You started the gym a month ago to get into better shape, only to find out after a month that you’re looking fatter. So you may ask yourself, why do I look fatter after working out for a month? The answer to this is quite simple, although there could be multiple reasons behind it.
Looking fatter after a month’s workout is due to two underlying reasons. One, you were already fat, so your body will first get bulkier and then start to lean down. Two, you will have to get fatter to tone down to a better fit physique. Let’s have a look at some brief causes behind looking fatter after working out for a month.
Reasons Why You are Looking Fatter after Working Out for a Month
There could be multiple causes behind looking fatter even after working out for a month. But there is no need to worry about it at all as most of the reasons are mainly physical and not metabolic, which is actually a natural process of getting toned down to your goal physique.
Usual workout weight gain
The reason why you look fatter after working out for a month is that you worked out hard and soul, and it has a toll on your body. A regular hardcore workout that consists of a lot of heavyweight lifting will obviously cause you to get pumped, and thus your body will look fatter. This is not worrisome as all that new “fat” is mostly muscles getting into shape, and after 3 to 4 months, the actual body fat that you lose will start to be noticed on your body.
Excess fat
Fats usually take longer to get rid of. If you have a high-fat percentage in your body, you’ll likely end up looking fatter after a month’s workout as your body is going through a sudden transition. However, after 4-5 months, you will start seeing results when once fitting jeans are now loose as you’ve lost fat and weight.
Muscle tissue and extra fluid
When you’re working out intensely and were regular for a month, after that time period, you will notice microtear in the muscle tissues. To reduce any permanent and severe damage, the body automatically generates extra fluid to those muscles, and thus your body can start looking fatter after a month’s workout. This may also cause you to gain a little weight, which is again temporary.
A routine process
Many people look fatter after working out for a month mainly because it is a widespread and regular process to go through. It is believed and proven that to lose weight and get a slim-trim toned and fit body, the body will get fatter initially and then start showing results from the 3rd or 4th month. So if you’re looking fatter after working out for a month, don’t get stressed, it’s a very normal thing.
You exercise routine
Although looking fatter after working out for a month could be a common thing, there are some negative causes behind it. The kind of exercise you followed the first month may cause your body to gain weight, which can eventually make you look fatter.
Weight losing and muscle pumping exercises are different. It is evident that if you’re following a muscle gain and buff routine, you will start looking fat.
Strict exercise may make you lazy
If you’re following a very strict routine with a strict diet and supplements, you will end up being lazy for the rest of the day. This results in fewer body movements, and thus you end up looking fatter. Being away from regular movements throughout will make you look fatter, and the training will not be effective at all.
You’re eating back more calories than you’re burning
Although you should always maintain a healthy diet in your everyday food consumption, workouts require even more regularity in controlled dietary routines. You will end up being very hungry after training and to fulfill your hunger.
Nutritionists recommend eating food that is low in calories but high in protein so that the calories you burned from cardio and muscle training, and they don’t come back in your body. But if you do the opposite, you’ll inevitably look fatter.
The role of gender
Studies have shown that women usually get hungrier than men after working out, which leads to them eating high-calorie foods and thus looking fatter. Besides, women have low natural body muscles.
So, to gain a better and fitter physique, their muscle and tissue bulk up initially that make them look fatter after a month’s workout. However, this slowly results in a better-looking body once the old body starts to adapt to the changes.
How to overcome not looking fatter after a month’s workout?
Assuming that you look fatter due to not having a proper diet and workout plan, here’s how you can overcome the situation-
- Follow a balanced diet with a high consumption of water.
- High nutrition should include more protein than carbohydrates and fats.
- Allow yourself one day of cheat meal with minimum consumption of high-calorie foods.
- Don’t overstress on giving up eating what you love. Your body still requires it, so keep it minimal and not more than twice a week.
- Follow an exercise plan that suits your goal and body type. Directly jumping on to very strict and heavy training may cause the result to be the opposite.
Always keep cardio pieces of training in your everyday workout plan. Indulge in only strict cardio routines at least once or twice a week.
Conclusion
If you’re in a mindset to follow a balanced and planned training routine for a long period of time, do not get stressed about looking fatter after working out for a month. It is actually impossible to gain weight and look fatter by gaining fat on your body if you have worked out regularly for a month. Each pound of fat requires 3,500 calories of food intake.
So, as long as you’re maintaining a balanced diet and an equilibrium workout plan, looking fatter after a month’s workout is just part of the process. Being regular and truthful to your goal will start showing results after 3-4 months eventually for sure.
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