Working out to lose weight - gained 15 pounds. HELP!

slpaul100
slpaul100 Posts: 46 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I started walking four months ago, gradually moving to jogging. Two days ago, I began insanity. In the past four moths that I have been exercising, I have GAINED 15 pounds. Has anyone else experienced this? What should I do?!?! :cry:

Replies

  • kikicooks
    kikicooks Posts: 1,079 Member
    Are you tracking all your food, what is your daily average calorie intake?
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    work on your diet and or see your doctor.

    there is no way you gained 15 lbs from working out without either something medical going on- or over eating by several hundred calories a week. You don't need a big deficit to lose a lot of weight- just a few hundred calories.

    sorry about the gain :( keep up the walking/jogging. Maybe look at some plyometrics/body weight exercises and weight training. But really - focus on diet- weight is primarily a function of diet.
  • slpaul100
    slpaul100 Posts: 46 Member
    yes. Check out my diary - it's open.
  • kikicooks
    kikicooks Posts: 1,079 Member
    Your diary is not open.
  • Phoenix_Warrior
    Phoenix_Warrior Posts: 1,633 Member
    I can't see your diary? Anyway, most important thing is to be accurate about logging all your food. Weigh what you can on a digital scale and only measure liquids. Be honest about everything, condiments, bites, everything counts. Unless there's a medical condition that's undiagnosed, I can't see how that's possible if you're truly eating at a deficit.
  • Railr0aderTony
    Railr0aderTony Posts: 6,803 Member
    Just remember Weight Loss happens in the Kitchen. Fitness happens in the Gym.
  • slpaul100
    slpaul100 Posts: 46 Member
    Sorry y'all. Diary is open to friends. Fixing it now - all feedback is welcome!
  • Phoenix_Warrior
    Phoenix_Warrior Posts: 1,633 Member
    overestimating burns, maybe? You're also spotty on logging, unless you truly dont eat dinner. I see quite a few days where dinner is missing.

    editing to add

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/872212-you-re-probably-eating-more-than-you-think
    This opened my eyes.
  • bacitracin
    bacitracin Posts: 921 Member
    15 pounds is likely mostly water retention and lean muscle mass. To have gained 15 pounds of fat, over 16 weeks, you'd have had to eat almost 3500 calories extra per week, or 500 calories over your TDEE per day.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    15 pounds is likely mostly water retention and lean muscle mass. To have gained 15 pounds of fat, over 16 weeks, you'd have had to eat almost 3500 calories extra per week, or 500 calories over your TDEE per day.

    I'm going to go out right now and say- NO WAY.
    I'm not seeing it- not from walking and jobbing and 2 days of insanity.

    it's not that hard to eat 500 calories over and not know. It's stupidly easy.

    I want to say for men it's still 1-2 lbs of gain a week- and putting that on a woman from an almost purely cardio workout? not happening
  • TheBrolympus
    TheBrolympus Posts: 586 Member
    If you diary is accurate, I saw many days where there was no dinner logged.
    You seem to be eating a huge lunch with no dinner. And you must really like Candy Corn.

    You may see better results if you spread your calories out over the entire day.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    If you diary is accurate, I saw many days where there was no dinner logged.
    You seem to be eating a huge lunch with no dinner. And you must really like Candy Corn.

    You may see better results if you spread your calories out over the entire day.

    maybe. But maybe not.

    Intermittant fasting works really really well for some people.

    you get XXXX calories to eat in 24 hours. It doesn't really matter where you eat them as long as you eat them. most people find spreading it out a little more to be more successful because it manages their hunger better- not because it helps you lose weigh tor not.
  • wilsoje74
    wilsoje74 Posts: 1,720 Member
    You are probably eating more than you need to lose weight.
  • Stage14
    Stage14 Posts: 1,046 Member
    First, where did the goal of 2000+ calories come from that you currently have set? Is that what is designated by MFP? What do you have your weight loss goals set to?

    Also, the lack of dinner in various spots combined with lots of "homemade" entries makes me think that you are probably underestimating your calorie intake. Do you weigh and measure your food?
  • slpaul100
    slpaul100 Posts: 46 Member
    I definitely have a candy corn problem. However, I found a solution...don't buy it. I also have a werther's problem - so I stopped buying those too. Now i'm trying to view fruit and a better compromise. Very true about dinner - sometimes I forget to log it, but I'm trying to be better. Also during this time frame, I began eating fruit (did not previously AT ALL due to allergies, but finally found a fruit wash that works for me) and trying to have a salad for at least one meal.

    As for my caloric breakdown, since I was getting frustrated I looked up the TDEE index and manually changed my intake goals. I'm hoping that will help. Besides giving me a few more calories to work with, it has also given my a completely different goal/breakdown of fat, protein and carbs. Hoping this will make a difference.

    I ran my first 5K last weekend and have another this weekend (Susan G Komen), so that will be a nice break from Insanity - right now my entire body is sore.
  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
    Inaccurate logging, over eating, over estimating exercise are what I see. You don't gain 15 lbs out of thin air.
  • FrnkLft
    FrnkLft Posts: 1,821 Member
    15 pounds is likely mostly water retention and lean muscle mass. To have gained 15 pounds of fat, over 16 weeks, you'd have had to eat almost 3500 calories extra per week, or 500 calories over your TDEE per day.

    I'm going to go out right now and say- NO WAY.
    I'm not seeing it- not from walking and jobbing and 2 days of insanity.

    it's not that hard to eat 500 calories over and not know. It's stupidly easy.

    I want to say for men it's still 1-2 lbs of gain a week- and putting that on a woman from an almost purely cardio workout? not happening

    @ JoRocka, You're on the right track, but it's more like 1-2 lbs of muscle gain per month. I don't know at what rate women gain, but I know that it's less due to physiology.

    @OP, listen to JoRocka, what you need to know is that weight gain and loss is regulated entirely by your diet. That's it, it's simple. If you're gaining weight, look at your diet for the reason why. Unless you're sick or something, then go see a doctor.

    Exercise only burns calories. If you're going to take the time to exercise and diet, you have to take the time to learn about it too. If you want a good book with lots of good information, check out New Rules of Lifting for Women. The exercise routine that goes with it is good but overly complicated in my opinion, but the info in the book is great.
  • mreeves261
    mreeves261 Posts: 728 Member
    I definitely have a candy corn problem. However, I found a solution...don't buy it. I also have a werther's problem - so I stopped buying those too. Now i'm trying to view fruit and a better compromise. Very true about dinner - sometimes I forget to log it, but I'm trying to be better. Also during this time frame, I began eating fruit (did not previously AT ALL due to allergies, but finally found a fruit wash that works for me) and trying to have a salad for at least one meal.

    As for my caloric breakdown, since I was getting frustrated I looked up the TDEE index and manually changed my intake goals. I'm hoping that will help. Besides giving me a few more calories to work with, it has also given my a completely different goal/breakdown of fat, protein and carbs. Hoping this will make a difference.

    I ran my first 5K last weekend and have another this weekend (Susan G Komen), so that will be a nice break from Insanity - right now my entire body is sore.

    I don't know when you switched to TDEE but I see you are logging your exercise as usual still. If you are eating those calories back there's your problem. With TDEE you DO NOT eat those calories back, they are already accounted for.
  • IanBee93
    IanBee93 Posts: 237 Member
    If you diary is accurate, I saw many days where there was no dinner logged.
    You seem to be eating a huge lunch with no dinner. And you must really like Candy Corn.

    You may see better results if you spread your calories out over the entire day.

    maybe. But maybe not.

    Intermittant fasting works really really well for some people.

    you get XXXX calories to eat in 24 hours. It doesn't really matter where you eat them as long as you eat them. most people find spreading it out a little more to be more successful because it manages their hunger better- not because it helps you lose weigh tor not.

    Exactly what I do, and I never end up binging :D
  • kikicooks
    kikicooks Posts: 1,079 Member
    As for my caloric breakdown, since I was getting frustrated I looked up the TDEE index and manually changed my intake goals. I'm hoping that will help. Besides giving me a few more calories to work with, it has also given my a completely different goal/breakdown of fat, protein and carbs. Hoping this will make a difference.

    Just remember if your calorie goal is now set at your TDEE you do not eat your exercise calories back.
  • FrnkLft
    FrnkLft Posts: 1,821 Member
    Keep it simple.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    @ JoRocka, You're on the right track, but it's more like 1-2 lbs of muscle gain per month. I don't know at what rate women gain, but I know that it's less due to physiology.

    @OP, listen to JoRocka, what you need to know is that weight gain and loss is regulated entirely by your diet. That's it, it's simple. If you're gaining weight, look at your diet for the reason why. Unless you're sick or something, then go see a doctor.

    Exercise only burns calories. If you're going to take the time to exercise and diet, you have to take the time to learn about it too. If you want a good book with lots of good information, check out New Rules of Lifting for Women. The exercise routine that goes with it is good but overly complicated in my opinion, but the info in the book is great.

    Yeah I thought that seemed REALLY high- but I only did a quick google- and grabbed what I saw- so that was definitely my mistake I am VERY limited on research at work since 90% of that information is on stuff like tnation/BB.com- which is blocked- so I was reaching LOL I know about diet stuff on HOW to bulk - but the specific numbers on it are not my forte.. but yes- no question it's less for women!!! I KNOW it's not reasonable to see 15 lbs of lean muscle gain in 4 months. I lift 4-6 days a week-I'm pretty serious about the lifting- I've NEVER seen that kind of gain.
    Just remember if your calorie goal is now set at your TDEE you do not eat your exercise calories back.

    meh- I am set on sedentary- I want to see the difference- and therefore do NOT account for my exercise in my TDEE- plus my exercise varies WILDLY from 2-4 hours of dance practice to a heavy lift session and or dance and/or a quick 15 minute HIIT session-which may or may not include dance training: so I do not feel that " moderately active with 3 generic workouts accurately reflects what's going on with me.

    I also don't account for my exercise in my TDEE because despite the fact I work out 4-6 days a week- I'm still technically sedentary since I work a desk for 30-40 hours a week.

    But yes- if she has it set for moderately active- and is ALSO eating back- that would DEFINITELY account for what is going on with the weight gain.

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