Feeling Deafeated
MEmomof3
Posts: 26 Member
Not sure how it's possible, but I have logged religiously (almost always at a deficit) and worked out everyday and still managed to gain. Not just a pound or two, but six!! So discouraged. Just want to quit!
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Replies
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For how long?
Is it your time of the month?
Could it be water retention due to a lot of sodium intake?
How are you calculating calories?0 -
I rarely weigh myself because I know how the scale can be. I was curious this morning, so I jumped on. It's not "that time", and I watch my salt intake. I don't drink soda or eat anything with a ton of sodium. I'm not sure what you mean by how I calculate calories. I am very honest with my serving sizes. I drink a TON of water, to help flush out anything that might be negatively affecting my weight (sodium). If I'm drinking a lot of water, is retention still even possible?0
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I've had the same issue in the past... It's normal to fluctuate 5 pounds within a single given day, so try not to sweat it! Easier said than done, trust me I know... Have you tried measuring yourself? Muscle weighs more than fat, so it's possible that you're losing inches, despite seeing the weight gain...
Best luck!!0 -
I haven't tried measuring myself....ever. Besides knowing my waist measurement (because of buying pants), I know nothing. Maybe that's where I should start, rather than worrying over the number on the scale. I know for a fact that I've lost some inches, because my clothes fit different, but that number on the scale can just be so defeating! Thanks for your help. I do feel better!0
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Exercise commonly increases ones weight initially because of a couple of reasons:
Water retention due to muscle repair
Glycogen and water retention fill up the cells because of anticipation of higher energy release
Usually last a couple of weeks (sometimes more depending on progression).
I'll just say that if you look the way you want, fit the clothes size you want to wear, and people admire and comment on how great you look.........................does it REALLY matter what the weight on the scale says?
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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I rarely weigh myself because I know how the scale can be. I was curious this morning, so I jumped on. It's not "that time", and I watch my salt intake. I don't drink soda or eat anything with a ton of sodium. I'm not sure what you mean by how I calculate calories. I am very honest with my serving sizes. I drink a TON of water, to help flush out anything that might be negatively affecting my weight (sodium). If I'm drinking a lot of water, is retention still even possible?
Make the scale your Best Friend! Digital scales are the most Fun! 3500 calories eaten makes you gain 1 pound. A person burns 2000 calories by being alive. Eat 1380 calories a day an loose 1 pound a week. All food has calories....Add them up when you eat.0 -
I wasn't implying that you were dishonest...not at all.
Do you weigh your food? Weighing is way more accurate than using measuring cups/spoons. Use cups and spoons for liquids. Weigh everything else.
Do you double check the nutrition info in the database? Sometimes it's off or incomplete. Just today I chose "bananas, raw" and it said 67 calories for my banana. Seemed wrong. I looked it up on the usda nutrition info database and the actual calories is 86!
If you choose subjective things like a "medium banana" you could be off by as many as 20 or 30 calories. I have a bunch of bananas that all look to be about the same size but are all quite different in grams ranging from .97 grams to 126 grams!
All of these little inaccuracies can add up to a large amount of calories by the end of the week.0 -
Usually last a couple of weeks (sometimes more depending on progression).
I'll just say that if you look the way you want, fit the clothes size you want to wear, and people admire and comment on how great you look.........................does it REALLY matter what the weight on the scale says?
Good point. I am naturally an active person....I have 3 kids that I chase daily and a house to run, but I have been working out daily, with weights. I could understand the muscle repair idea.
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margolinville wrote: »I rarely weigh myself because I know how the scale can be. I was curious this morning, so I jumped on. It's not "that time", and I watch my salt intake. I don't drink soda or eat anything with a ton of sodium. I'm not sure what you mean by how I calculate calories. I am very honest with my serving sizes. I drink a TON of water, to help flush out anything that might be negatively affecting my weight (sodium). If I'm drinking a lot of water, is retention still even possible?
Make the scale your Best Friend! Digital scales are the most Fun! 3500 calories eaten makes you gain 1 pound. A person burns 2000 calories by being alive. Eat 1380 calories a day an loose 1 pound a week. All food has calories....Add them up when you eat.
Weigh yourself everyday before you eat in the morning without clothes.0 -
I wasn't implying that you were dishonest...not at all.
Do you weigh your food? Weighing is way more accurate than using measuring cups/spoons. Use cups and spoons for liquids. Weigh everything else.
Do you double check the nutrition info in the database? Sometimes it's off or incomplete. Just today I chose "bananas, raw" and it said 67 calories for my banana. Seemed wrong. I looked it up on the usda nutrition info database and the actual calories is 86!
If you choose subjective things like a "medium banana" you could be off by as many as 20 or 30 calories. I have a bunch of bananas that all look to be about the same size but are all quite different in grams ranging from .97 grams to 126 grams!
All of these little inaccuracies can add up to a large amount of calories by the end of the week.
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I wasn't implying that you were dishonest...not at all.
Do you weigh your food? Weighing is way more accurate than using measuring cups/spoons. Use cups and spoons for liquids. Weigh everything else.
Do you double check the nutrition info in the database? Sometimes it's off or incomplete. Just today I chose "bananas, raw" and it said 67 calories for my banana. Seemed wrong. I looked it up on the usda nutrition info database and the actual calories is 86!
If you choose subjective things like a "medium banana" you could be off by as many as 20 or 30 calories. I have a bunch of bananas that all look to be about the same size but are all quite different in grams ranging from .97 grams to 126 grams!
All of these little inaccuracies can add up to a large amount of calories by the end of the week.
I have noticed that the database can be WAY off, I definitely double check. I don't weigh anything at the moment. I have 3 kids, a husband, and a couple of other people that are living with me that I cook for everyday. I don't know that I would have time or energy to worry about weighing my food too. I am not against doing it, just don't know where to start.0 -
Are you using the calorie burn estimates in MFP and eating back most of your exercise calories? MFP's estimation of how many calories you burn from working out can be pretty far off, so maybe that has something to do with it?0
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I know the feeling, I look in the mirror, and my clothes fit lose, but yet I step on the scale and it says I have gained. Your right it is defeating.
I can't explain but I think checking your measurements will be more motivating that the scale. Good luck0 -
I tried to view your diary but it is closed so it's hard to say what might be happening with your food or exercise. Also, have you tracked your measurements? If you are working out consistently, your body composition may be changing for the better without showing a loss of weight. Replacing a pound of fat with a pound of muscle will make you feel better and stronger (and your clothes will start to feel loose) but not show progress on the scale.0
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christinehuds wrote: »Are you using the calorie burn estimates in MFP and eating back most of your exercise calories? MFP's estimation of how many calories you burn from working out can be pretty far off, so maybe that has something to do with it?
No, I never eat back my exercise calories. Should I be? I eat what MFP says I should eat for my daily calorie intake and then exercise on top of that. Maybe that's what I'm doing wrong.....0 -
I wasn't implying that you were dishonest...not at all.
Do you weigh your food? Weighing is way more accurate than using measuring cups/spoons. Use cups and spoons for liquids. Weigh everything else.
Do you double check the nutrition info in the database? Sometimes it's off or incomplete. Just today I chose "bananas, raw" and it said 67 calories for my banana. Seemed wrong. I looked it up on the usda nutrition info database and the actual calories is 86!
If you choose subjective things like a "medium banana" you could be off by as many as 20 or 30 calories. I have a bunch of bananas that all look to be about the same size but are all quite different in grams ranging from .97 grams to 126 grams!
All of these little inaccuracies can add up to a large amount of calories by the end of the week.
I have noticed that the database can be WAY off, I definitely double check. I don't weigh anything at the moment. I have 3 kids, a husband, and a couple of other people that are living with me that I cook for everyday. I don't know that I would have time or energy to worry about weighing my food too. I am not against doing it, just don't know where to start.
Yep, it was pretty eye opening when I started weighing. A sweet potato that I was logging as 150 was actually near 300.
I don't weigh all the time because it can be a trigger for me, but it's helpful to do it for a week or two just to realize what accurate portion sizes really look like.0 -
debrakgoogins wrote: »I tried to view your diary but it is closed so it's hard to say what might be happening with your food or exercise. Also, have you tracked your measurements? If you are working out consistently, your body composition may be changing for the better without showing a loss of weight. Replacing a pound of fat with a pound of muscle will make you feel better and stronger (and your clothes will start to feel loose) but not show progress on the scale.
I will definitely start measuring myself today and see where that takes me. Thanks for the input!!!!
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margolinville wrote: »I rarely weigh myself because I know how the scale can be. I was curious this morning, so I jumped on. It's not "that time", and I watch my salt intake. I don't drink soda or eat anything with a ton of sodium. I'm not sure what you mean by how I calculate calories. I am very honest with my serving sizes. I drink a TON of water, to help flush out anything that might be negatively affecting my weight (sodium). If I'm drinking a lot of water, is retention still even possible?
Make the scale your Best Friend! Digital scales are the most Fun! 3500 calories eaten makes you gain 1 pound. A person burns 2000 calories by being alive. Eat 1380 calories a day an loose 1 pound a week. All food has calories....Add them up when you eat.
Not every person burns 2000 calories a day. Some people burn more, some burn less. It depends on a lot of factors like height, age, weight, activity level and a bunch of other things.0 -
Weighing can be very discouraging, but it's all about the measurements. Instead of weighing yourself, weigh your food. A food scale was one of the best investments I've made as far as my kitchen utensils. It really does make a difference in what you're logging.
Be patient with yourself, weight loss takes time.0 -
Im in the same boat and have a fitbit. I need to ignore my gained calories from walking and just stick with mfp calories. My goal is 12 lbs by Easter. Im hoping for success I'm tired of doing all this its beginning to really frustrate me.0
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4-5 weeks into constant exercise you will suddenly shrink and that weight gain is almost definitely that muscle weight and possibly water retention. The body holds on then lets go, don't be discouraged.
Weight does weigh 2-3 times as fat and uses that fat and is worth it. It often sounds like BS, but if the exercise is genuine it really isn't.0 -
()DoNotSpamMe73 wrote: »4-5 weeks into constant exercise you will suddenly shrink and that weight gain is almost definitely that muscle weight and possibly water retention. The body holds on then lets go, don't be discouraged.
Weight does weigh 2-3 times as fat and uses that fat and is worth it. It often sounds like BS, but if the exercise is genuine it really isn't.
(More than fat)
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I have 3 kids and a hubby too. It can be a pain but really my weighing my food only takes a couple minutes per meal. I sometimes eat something different than what I make for them but that's my choice.
Weighing your food can be a real eye opener. Check this out:
http://youtu.be/TGcdyfDM3oQ 0 -
You definitely need to be weighing & measuring your food if you want to get an accurate understanding of if you're in deficit or not. Estimations can be incredibly far off!
It's not too hard to do that even while cooking for others. If you're cooking a meal, then just weigh your portion (e.g. if we're eating steak and potatoes, I'll weigh my piece of steak and my potatoes) or weigh it all (for stews and casseroles, etc.) and use the recipe builder to log your portion.
If you get a digital scale with a tare function, you can just put your dinner plate on the scale and weigh each item as you serve yourself by zeroing it out between foods. For recipes, one MFP'er had a good recommendation to weigh your empty pot and then after you're done cooking you can weigh your full pot. The difference will be the total amount in your recipe and it's very simple to then weigh out your portion.
Good luck!0 -
Weight loss isn't linear and using the scale as the defining measurement of success usually leads people down a road of disappointment. It's a tool and while weight loss is an indication of changes in the body, the scales don't dictate what type of weight is actually lost.margolinville wrote: »I rarely weigh myself because I know how the scale can be. I was curious this morning, so I jumped on. It's not "that time", and I watch my salt intake. I don't drink soda or eat anything with a ton of sodium. I'm not sure what you mean by how I calculate calories. I am very honest with my serving sizes. I drink a TON of water, to help flush out anything that might be negatively affecting my weight (sodium). If I'm drinking a lot of water, is retention still even possible?
Make the scale your Best Friend! Digital scales are the most Fun! 3500 calories eaten makes you gain 1 pound. A person burns 2000 calories by being alive. Eat 1380 calories a day an loose 1 pound a week. All food has calories....Add them up when you eat.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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Not sure how it's possible, but I have logged religiously (almost always at a deficit) and worked out everyday and still managed to gain. Not just a pound or two, but six!! So discouraged. Just want to quit!
Before you get too discouraged, have you heard of the "Whoosh Effect"? It is more common in woman 40s+ (with hormone changes), obese and body builders. What happens is the body after the first weight loss of water, then the shrinking of fat in cells, will fill up with fluid (the is different then edema around the fat cells) because it's trying to hold and reserve the cell. Typically your loose a greater amount of weight at once, so don't get caught up with the scales.
This is my hypothesis, I believe people have, if they toss in the towel, fluid that is in the cells, the cells get too large with new fluid and fat and then divide. When you start eating normal, the a-amylase kicks in and starts feeding fat into the cells. That is why folks gain more then when they started the journey. By yourself time and stay committed. The cells will shrink, but fat cells never go away. Once your lean you can easily control it by knowing what your BMR is and adjust calories and exercise to suit your eating habits.
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I have 3 kids and a hubby too. It can be a pain but really my weighing my food only takes a couple minutes per meal. I sometimes eat something different than what I make for them but that's my choice.
Weighing your food can be a real eye opener. Check this out:http://youtu.be/TGcdyfDM3oQ
Wow!!! That is amazing. I had no idea!
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christinehuds wrote: »Are you using the calorie burn estimates in MFP and eating back most of your exercise calories? MFP's estimation of how many calories you burn from working out can be pretty far off, so maybe that has something to do with it?
No, I never eat back my exercise calories. Should I be? I eat what MFP says I should eat for my daily calorie intake and then exercise on top of that. Maybe that's what I'm doing wrong.....
I use a Polar heart rate monitor to track my calories burned and I usually eat back at least half, if not all of my calories. The daily number of calories MFP gives you to eat already includes a deficit, so to create a deficit on top of that through exercise might be a bit much. I know that not all people eat back their exercise calories though, so it could vary from person to person.0
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