Calories In, Calories Out Question?

holly55555

So normally I eat healthy, hit my macros, and stay within my calories. Over the last couple weeks, I had quite a few days where I didn't eat healthy but I still stayed within my calories for the week.

This would include Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve, my birthday trip for three days.

I didn't hit my macros these days (due to meals out, alcohol, dessert, etc), and I guessed the calories for when I ate out (as opposed to measuring everything at home), but I still stayed within my 1500 cal/weekly range.

I haven't lost any weight since Christmas, but I haven't gained any either.

Here is my question - if it's really just about calories in/calories out, shouldn't I still have lost some weight though I wasn't eating the way I usually do?

Just curious. I'm back to my normal routine now so it should start coming back off.

flabassmcgee

It would help if you opened your diary.

corinic91

holly55555 wrote: »

So normally I eat healthy, hit my macros, and stay within my calories. Over the last couple weeks, I had quite a few days where I didn't eat healthy but I still stayed within my calories for the week.

This would include Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve, my birthday trip for three days.

I didn't hit my macros these days (due to meals out, alcohol, dessert, etc), and I guessed the calories for when I ate out (as opposed to measuring everything at home) , but I still stayed within my 1500 cal/weekly range.

I haven't lost any weight since Christmas, but I haven't gained any either.

Here is my question - if it's really just about calories in/calories out, shouldn't I still have lost some weight though I wasn't eating the way I usually do?

Just curious. I'm back to my normal routine now so it should start coming back off.

Your answer is bolded. It could also be just that your body was adjusting to a different routine and holding onto water weight (e.g. if you're normally low carb and are suddenly consumed carbs, sodium, etc. you would most likely be retaining at least a little water.

Ready2Rock206

If you were guessing and eating out a lot you ate more than you think and were at maintenance rather than a deficit.

prattiger65

You are eating too much.

Charlottesometimes23

Ready2Rock206 wrote: »

If you were guessing and eating out a lot you ate more than you think and were at maintenance rather than a deficit.

I agree. Perhaps it was harder to accurately track on those days.

rileysowner

holly55555 wrote: »

So normally I eat healthy, hit my macros, and stay within my calories. Over the last couple weeks, I had quite a few days where I didn't eat healthy but I still stayed within my calories for the week.

This would include Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve, my birthday trip for three days.

I didn't hit my macros these days (due to meals out, alcohol, dessert, etc), and I guessed the calories for when I ate out (as opposed to measuring everything at home), but I still stayed within my 1500 cal/weekly range.

I haven't lost any weight since Christmas, but I haven't gained any either.

Here is my question - if it's really just about calories in/calories out, shouldn't I still have lost some weight though I wasn't eating the way I usually do?

Just curious. I'm back to my normal routine now so it should start coming back off.

Fat loss and weight loss are different things. Much of what you likely ate was high in carbs and sodium both of which can easily result in water retention the sodium from the process your body uses to deal with sodium and carbs (if you normally eat less carbs as part of your macros) because you muscles will hold on to them as glycogen and water is needed to store that.

The other thing is the estimation of what you were eating. Doing that infrequently is one thing, but doing it the number of times you likely did through Christmas and New Years would likely result in having eaten many more calories than you normally do.

Finally, it is possible your activity level was lower than usual as you spent time with family and friends where you were sitting when you would usually be up doing exercise.

Some or all of those could and likely did contribute to your lack of weight loss. Having said that remember weight loss and fat loss are different. If even with all this you maintained a calorie deficit, you may have lost fat while the water retention is masking it, albeit, it would not be a huge loss based on all the factors mentioned above.

holly55555

Thanks for the advice everyone! I think it must be that I wasn't measuring accurately without my tools. I also definitely carbo-loaded on those days - I love carbs and it's really a challenge for me to hit my protein goals even when tracking every little thing.

I just got a food scale and that alone is shocking! What a difference from just measuring it out! I'm excited to get back on track now, thank you.

holly55555

Woohoo! I guess it was mostly water, as I lost 3 lbs this week according to my scale. I'm set to lose 1 lb/week. Thanks guys for the help!