Weight gain instead of loss?

JellyyBeanz

So some background; I bought this dress for my graduation when I was at a lower weight than usual (F18, 5’11, 150lbs) and then over the last month or two I’ve put on about 10 pounds and my dress no longer zips up. I have about a month to lose it again if I want the dress to fit so I’m very stressed about the whole thing.

This week I started being more strict on calories, staying around 1200-1400 every day. I worked out a few times and when I weighed myself this morning I was expecting to have at least lost a little, but instead I put on 3 pounds! Do you think this is water retention or am I really that bad at tracking? I’ve been constantly hungry for a week so I don’t know if I could eat much less.
Also any tips for losing weight quickly? I know it’s not sustainable but the dress was expensive and I’d rather fit into it then have to get it altered. Thanks!

RelCanonical

Working out can cause water retention to help repair muscles. You might benefit from a weekly dress try-on rather than a weekly weigh-in. Since the dress was so expensive, you might consider scheduling an alteration just in case if you can find someone on short notice. Since it's a small amount of weight, especially for your height, they should be able to let out seams to make it fit better.

NovusDies

I doubt anyone is bad enough at tracking to have eaten 10,500 calories more than they thought in a single day. To gain 3 pounds that is how much you would have had to eat.

First off read this:

http://physiqonomics.com/the-weird-and-highly-annoying-world-of-scale-weight-and-fluctuations/

Next... you will not lose 10 pounds of fat in a single month. You don't have enough fat stores to support a 2.5lb per week loss. If you were to even try and do it you would more likely end up in the hospital than end up at your graduation ceremony.

The good news is that you may not need to lose that much. Some of the 10 pounds you may be currently carrying could easily be water weight. While I don't like the idea of someone doing things to just get water off I see no harm in suggesting a low carb regimen for a few weeks. You don't need keto levels. If you stick to a net carb situation of 75 or less you will probably see results.

Lastly congrats on your upcoming graduation. Try and focus more on your accomplishment and not getting into your dress unaltered.

apullum

It's water.

If you currently weigh 160 lb., then you're already in a normal BMI range for your height. Therefore, you should not expect to lose more than 0.5 lb/week, and even that may be too fast for your stats. 10 lb. in one month is unhealthy and unrealistic for anyone unless they are very obese and under close medical supervision. You may see some water weight loss over the next month, which would change the way your clothes fit, but you're not going to lose 10 pounds of fat in a healthy way in that time.

Additionally, at 5'11" and a normal BMI, 1200-1400 calories is too few for you. You're not going to enjoy your graduation if you black out due to undereating.

If you want to lose 10 pounds of fat, set MFP to a 0.5 lb/week rate of loss, and understand that it will take a long time (i.e., many months to even a year) and require meticulous calorie logging using a food scale.

I would just plan to wear something else that you like for graduation. If we're talking about the graduation ceremony itself, keep in mind that you're going to have your regalia on over your clothes. No one is going to be able to see either your clothes or your body shape under that gown. Instead, dress for the weather. Those gowns can be VERY warm and graduation ceremonies can take several hours. Wear something that will make you comfortable.

deannalfisher

consider taking your dress into a seamstress and see if they can alter it and put a panel in the back

SueSueDio

deannalfisher wrote: »

consider taking your dress into a seamstress and see if they can alter it and put a panel in the back

This. I can understand not wanting to pay extra if the dress was already expensive, but on the other hand it would be a shame to have an expensive dress you can't wear! Especially if you love it.

Having it altered would be far less stressful emotionally and physically than trying to drop 10lbs in a month and panicking that you still won't fit into it. (And possibly making yourself ill in the process.)

Corset-style backs are quite popular, I believe, and would allow for the dress to still fit you well after you get back to your previous weight.


Oh, and congratulations on your graduation! Try to enjoy your day.