upset and disillusioned

[emmab]

i am 36yo recovering anorexia/bulimia

a year ago i started going to gym etc and very quickly built gains in muscle my dietitian was amazed at increase in couple months (i used to competitive swim to be second in country (NZ) so maybe muscle memory!)

anyway, i had stopped the gym in about august due to many things, and in past couple months have been walking 3-6miles per day (i walk about 3.5 miles per hour i think)

my intake is the same as has been for months and months. i eat healthy mostly fruit and veg with protein etc. keep well hydrated too etc

i hadnt tried on my demon jeans for few weeks but i did yesterday they feel ALOT TIGHTER in legs.

i doubt that i would have built that much leg muscle WALKING surely???

feel very disillusioned and although i know i cant go back to purging i wish i could

any ideas or help?

 

[velvett]

i am 36yo recovering anorexia/bulimia

a year ago i started going to gym etc and very quickly built gains in muscle my dietitian was amazed at increase in couple months (i used to competitive swim to be second in country (NZ) so maybe muscle memory!)

anyway, i had stopped the gym in about august due to many things, and in past couple months have been walking 3-6miles per day (i walk about 3.5 miles per hour i think)

my intake is the same as has been for months and months. i eat healthy mostly fruit and veg with protein etc. keep well hydrated too etc

i hadnt tried on my demon jeans for few weeks but i did yesterday they feel ALOT TIGHTER in legs.

i doubt that i would have built that much leg muscle WALKING surely???

feel very disillusioned and although i know i cant go back to purging i wish i could

any ideas or help?

Just in the legs?
Thigh perhaps and not in the waist - yes, actually your over all body shape can change.

I go through phases of race walking/running on and incline and then not and my thigh shape will change and my pants fit differently.

You may want to take your body measurements from head to toe and record the changes in your body shape - it can really ease your mind. (Also you'll be able to note the area of your body that loses first and last)

You've come this far - don't break down and go back to purging it will only give you a temporary fix of happiness, long term you'll just keep yourself back.

Your body is just a vehicle for your to enjoy life - don't let that vehicle imprision you.

 

[emmab]

largely thigh a little in butt. think waist same
measured arms other day and they are about 1/2 " bigger than at my thinnest..all that was gained in first few months of weights so no recent change there.
guess it just does my head in with the jeans!!!
i am too fearful to hop on scales .. wondering that IF it is muscle what that would mean on scales and think any increase would be a bridge too far for me at moment

i dont want to stop walking though as i have osteo and need to keep doing it. also going to start vibration training soon

 

[velvett]

largely thigh a little in butt. think waist same
measured arms other day and they are about 1/2 " bigger than at my thinnest..all that was gained in first few months of weights so no recent change there.
guess it just does my head in with the jeans!!!
i am too fearful to hop on scales .. wondering that IF it is muscle what that would mean on scales and think any increase would be a bridge too far for me at moment

i dont want to stop walking though as i have osteo and need to keep doing it. also going to start vibration training soon

most likely muscle

if you can get your body fat measured - you don't have to get on the scale at all

vibration training?!?!?!

 

[emmab]

vibration training?!?!?!

for the osteo was recommended ie those power plates

 

[Daisy_Girl]

Taking ONE data point is not very reliable. How your jeans fit one ONE day is not very reliable. The tightness can be due to a variety of things ....

1) building muscle
2) when you last worked out - for example, ALL my pants are tighter in the legs post-cardio, even a few hours later - due to increased blood flow I imagine
3) your food intake the previous days - high sodium?
4) water intake the previous days - dehydration can cause bloating
5) where you are in your cycle - bloating

Track how things are going over weeks-months .... that will help you better see if you are on the right track.

Get back to lifting weights - great for bone building and great for a metabolism booster.

 

[Gymgurl]

Im really hesitant to say alot to you with the past that you have....I have been there and I know I am really sensative to weight talk....anyway....one ..your getting older and that can start to change some things about your body and two cardio alone will not retain that body shape that your had while lifting weights.....