fat!
However, losing fat is also a long-game sort of thing. It doesn’t happen quickly, and for women, we require a certain amount of fat in order to be healthy.
So, I would say that you’re seeing a lot of muscle gain, and likely less fat gain, when it comes to the weight of each. You could gain a little bit of muscle all over (lets say you gained muscle in your arms, shoulders, and back), and the same VOLUME of fat from wherever on your body… but your scale will say that you are “heavier” by number.I wouldn’t worry about it too much! It sounds like you’re doing really well, and have some great goals for wanting to teach and compete π
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Wow that was actually very insightful. Yeah I actually don’t own a scale for that reason. When I say I’ve gained I mean via how my cloths feel how tight my belt is, but that makes sense that it is the muscle gain and not weight I’m noticing. Is pole a cardio workout?
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Pole CAN be a cardio workout, depending on how it’s done. If you’re moving quickly, and your heart rate is higher for an extended period of time (longer than 20 minutes), then yes, you’ll be doing a cardio workout!
Personally, I look at pole as more strength training- I don’t often get a good, fast heartbeat for a continuous amount of time when I work on moves for pole.
I do understand gauging your weight based on clothing! Your body may be changing due to an increase of muscle, so a belt may be “fighting” with your new, fantastic core muscles! I know my clothes don’t fit well on my arms- women’s clothes are definitely not made for beefy arms! -
Another thing to keep in mind is that muscle requires more calories to sustain than fat. Basically, that means that as you gain muscle, your body will burn more calories all the time, no matter what you are doing. That could help you with future fat loss, or, as I prefer to think of it, yay, I can eat more!
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Oh yeah, and my shirt sleeves have definitely gotten tighter since starting pole. It’s a small price to pay for crazy strength, right?
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To loose body fat more cardio is needed along with proper diet. If you tend to be a trickster in pole class, instead try doing more sessions of dance or freestyle dance. Dancing will burn more calories than tricks. Honestly though, as long as you are eating well and working out you are in the right track to a healthy lifestyle and them at is far more important than size or weight. Γ°ΕΈβΕ
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That* is far more….not them at lol
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Thank you everyone. Casi yeah it is really cool to notice that there are muscles there. Thanks so much Vena. Yeah I also ride my bike a few times a week so I think maybe the body fat is just taking longer to go away. π
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Veena* sorry typo
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