I was fed up with not loosing any weight so I finally started to exercise. I exercised 4 times last week…40 minute walk, 30 minute jog/walk, 40 minute jog walk, 20 minute jog.

Yes, I ate more than I had before – about 200 calories/day more, because I was miserably hungry after exercising. I was eating about 1400/day of healthy food, high Protein, no junk and went up to 1600 with the exercise (and by the way, I was still hungry often…tummy grumbling hungry, can't concentrate hungry). I drank my usual amount of Water. And for sure did NOT gain 5 pounds in muscle in a single week.

WHAT GIVES!!!! I hate this. Yes, I'm ranting...my muscles hurt and what did it get for it...NADA! Oh, I take that back, I got fatter!

I always gain when I start a new program. Don't forget that so many factors effect our daily weight. If your muscles are sore they will retain Water and as you workout you will go through phases where you replace fat with muscle. Firing these phases you may see the difference in clothing and inches rather than the scale. Remember that one pound of muscle takes up less space than a pound of fat. And as you build more muscle you'll boost your metabolism.

I have been working out consistently for 7.5 months now and I am a smaller size at a higher weight because of my muscle tone. Keep it up and you'll reap the rewards.

I was banded in September 2012. I have 4.5cc in an 11cc band. I am 5'9. I started out weighing 286 and am down to 236. I work out 5-6 days a week. I believe that a huge part of my success is because of how and what I eat. At the beginning I had some struggles because I kept trying to eat the things I was before. Now I make it a point to always eat my protein first. Veggies next and THEN (and only then) will I move on to a carb IF I have room (which I normally don't). Protein shakes after workouts are my saving grace. When you first start eating this way it is difficult because your body still craves the sugar. After a couple of weeks your body adjusts and you feel less hungry between meals. Make sure you are fueling your body appropriately. Keep the protein levels up and you will lose. Also measure yourself, I lost two pant sizes without losing a pound. A belt that once didn't fit me on its biggest notch became too big for me within a 5 lb loss. Don't let the scale defeat you!