I am a Massage Therapist and I give 12 hours of deep tissue a week- yet Im still

[Xynephadyn]

gaining weight! Why? This is something that boggles my mind- for 7 months now I have been giving 12 hours of deep tissue massage, and breaking a sweat mind you, and if anything ive gained weight (not all of it is muscle). It doesent make any sense. I used to lose weight if i went to the gym 3 times a week for 1 hour. Now Im doing physical exercise for 12 and not seeing one bit of difference. I eat a bit more on the days I work- but im not gorging myself. I am wondering how many calories you do burn from massage? I know several massage therapists who have to go to the gym aside from massaging for weightloss as well- why is it we work out bodys to the max for these massages and yet it doesent burn fat? that seems unfair...

Thank You,
A.
Please only LMT's or PT's respond. The general public is not aware of how intense and how much movement is incorporated into a MT's deep tissue massage. Its the equivalent of doing pilates and yoga for 4 hours a day.
I work 4-1 hour massages in 1 day- and I dont eat donuts and drink beer when I go home. I eat very healthy, I have a thyroid disorder- however, I am not the exception to the rule. There are several LMT's that I know personally who have to do cardio in addition to massages, to lose weight. I cant understand how 12 hours of intense massage doesent equivalent 3-4 hours of cardio a week.

 

[prennk]

Work on your diet. Think--do you eat a chocolate bar or protein bar when you are tired? What do you do when you are not massaging? AFter all you are only working 2-3 hours a day? Are you sitting around eating and drinking?

Do the massages and go to the gym and watch what you eat.

 

[michelenergy]

Hi -- I am a Licensed Massage Therapist practicing for years and have gained weight too...

I tell ya -- for me, my weight has always been a struggle. I've gained, lost and gained and lost again. I eventually decided that I would like to figure out the true emotional component that drives me to gain weight and/or stay heavy. Massage has been a wonderful gift for bringing up my own issues.

I still struggle with putting up a guard. I don't know if it's self-sabotage with the work or just blocking my own heart but my weight struggle continues the more I massage. I can't speak for you -- perhaps you can ask yourself if this has always been a struggle.

I went to an AMTA convention a few years ago and met this very nice LMT with a weight issue. She said something to me that was quite interesting: that weight issues have to do with the second chakra and coming into one's own power. I believe this -- I believe that the more I have this delusion that I have to take responsibility for others and come into my own power...the more I tend to block it with my own insecurity and low belief of myself. I understand these are all delusions and that, ultimately, we're just giving up control to a higher power. Yet, I think there might be something with this that keeps the weight on.

Again...I can't speak for you -- I am working on me but I hope that I have written something to spark you. If you would like, please feel free to write to me privately at [email protected].

Good luck!

Michele

 

[Lisa M]

you need to do cardio to burn the calories. I'm sure you have built some muscle doing massage, but you need to get moving to lose the fat.