Not working out for a week makes me feel huge?

[Anonymous]

I don't have time this week to work out because I have finals and I need to study all day and night for two weeks straight. I usually hit the gym four days a week.

I always notice that if I go more than three or four days without working out I start to feel fat. In fact I have to eat less and even then my stomach feels rounder and bloated and I just feel fat unless I reduce my calorie intake very low to the point that I eat enough to not be starving but not even feel safisfied. But then I work out and in two days I feel normal again.

I am not overweight for my height but I am not underweight either. My doctor says I am normal weight/healthy and good how I am. My overall body is not fat looking either.

I also notice that if I eat a lot for even one or two days I will feel fat and look slightly fatter but then if I diet the next day the weight rolls off so fast! Why do I fluctuate so much?

[leasksun]

I think you may fluctuate so much because you're not eating enough...you should never restrict your calories, especially when you're hungry. That means that you deny your body the nutrients and energy it needs, especially when you're stressed and trying to study. When I was working out, I lost more weight and stayed weight stable when I actually followed my hunger cues. It's normal.

Repeat after me: NOT EXERCISING FOR A WEEK WILL NOT MAKE YOU FAT! I guarantee eating when you are hungry and until you are satisified will not make you fat either---eating until you are satisified is completely normal, and it is unhealthy to eat until you are only barely satisfied--i cannot stress enough that you NEED to eat until you are satisfied, when you are working out, and when you are not working out. Not working out is not an excuse to deprive your body of the energy it needs. The body knows how to adapt and even if you stop exercising, be it for a week or a month, your body will adjust. I speak from personal experience, and also from what I've read upon the subject. I bet you don't even look fat at all---you probably just think you do because you're so dependent on exercise and have such anxiety about gaining weight when you don't exercise.

Exercise is a great stress reliever: but it can become unhealthy if you feel the constant need to do it and the thought of not exercising stresses you out--that's not healthy. Like the person before said, taking time to rest is a good thing. If you really want to work out and de-stress, I suggest a quick ten minute run in the morning or after studying, and then go back to studying.

It's finals week, and you'res stressed and busy, so don't beat yourself up over little things--please be gentle with yourself!

[Theguyoverthere]

Well you have a good addiction so good for you there! Basically you're a gym addict.

Now I am guessing you're doing cardio but I don't know you're routine. However, what I think you're feeling is a lack of progress. I am thin myself and after I eat a really big meal I can feel fat too. I'd also go insane if I did not go to the gym less than 5 days a week. I think you're hooked on the activity. But taking time to rest is good too to prevent overtraining. If you weight train, a de-load week is recommended to some people and some get around it by doing half their weight but people recommend a full week off to let the muscles recover fully.

[maiez]

dont eat less its not healthy. make time to exercise, I have finals coming up too and I still make time, try to wake up earlier.

[Asker]

I'm a law student, it's not happening four days a week.