Am I not eating enough/too much?

Momma2CharlieJane

I don't normally weigh myself everyday, but when I weighed in yesterday I had gained 2lbs since last week and I had added a lot of exercise compared to the weeks before. I had a great work out yesterday and decided to weigh myself this morning to see if there was any change. I gained 2lbs in one day. I know I shouldn't really worry about day to day, but how is that possible?

I saw a nutrionist two years ago and he told me to take my weight and multiply it by 6 and that is the # of calories I should be eating a week. When I weigh in, I should adjust. I know I have been eating a good portion of my exercise calories back, but some days I don't. I find days that I do exercise a good amount, I am hungry and I try to at least eat healthy snacks.

Any suggestions? I just want to make sure I'm not completely sabotaging myself here. Thanks!!!

FrankiesSaysRelax

First, that two lb gain is probably water weight from working out. Additionally, it is totally NORMAL for weight to fluctuate. Being up a lb or two is really not a sign of failure or that you've gained any real weight. This is why it's generally a good idea to weigh in once a week and look at the trend. I.E. am I losing weight from week to week, month to month.

Secondly, we don't know your weight so it's pretty hard to know how much you're eating. However, going with your theory I would be eating around 750 calories which is way too low. You need to calculate your TDEE and eat about 20% less than that.


http://www.fitnessfrog.com/calculators/tdee-calculator.html

JenMc14

As long as your are following the guidelines set by MFP while eating back exercise calories, you will lose because MFP sets an automatic deficit for you. If you're doing TDEE - 20%, don't eat them back. As for your nutritionist's theory, that would leave me at 810 calories per day. Ummmmmm, No. Freaking. Way.

2 pounds in a week, especially if you've added new exercise, is normal. Weight fluctuates. I know we all think burn 3500 = lose 1 pound, DONE!, and, in theory it's that simple, but in real life, weight loss isn't that linear.

RGv2

If you added quite a bit of exercise your body will retain water for repair of the muscles that aren't used to the exercise performed. My weight can flux 5lbs depending on the workout I did the day before.

Momma2CharlieJane

Thanks for commenting. I should have provided more information. I am 5'9" and weigh 211. I'll have to calculate my TDEE as I've just been going by my weight x6. I also should have added that with the nutrionists theory once I hit 1080 calorles you stay at that amount, which is still really low!!!! When following MFP, does the program automatically adjust the calories with weightloss?

Momma2CharlieJane

If you added quite a bit of exercise your body will retain water for repair of the muscles that aren't used to the exercise performed. My weight can flux 5lbs depending on the workout I did the day before.

I wasn't thinking about the water to help repair the muscles. Thank you. I really need to read up on exercise affects the big picture. I've alway attributed weight loss in pounds and really have never used measurements to record accomplishments.

Momma2CharlieJane

First, that two lb gain is probably water weight from working out. Additionally, it is totally NORMAL for weight to fluctuate. Being up a lb or two is really not a sign of failure or that you've gained any real weight. This is why it's generally a good idea to weigh in once a week and look at the trend. I.E. am I losing weight from week to week, month to month.

Secondly, we don't know your weight so it's pretty hard to know how much you're eating. However, going with your theory I would be eating around 750 calories which is way too low. You need to calculate your TDEE and eat about 20% less than that.


http://www.fitnessfrog.com/calculators/tdee-calculator.html

So I used a TDEE calculator and put in my info and it said:

TDEE - 2088
BMR - 1740
20% - 1671

So that I understand, 20% (1671) is my calorie target goal that I would put in MFP. I can log my exercise, but do not eat back, correct?

kgeiger141

If I went by the weight times 6 for calories, I would only be eating 978 calories a day.

If I had to eat that little to lose weight, let's just say I wouldn't have lost any weight whatsoever. On average I eat 1400+ per day, and usually 1600-1800 on days I work out. Granted, I don't have much left to lose and am mainly focusing on toning and building muscle, but you should never be eating less than 75% of what your TDEE is.

Find a few legitimate websites, calculate your TDEE on all of them, and I would take an average of what you find (unless you can find a website that seems like it's consistantly reliable). If you're looking to lose weight, eat 15-25% less than that number.

JenMc14

First, that two lb gain is probably water weight from working out. Additionally, it is totally NORMAL for weight to fluctuate. Being up a lb or two is really not a sign of failure or that you've gained any real weight. This is why it's generally a good idea to weigh in once a week and look at the trend. I.E. am I losing weight from week to week, month to month.

Secondly, we don't know your weight so it's pretty hard to know how much you're eating. However, going with your theory I would be eating around 750 calories which is way too low. You need to calculate your TDEE and eat about 20% less than that.


http://www.fitnessfrog.com/calculators/tdee-calculator.html

So I used a TDEE calculator and put in my info and it said:

TDEE - 2088
BMR - 1740
20% - 1671

So that I understand, 20% (1671) is my calorie target goal that I would put in MFP. I can log my exercise, but do not eat back, correct?

Yes, if you go by the TDEE method, and you accurately chose your activity level, do not eat back your exercise calories. You can just log your exercise and change the calories burned to 1 if you still want to track it, but not have the extra calories show up.

Momma2CharlieJane

First, that two lb gain is probably water weight from working out. Additionally, it is totally NORMAL for weight to fluctuate. Being up a lb or two is really not a sign of failure or that you've gained any real weight. This is why it's generally a good idea to weigh in once a week and look at the trend. I.E. am I losing weight from week to week, month to month.

Secondly, we don't know your weight so it's pretty hard to know how much you're eating. However, going with your theory I would be eating around 750 calories which is way too low. You need to calculate your TDEE and eat about 20% less than that.


http://www.fitnessfrog.com/calculators/tdee-calculator.html

So I used a TDEE calculator and put in my info and it said:

TDEE - 2088
BMR - 1740
20% - 1671

So that I understand, 20% (1671) is my calorie target goal that I would put in MFP. I can log my exercise, but do not eat back, correct?

Yes, if you go by the TDEE method, and you accurately chose your activity level, do not eat back your exercise calories. You can just log your exercise and change the calories burned to 1 if you still want to track it, but not have the extra calories show up.

Great, thank you. I had to go and recalculate for my activity level. Looks like I should be eating a little more.