Can protein shakes make you gain weight??

alexandravictoria88
alexandravictoria88 Posts: 138 Member
edited November 26 in Food and Nutrition
I've been working out for the past 5 months, mostly cardio and home workouts but have now started going to the gym. In doing so I have started drinking protein shakes but within 2 weeks of taking them I've seen an increase in my bodyweight but also overall im not looking as lean, could this be because of the protein shakes?? I'm eating normally as well ..so I really don't know what's causing this it's really pissed me off lol

Replies

  • alexandravictoria88
    alexandravictoria88 Posts: 138 Member
    Anything, including protein shakes, will cause weight gain if you are consuming more calories than your body is using.

    Are you tracking calories?

    I was tracking them obsessively to be honest so I took a break from counting calories but I basically know what each thing I eat roughly is from tracking before and to be honest im.eating pretty much the same as i was before. This is why it's the only thing I can think off. It's bizarre.. It's making me feel awful
  • sardelsa
    sardelsa Posts: 9,812 Member
    If they put you in a surplus, sure. But that goes with anything.

    You could also be retaining water from your workouts, this is normal especially if you changed your exercises and added more volume.
  • alexandravictoria88
    alexandravictoria88 Posts: 138 Member
    sardelsa wrote: »
    If they put you in a surplus, sure. But that goes with anything.

    You could also be retaining water from your workouts, this is normal especially if you changed your exercises and added more volume.

    Yes I actually didn't think of that.. as i said i was doing home work outs before with no weights at all and now at the gym in squatting 60kg and using weights in every excercising. So like you and others have said it probabaly is jjst water weight. I'm hoping it is ! Its weird aswell ..it seems like my cellulite has become worse too ! I think i need to drink more water too..sounds like im.going to turn into a bloody water balloon lol
  • alexandravictoria88
    alexandravictoria88 Posts: 138 Member
    If those protein drinks are on top of your usual meals/calories then your wiping out any deficit and eating at surplus - which leads to gain.

    Yes this probably could be it .. just so frustrating. I wish it was easy but it's not I find it all so complicated. I eat around 1200 calories a day, im 5ft 2 and before i had the weight gain I was 53kgs and now I'm 55!
  • HoneyBadger302
    HoneyBadger302 Posts: 2,085 Member
    From your posts, sounds like a combination of water weight (probably the primary factor) but also too many calories.

    Depending on the protein shake, they can add quite a few calories to your day. Lifting weights is great, but doesn't have a large calorie burn, so if you're not accounting for the calories in your shakes, there's a chance they've added a bit of weight back on. Shouldn't be a lot in two weeks, but if I were you, I'd consider tracking for a couple weeks to keep yourself accountable before it becomes a real issue.

    That being said, dramatically changing a workout program can result in several pounds of water weight that may take several weeks to go away. For me personally, that's more like 6 weeks. Frustrating, but I know what it is.
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    If those protein drinks are on top of your usual meals/calories then your wiping out any deficit and eating at surplus - which leads to gain.

    Yes this probably could be it .. just so frustrating. I wish it was easy but it's not I find it all so complicated. I eat around 1200 calories a day, im 5ft 2 and before i had the weight gain I was 53kgs and now I'm 55!

    You are light as it is. That 2kgs could be a fluctuation. You could give it another few weeks and see what gives then.
  • alexandravictoria88
    alexandravictoria88 Posts: 138 Member
    From your posts, sounds like a combination of water weight (probably the primary factor) but also too many calories.

    Depending on the protein shake, they can add quite a few calories to your day. Lifting weights is great, but doesn't have a large calorie burn, so if you're not accounting for the calories in your shakes, there's a chance they've added a bit of weight back on. Shouldn't be a lot in two weeks, but if I were you, I'd consider tracking for a couple weeks to keep yourself accountable before it becomes a real issue.

    That being said, dramatically changing a workout program can result in several pounds of water weight that may take several weeks to go away. For me personally, that's more like 6 weeks. Frustrating, but I know what it is.

    Hmm yes I think you're right, I'll do jusy that. I'll start tracking again for a couple of weeks and see how I go from there. It probabaly is water weight its just so disheartening when you're working so hard and eating healthy too ..yet you see yourself put on weight and your body changing yet again ! 6 weeks! Eugh i hope it doesn't take me that long !
  • alexandravictoria88
    alexandravictoria88 Posts: 138 Member
    If those protein drinks are on top of your usual meals/calories then your wiping out any deficit and eating at surplus - which leads to gain.

    Yes this probably could be it .. just so frustrating. I wish it was easy but it's not I find it all so complicated. I eat around 1200 calories a day, im 5ft 2 and before i had the weight gain I was 53kgs and now I'm 55!

    You are light as it is. That 2kgs could be a fluctuation. You could give it another few weeks and see what gives then.

    I will do, And hopefully in a couple of weeks ill update the post with positive results lol
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    If those protein drinks are on top of your usual meals/calories then your wiping out any deficit and eating at surplus - which leads to gain.

    Yes this probably could be it .. just so frustrating. I wish it was easy but it's not I find it all so complicated. I eat around 1200 calories a day, im 5ft 2 and before i had the weight gain I was 53kgs and now I'm 55!

    You are light as it is. That 2kgs could be a fluctuation. You could give it another few weeks and see what gives then.

    I will do, And hopefully in a couple of weeks ill update the post with positive results lol

    Yes please do :smile:
  • alexandravictoria88
    alexandravictoria88 Posts: 138 Member
    If those protein drinks are on top of your usual meals/calories then your wiping out any deficit and eating at surplus - which leads to gain.

    Yes this probably could be it .. just so frustrating. I wish it was easy but it's not I find it all so complicated. I eat around 1200 calories a day, im 5ft 2 and before i had the weight gain I was 53kgs and now I'm 55!

    You are light as it is. That 2kgs could be a fluctuation. You could give it another few weeks and see what gives then.

    I will do, And hopefully in a couple of weeks ill update the post with positive results lol

    Yes please do :smile:

    Little update.. it's really stressing me out! Now I'm even more bloated and gassy too and peeing like somethings wedged onto my bladder. Is this all normal?? This is my first full week at thengyn ñ
  • alexandravictoria88
    alexandravictoria88 Posts: 138 Member
    Sorry about that my phone fell and pressed post lol. But yes first full week at the gym i.e hardcore. Is all this happening to me normal???
  • Orphia
    Orphia Posts: 7,097 Member
    edited May 2018
    If you're eating normally but adding the protein shakes, then that would be an increase in calories. You'd need to cut out some calories to add the protein shake calories.

    Though you would have had to consume 17,500 calories worth of protein shakes to have gained 5 lbs, so it's not likely it's due to the shakes.

    Working out with weights at the gym can definitely cause water weight gain. Muscles use water to repair and strengthen.

    It could be your usual monthly hormonal change time too (which can differ from one woman to the next). My weight can jump 1 or 2 kg at that time.

    If you're already stressed, and counting calories stresses you out, don't log, and keep doing what you've been doing for a few weeks and see if your weight levels out.

    If you change too many things at once, you'll never know what caused or fixed the weight gain.
  • hesn92
    hesn92 Posts: 5,966 Member
    edited May 2018
    I mean. Are you counting your calories?

    Sorry didn’t realize this was an older post
  • alexandravictoria88
    alexandravictoria88 Posts: 138 Member
    hesn92 wrote: »
    I mean. Are you counting your calories?

    Sorry didn’t realize this was an older post

    I became slightly obsessed with counting calories and it made me feel a little anxious and depressed so I stopped however I can usually judge roughly on what calories I am consuming. I am eating around 1.300 kcal
  • alexandravictoria88
    alexandravictoria88 Posts: 138 Member
    Orphia wrote: »
    If you're eating normally but adding the protein shakes, then that would be an increase in calories. You'd need to cut out some calories to add the protein shake calories.

    Though you would have had to consume 17,500 calories worth of protein shakes to have gained 5 lbs, so it's not likely it's due to the shakes.

    Working out with weights at the gym can definitely cause water weight gain. Muscles use water to repair and strengthen.

    It could be your usual monthly hormonal change time too (which can differ from one woman to the next). My weight can jump 1 or 2 kg at that time.

    If you're already stressed, and counting calories stresses you out, don't log, and keep doing what you've been doing for a few weeks and see if your weight levels out.

    If you change too many things at once, you'll never know what caused or fixed the weight gain.

    Yes I think that it really is water weight. From hitting 56kgs ( my heaviest in 2 years) I am now 55.4kg lol this is the end of the my first week of hardcore gyming. You're right i think i won't log anymore or log but not to get as obsessed as i usually get. I find that when I eat bread of any kind it bloats but when I eat pasta my belly is fine lol
  • rose2_0
    rose2_0 Posts: 150 Member
    What's in those protein shakes besides powder?
This discussion has been closed.