Why am I gaining weight?!

helloyukihayashi

Help! Advice needed!
I've been on MFP for two weeks. I'm trying to lose 10 lbs. in 6 weeks.

For about a week, the weight came off--nearly 4 lbs, which was faster than I'd expected. But now 2 days in a row, I've been gaining! So now, 10 days in, I'm basically almost back at my starting weight!

I'm on 1,200 calories a day (more on exercise days) and while I haven't been religious about staying under, I've been pretty close. I have a sedentary job but I exercise for an hour 5-6 times a week (running, spin, swimming). I don't do weights because I gained a lot of muscle last year, which I am trying to melt a bit off.

Is this water weight? Did I lose water weight and gain water weight back? Is the back and forth weight that's happening the fluctuations of water?! If so, how do I get the actual fat to go away? I cannot go any lower for calories. 1,200 is already very difficult for me. I also cannot work out any more than I currently do because srsly, I'm already reasonably fit and training for recreational sports.

I'm a 42 year old female if that helps. Thanks for any advice.

snickerscharlie

Your answer is somewhere in here:

unsuspectingfish

Why are you trying to ditch the muscle?

serindipte

1. Weight loss is not linear. It's normal to fluctuate up and down, especially for women who tend to go up around their cycle.
2. If you aren't using a food scale and logging accurately, you may be eating more than you realize.
3. 10 days isn't long enough to see a true trend of weight loss.

Make sure you're logging accurately and keep up the exercise You'll lose!

PS: 1200 is actually too low for most people. Set reasonable goals and take your time. It'll be much easier to stay focused long-term.

CMNVA

I would say that the first 4 lbs in that week were mostly water. Maybe even too much. You probably are stabilizing now. You probably only really lost 1 pound the first week. It's going to longer to see what is really going on. 10lbs in 6 weeks is pretty aggressive depending on your starting weight.

serindipte

snickerscharlie wrote: »

Your answer is somewhere in here.

Love this infogram! I'm going to save this one for future use.

Stella3838

Something to consider is the article below. You may want to continue with the strength training. Muscles are pretty darn good calorie burners.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/weight-loss/in-depth/metabolism/art-20046508

Strength training. Strength training exercises, such as weightlifting, are important because they help counteract muscle loss associated with aging. And since muscle tissue burns more calories than fat tissue does, muscle mass is a key factor in weight loss.

Hornsby

How many calories were eating when you gained muscle?

CattOfTheGarage

I agree you shouldn't be trying to lose muscle, it's not like it's easy to gain, especially for women and especially as you get older, and good muscle tone will make you burn more calories as well as being good for mobility and general khealth.

Basically you need to chill out. It's only been a week. Weight loss takes time. If you're doing it right then the fat is burning off but it will take a while before you can reliably see that because of the water weight going up and down.

emdeesea

CMNVA wrote: »

I would say that the first 4 lbs in that week were mostly water. Maybe even too much. You probably are stabilizing now. You probably only really lost 1 pound the first week. It's going to longer to see what is really going on. 10lbs in 6 weeks is pretty aggressive depending on your starting weight.

Yeah I was going to say this. I don't know your starting weight, but the closer I got to a normal BMI the longer it took me to take the fat off - it took me six months to lose 10 pounds at one point, and that was after weighing and measuring every single piece of food and drink that went into my mouth.

trigden1991

1)You said in your post that you don't stick to your calorie goal.
2)Weight loss is not linear
3)Your rate of loss may be too quick
4)Weight loss is not linear
5)Weight loss is not linear

Hornsby

Also wanted to make sure you know that weight loss isn't linear. Not sure if it's been mentioned...

helloyukihayashi

unsuspectingfish wrote: »

Why are you trying to ditch the muscle?

I know muscle is good in a general sense, but I'm trying to lose some of the muscle because I don't like being too broad in the upper back and shoulders. I had a trainer last year who put me in what felt live an aggressive lifting program and contrary to what they say about women not bulking up, I did bulk up! I don't like how my jackets feel across the back and as they were investment pieces, don't want to buy new ones.

I'm only 5'3" so it really shows. I'm also a runner and triathlete and while a strong core and lower body help me, the other gains were not useful and were translating into more weight to carry and not any measure able improvements in my swim times, let alone biking or running.

Sorry--that's a long answer, but I wanted to explain. I'm all for muscle and being strong in a general sense but I gained a bit too much muscle and so aside from a few basic standard body weight exercises, I'm avoiding weight training for that reason.

suzievv

Log carefully, measure carefully, weigh food, especially high-calorie food.... And you should be eating back at least some of your exercise calories. Be patient. Keep trying. There will be fluctuations.

helloyukihayashi

snickerscharlie wrote: »

Your answer is somewhere in here:

Thank you for this chart! It clarifies a lot.

helloyukihayashi

trigden1991 wrote: »

1)You said in your post that you don't stick to your calorie goal.
2)Weight loss is not linear
3)Your rate of loss may be too quick
4)Weight loss is not linear
5)Weight loss is not linear

Thx for this reminder. I was so stoked about my first (unrealistic) week, that I got ahead of myself. Must keep reminding myself it is not linear!

helloyukihayashi

Hornsby wrote: »

How many calories were eating when you gained muscle?

I was not tracking or restricting calories or macros when I gained the muscle so who knows--anywhere from 2,000 to 3,000 calories per day?! I was burnt out from triathlon training at that time so was doing minimal cardio.

helloyukihayashi

emdeesea wrote: »

CMNVA wrote: »

I would say that the first 4 lbs in that week were mostly water. Maybe even too much. You probably are stabilizing now. You probably only really lost 1 pound the first week. It's going to longer to see what is really going on. 10lbs in 6 weeks is pretty aggressive depending on your starting weight.

Yeah I was going to say this. I don't know your starting weight, but the closer I got to a normal BMI the longer it took me to take the fat off - it took me six months to lose 10 pounds at one point, and that was after weighing and measuring every single piece of food and drink that went into my mouth.

Thanks, guys. These comments are both very helpful.

I am already within a healthy BMI, but at the very top of the "healthy" range (24.9).

Thanks for all your input, it helps a lot!

cheryldumais

emdeesea wrote: »

Yeah I was going to say this. I don't know your starting weight, but the closer I got to a normal BMI the longer it took me to take the fat off - it took me six months to lose 10 pounds at one point, and that was after weighing and measuring every single piece of food and drink that went into my mouth.

Thank you for sharing this. It has taken me 3 months to lose 10 pounds and I was getting frustrated. I'm down 70 pounds so am in the home stretch with 20 to 25 to go.