I eat healthy and exercise for long periods of time

Green605
Green605 Posts: 15 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I try to eat healthy and watch my calorie intake. I sometimes use a journal. I also walk, run and bike for long periods of time.. sometimes hours. My clothing is more loose every month but I see no real difference in my pounds. It goes up and down every week. Sometimes everyday. I try to stay around a certain amount of calories. I also drink almost a gallon of water a day. Could this be water retention?

Replies

  • Ws2016
    Ws2016 Posts: 432 Member
    If your clothing is looser but pounds the same, I would say you are replacing fat with muscle.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Ws2016 wrote: »
    If your clothing is looser but pounds the same, I would say you are replacing fat with muscle.

    This isn't how it works.

    OP, you're either retaining water or eating more than you think.
  • dragon_girl26
    dragon_girl26 Posts: 2,187 Member
    Ws2016 wrote: »
    If your clothing is looser but pounds the same, I would say you are replacing fat with muscle.

    Not if OP is doing primarily cardio exercises, which is what she is describing here. She wouldn't be building muscle from that.

    How many calories are you trying to hit each day, OP? Do you measure out your foods using cups, spoons, etc, or do you weigh everything?
    If your clothing is loser you could be losing inches, but if it's been months you should see it on the scale if you're eating in a deficit.
  • snickerscharlie
    snickerscharlie Posts: 8,578 Member
    Green605 wrote: »
    I also drink almost a gallon of water a day. Could this be water retention?

    Not sure if this was your intention, but the way this was phrased sounds like you may be saying that retaining water may be a result of drinking lots of water.

    Thankfully, that is not the case.

    And if you *are* retaining water from too much sodium or for muscle repair after strenuous exercise, drinking water actually helps to flush the retained water out of your system. :)
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    You're eating more than you think. "Sometimes" using a journal to log your food isn't enough. You have to do it consistently, every single day, and be as accurate as possible (using correct entries, weighing all foods, recipe builder, being mindful of exercise calories, etc.).
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    Clothes stretch

    Over months if your scale weight is consistent you're eating at maintenance

    So you need to reduce how much you're eating

    You are not magically creating muscles with no progressive resistance ..you may be prone to big water weight fluctuations that are fooling you into believing you're losing and gaining though

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