WHY AM I GAINING?!
chunkymonkey0223
Posts: 22
I started at 265 and in two years lost 43 lbs. I got down to 222 and in the past month-ish, I have managed to gain about 10 lbs.
The only thing different I started doing was working out. I wasn't working out at all and kept losing. I count calories and right now I am doing what MFP says which is about 1500 calories a day with 4 workouts a week (30 minutes of cardio each time) and I am gaining. I want to toss my scale out the window while driving 65 mph. lol
Any suggestions on what I need to do different?
The only thing different I started doing was working out. I wasn't working out at all and kept losing. I count calories and right now I am doing what MFP says which is about 1500 calories a day with 4 workouts a week (30 minutes of cardio each time) and I am gaining. I want to toss my scale out the window while driving 65 mph. lol
Any suggestions on what I need to do different?
0
Replies
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I would read this thread first.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/872212-you-re-probably-eating-more-than-you-think0 -
Read the link above. But also:
how often do you weigh?
how long have you been gaining?
how are you measuring your calories?
how are you measuring your exercise calories?
are you eating back your exercise calories (all/none/some?)
are you measuring yourself with a measuring tape? If so what has changed and over what period of time?0 -
Water retention, I gain 10lbs in one day after a good workout!0
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are you eating back the cals you burn ( or at least some of them ) ?? can we see your diary ?0
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If you are just starting working out, you are building muscle mass.
Muscle mass will hold more water as well.
Muscle mass will increase your BMR
It will be easier to lose non-lean mass now that you are building more dense lean mass.
Good gains = Good Losses0 -
Read the link above. But also:
how often do you weigh?
how long have you been gaining?
how are you measuring your calories?
how are you measuring your exercise calories?
are you eating back your exercise calories (all/none/some?)
are you measuring yourself with a measuring tape? If so what has changed and over what period of time?
I was weighing every morning but have stopped. I am doing it 1 time a month now.
I have been gaining for about a month.
I do measure calories. I have scales and measuring cups I use.
I do not eat back my calories that I earn.
I don't measure myself with measuring tape, which I need to do I suppose.0 -
If you are just starting working out, you are building muscle mass.
Muscle mass will hold more water as well.
Muscle mass will increase your BMR
It will be easier to lose non-lean mass now that you are building more dense lean mass.
Good gains = Good Losses
I have been told this before. I forgot about this. Thanks.0 -
Water retention, I gain 10lbs in one day after a good workout!
TMI-But, I did start taking birth control 2 months ago. This past month I had TWO, COUNT EM TWO periods. UGH! The past week I stopped my period and the past 4 ish days I have been sleeping more, headaches, bloating and gaining. I thought that crap happened BEFORE a period?! Maybe, the pills are making me gain, also?
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Water retention, I gain 10lbs in one day after a good workout!
TMI-But, I did start taking birth control 2 months ago. This past month I had TWO, COUNT EM TWO periods. UGH! The past week I stopped my period and the past 4 ish days I have been sleeping more, headaches, bloating and gaining. I thought that crap happened BEFORE a period?! Maybe, the pills are making me gain, also?
You're pregnant!!!0 -
Water retention, I gain 10lbs in one day after a good workout!
TMI-But, I did start taking birth control 2 months ago. This past month I had TWO, COUNT EM TWO periods. UGH! The past week I stopped my period and the past 4 ish days I have been sleeping more, headaches, bloating and gaining. I thought that crap happened BEFORE a period?! Maybe, the pills are making me gain, also?
Well, this is your answer. BC changes your hormones, but your body adjusts. You'll continue to lose. If you don't, then talk to your doctor. I gained 6 pounds the first month on BC, and 10 the second. Then it worked itself out.0 -
I know its frustrating this happened to me for WEEKS when I started working out... It's probably water retention. Mine went away and then some. Make sure you're drinking enough water, and just keep doing what your doing.0
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If the birth control is new, it is a possible source of weight gain. You body will need to adjust, but keep in mind that many BC pills will cause weight gain or prevent weight loss even once you get used to it. I tried 2 different brands, and not only did i NOT lose weight, I developed hypertension while on one of them. Make sure you discuss your goals with your doctor, perhaps you can be switched to another brand that will work for your goals.
Also, I second to eating more than you think (I'm guilty of this one), also eating the wrong foods. Exercise can cause a transient increase in weight due to retention, but it should resolve within a month.0 -
Water retention, I gain 10lbs in one day after a good workout!
TMI-But, I did start taking birth control 2 months ago. This past month I had TWO, COUNT EM TWO periods. UGH! The past week I stopped my period and the past 4 ish days I have been sleeping more, headaches, bloating and gaining. I thought that crap happened BEFORE a period?! Maybe, the pills are making me gain, also?
Some Birth Control can make you gain weight. I would check the side effects, plus if you had 2 in the past month with the new meds, your body may be regulating that as well.0 -
Water retention, I gain 10lbs in one day after a good workout!
TMI-But, I did start taking birth control 2 months ago. This past month I had TWO, COUNT EM TWO periods. UGH! The past week I stopped my period and the past 4 ish days I have been sleeping more, headaches, bloating and gaining. I thought that crap happened BEFORE a period?! Maybe, the pills are making me gain, also?
Yes the birth control can make you gain weight. And the double period in one month will also show a gain due to water retention. Give the pill you're on another month and see if things get better. If not I would talk to your doctor about trying a different pill. Make sure you let your doctor know what has been happening also.0 -
If you are just starting working out, you are building muscle mass.
Muscle mass will hold more water as well.
Muscle mass will increase your BMR
It will be easier to lose non-lean mass now that you are building more dense lean mass.
Good gains = Good Losses
So much much muscle does one build in a month or so? 10lbs worth?0 -
So you've measured yourself once and now you suspect you're gaining? Just FYI I can gain 10lbs in a day after a long hike. It's not fat or muscle, it's just fluids trying to restore my body back to shape. I wouldn't call that a gain. It's more of a help towards a loss.Read the link above. But also:
how often do you weigh?
how long have you been gaining?
how are you measuring your calories?
how are you measuring your exercise calories?
are you eating back your exercise calories (all/none/some?)
are you measuring yourself with a measuring tape? If so what has changed and over what period of time?
I was weighing every morning but have stopped. I am doing it 1 time a month now.
I have been gaining for about a month.
I do measure calories. I have scales and measuring cups I use.
I do not eat back my calories that I earn.
I don't measure myself with measuring tape, which I need to do I suppose.
I would eat at least some exercise calories. Particularly if hungry.0 -
Hi, Don't panic! You have done well so far. Sometimes you may have to alter your diet/exercise program a little bit by making subtle change so that your body can't predict what's going to happen. Make sure you stick with cardio since your are trying to trim down versus weights because muscle is heavier. Drink lots of water, push yourself to add a little more time to your exercise program and you might want to step away from the scale and stay diligent. You've come too far now!0
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I was put on one kind of BC and it made me have crazy periods...so I asked to be switched...and I got completed regulated. It also helped with bloating and the other crazy stuff. Maybe you should talk with your doctor about it...0
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Sorry, but you're going to have a hard time trying to convince others that she's gained 10lbs of muscle in a month on an even larger deficit then she was on previously and acheving it via cardio. That's not how the body works. You need a surplus in fuel to grow denser tissue.If you are just starting working out, you are building muscle mass.
Muscle mass will hold more water as well.
Muscle mass will increase your BMR
It will be easier to lose non-lean mass now that you are building more dense lean mass.
Good gains = Good Losses
And I have no idea where the muscle mass will hold more water thing is coming from. Not ready to refute it but I sweat a whole lot easier when I was the weight I was now and a higher body fat.0 -
#1 I am not pregnant! Lol I am on birth control and also use condoms. So, that's most likely not it. I'm not even worried about one.
I am assuming its the pills and the double period. I knew when I started taking them that I'd gain but I've been on them for 2 months and forgot about that. I just happened out of nowhere it seems and I freaked.
I have started drinking more water recently and am going to keep working out 4x a week and doing my 1500 calories and work extra hard to get this 10 lbs off due to pills!
Thanks for the responses!!!0 -
If you are just starting working out, you are building muscle mass.
No.0 -
If you are just starting working out, you are building muscle mass.
Muscle mass will hold more water as well.
Muscle mass will increase your BMR
It will be easier to lose non-lean mass now that you are building more dense lean mass.
Good gains = Good Losses
So much much muscle does one build in a month or so? 10lbs worth?
Of course! Don't you know that fat turns into muscle as soon as you start anything (I am being sarcastic for those that are a bit late to the game)0 -
Sorry, but you're going to have a hard time trying to convince others that she's gained 10lbs of muscle in a month on an even larger deficit then she was on previously and acheving it via cardio. That's not how the body works. You need a surplus in fuel to grow denser tissue.If you are just starting working out, you are building muscle mass.
Muscle mass will hold more water as well.
Muscle mass will increase your BMR
It will be easier to lose non-lean mass now that you are building more dense lean mass.
Good gains = Good Losses
And I have no idea where the muscle mass will hold more water thing is coming from. Not ready to refute it but I sweat a whole lot easier when I was the weight I was now and a higher body fat.
I don't think I've gained 10 lbs in muscle in a month. I haven't been working out for a month. Only a little over a week. I am sure its the pills and double period thing I had.
I forgot that the pill makes you gain and the 10 lbs happened over a months time. So, it has to be the pill. I am okay now. I freaked for a second. I have started drinking more water and working out. So, hopefully, that 10 lbs will be gone soon and I can start back where I was. I think after about 3-4 of starting a new bc pill, you'll regulate and stop gaining.0 -
If you are just starting working out, you are building muscle mass.
No.
I know I won't start gaining AS SOON AS I START working out. I know its the pill now that I've thought about it and read others posts. Also, I read online that when you start working out, you start retaining water easier when muscle gain? Maybe the muscles are holding onto nutrients I'm taking in?0 -
BC, ugh. That can be your problem. Back in the day I was put on Loestrin FE to regulate me. Gained (on 1200 freaking cals a day the whole time, plus exercise) just under a pound a week for 4 months. Finally stopped trusting the doctor's "Give it time, it'll stop. You must be eating too much. Are you eating in your sleep maybe?" and stopped taking it. Back then my average calorie burn was 19 cals per pound of total body weight. I worked out a lot and it paid off. It took about a month for that rate to return after quitting the Loestrin. That is the only time in my life I had any sort of Special Snowflake status, and it sucked.
I'd give it a couple more weeks and then reassess. If it continues to go up - and you are SURE you aren't just kidding yourself in some way - then ask for another med.0 -
If you are just starting working out, you are building muscle mass.
No.
I know I won't start gaining AS SOON AS I START working out. I know its the pill now that I've thought about it and read others posts. Also, I read online that when you start working out, you start retaining water easier when muscle gain? Maybe the muscles are holding onto nutrients I'm taking in?
If you are eating at a calorie deficit, you are not building or gaining muscle. You are strengthening your muscles. It's totally different. In a calorie deficit, you are burning fat and as the fat lessens, you can see the muscles and they appear bigger. It doesn't mean that you have added muscle.
Yes, your muscles do retain water for the repair process. I'm not sure that 10 pounds worth is all muscle water retention. But you may have other water retention issues, because of course you are female.
Also, check the sodium levels in the foods you eat. Excess sodium causes water retention as well.0 -
The thing is, a lot of people think you gain muscle just by gaining strength or exercising. This is not how it works. When people try to grow muscles, they go on a calorie surplus. When people want to lose fat, they go on a calorie deficit. I got to be skinny but still had fat (I didn't lift anything at all) and no muscle so I had to go on a calorie surplus and lift to gain some muscle before cutting calories to lose fat. And while on a deficit, I will not be gaining muscle, I'll be losing fat and probably some muscle if I don't lift heavy enough or get enough protein.If you are just starting working out, you are building muscle mass.
No.
I know I won't start gaining AS SOON AS I START working out. I know its the pill now that I've thought about it and read others posts. Also, I read online that when you start working out, you start retaining water easier when muscle gain? Maybe the muscles are holding onto nutrients I'm taking in?
For the most part, you're going to be losing muscle when you exercise at a deficit. Minus newbie gains if you're really really overweight and those effects are minimal and only last a short period of time before you start losing muscle again.
The reason people do things such as weight lifting on a calorie deficit is so they can retain more of their LBM, not grow it. They're just trying to lose fat, not grow anything.0 -
The pill often makes people gain because it makes you hungry thus it makes people want to eat more. I wouldn't contribute it to the pill. If you've only weighed yourself once and you're still eating the same and you're on a larger deficit, I'd contribute the weight to repairs. The only reason I gained on the pill was because I ate more, not because the pills were over 35000 calories (the surplus needed to gain 10lbs of fat). They mess with your hormones yes...but mostly the I feel like eating hormone, not shutting down your organs so you're not burning calories hormones
Sorry, but you're going to have a hard time trying to convince others that she's gained 10lbs of muscle in a month on an even larger deficit then she was on previously and acheving it via cardio. That's not how the body works. You need a surplus in fuel to grow denser tissue.If you are just starting working out, you are building muscle mass.
Muscle mass will hold more water as well.
Muscle mass will increase your BMR
It will be easier to lose non-lean mass now that you are building more dense lean mass.
Good gains = Good Losses
And I have no idea where the muscle mass will hold more water thing is coming from. Not ready to refute it but I sweat a whole lot easier when I was the weight I was now and a higher body fat.
I don't think I've gained 10 lbs in muscle in a month. I haven't been working out for a month. Only a little over a week. I am sure its the pills and double period thing I had.
I forgot that the pill makes you gain and the 10 lbs happened over a months time. So, it has to be the pill. I am okay now. I freaked for a second. I have started drinking more water and working out. So, hopefully, that 10 lbs will be gone soon and I can start back where I was. I think after about 3-4 of starting a new bc pill, you'll regulate and stop gaining.0 -
Do you measure your food with a digital food scale? It's so easy to think you're eating one cup of ice cream, when really it could be a lot more. I measure almost everything (the only exceptions are frozen meals & some yogurts). I even measure chips that say you can have 23 for so many grams, because sometimes it seems like the counts are way off.0
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Birth control pills will cause estrogen dominance which will cause thyroxine-binding globulin to increase. When this happes, your metabolism will slow down making it difficult to lose weight and quite easy to gain.0
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