rottenapple wrote:I started working out with a trainer in May with my goals being to improve my cardio and also increase my lean muscle. At the time, I was 102 lbs at 5'3 with 11% body fat. I'm a 34 y/o female.
rottenapple,
First of all, exactly how did you determine you are 11%? I question that number.
Secondly, 11% for a woman is extremely low.
For 2 months we focused on weight training entirely. I would do 1 hr of weights with him and then do 25 min of cardio on the elliptical - average intensity 3 times a week. I began eating protein at every meal and started eating a larger breakfast (oatmeal and fruit) on the advice of my trainer. Although I didn't check my body fat percentage in those 2 months I do know that my weight didn't change.
I was then on vacation for 3 weeks and when I went back to training he switched my workouts from weights to cardio. In the last 3 weeks, I've been doing cardio for 1 hr, 3 times a week with him and once a week on my own where I really push myself on the elliptical doing intervals. In 3 weeks I've gained 4 lbs and my body fat percentage has gone up to 14%.
Once again, how do you know that your body fat percentage is 14%? What protocol are you using to measure it?
If your body fat percentage was 11% at one time, that would mean you had 11.22 lb of fat (102 X 11% =11.22).
If your body fat percentage is 14% that would mean you have 14.84 lbs of fat (102 + 4 lb weight gain = 106 X 14% = 14.84)
Thus, 3.62 lbs of you 4 lb weight gain would have been fat. (14.84 - 11.22 = 3.62).
That make NO sense. I question those body fat percentages readings.
I don't understand the reasoning for dropping your weight training completely and performing all cardio.
I question the need for an hour of cardio, as well. Exactly, what it the reasoning for a hour of cardio?
I know a few pounds shouldn't concern me but it does because it's not normal for me to gain weight like this. My trainer seemed dumbfounded as well but then suggested that I'm not eating enough carbs to keep up with my cardio so my body is now storing fat to make up for it.
Like everyone here has posted, that makes NO sense. Decreasing carb intake does NOT create fat storage!
Does this make sense to anyone? Is he right or is there something else I'm doing wrong here? My diet hasn't changed, i.e., I'm not eating more or less, I'm still eating protein and I'm not pregnant.
I suspect that you body fat percentage reading are INCORRECT. Very few individuals or devices are able to provide accurate body fat percentage readings.
Even under the right conditions, there is a plus or minus factor with EVERY body fat percentage reading taken.
Kenny Croxdale