How am I gaining?!?!

AsaThorsWoman

12/10/2013 103 grams of carbs 2,033 calories
12/11/2013 37 grams of carbs 1,414 calories
12/12/2013 44 grams of carbs 2,579 calories
12/13/2013 34 grams of carbs 1,861 calories
12/14/2013 40 grams of carbs 1,759 calories
12/15/2013 18 grams of carbs 1,818 calories
12/16/2013 33 grams of carbs 1,270 calories
12/17/2013 24 grams of carbs 1,520 calories
12/18/2013 34 grams of carbs 1,680 calories

Here's my info (you can also view my food diary). How in the hell can I have gained 3 lb since 12/10/2013 when I've been eating at a sever calorie deficit and attempting ketosis level carb consumption?

I suppose it's possible that *something* might have been slightly mis logged, but not by 10,000 calories which is what I would have had to eat to gain 3 lb!

Commander_Keen

Water weight?
Maybe your salt intake is too high.

micheleb15

Are you working out? Are you weighing and measuring all of your food? It's only been a week.

jimmmer

recent change in exercise regime?

recent change in water consumption?

recent change in sodium levels?

consistent weighing times?

RGv2

Correct, your logging would have had to be off by 10,000 to gain 3lbs of fat but the body can normally fluctuate 3 lbs. I can fluctuate up to 6lbs dependent upon my exercise for the day.

I'd chalk it up to water/normal weight fluctuation.

Lleldiranne

I noticed in your food diary notes you mentioned being sore from working out. If you're doing a new program, or upping the level (so being sore) that can cause water retention as your muscles heal, which could definitely cause the scale to go up. Keep drinking plenty of water and it should adjust soon.

Also make sure that you are tracking everything correctly. You may want to use a scale (if you don't already). It's really easy to underestimate portions and end up eating 200 or 300 calories more than you think, which could use up your entire deficit. (Although I doubt that it would be enough to cause 3 lbs in the last week … that's more likely the water retention)

ElizabethIrish

If you are building muscle that would result in weight gain. When I started FMP about 2 months ago, also started circuit strengthening which resulted in a 3 lb weight gain which took me about 2 months to lose! Look more at your body and less at the scale! Don't give up!

Holly_Roman_Empire

Way over on sodium most days. I'd bet on water retention. You haven't logged before 12/10/13. Did you just restart an exercise program on that day? It could be water retention from that as well, or you could have just weighed in on a high day. Two days ago, I weighed 2 pounds heavier than I do today.

Followingsea

A gain of 3 lbs is a lot if you're talking about stored fat from caloric surplus.

A gain of 3 lbs is absolutely nothing if you're talking about water weight. That's like... a liter and a half of water.

SLLRunner

You've lost 52 lbs, which is quite the accomplishment. My guess is that the 3 pounds is a natural fluctuation, or water retention from salt. Just stick with it and stay off the scale for awhile. Don't forget about measurements too because those can be more telling than the scale.

SLLRunner

If you are building muscle that would result in weight gain. When I started FMP about 2 months ago, also started circuit strengthening which resulted in a 3 lb weight gain which took me about 2 months to lose! Look more at your body and less at the scale! Don't give up!

You don't build muscle at a calorie deficit. And, given that she's lost 52 pounds, she's been eating at a deficit.

SezxyStef

If you are exercising there could be water retention but I did look at your diary and you don't weigh your food.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/872212-you-re-probably-eating-more-than-you-think

Look at that post. It is eye opening.

RGv2

If you are building muscle that would result in weight gain. When I started FMP about 2 months ago, also started circuit strengthening which resulted in a 3 lb weight gain which took me about 2 months to lose! Look more at your body and less at the scale! Don't give up!

You don't build muscle at a calorie deficit. And, given that she's lost 52 pounds, she's been eating at a deficit.

This, and if you gained 3lbs starting a new workout regimen it wasn't all muscle (mostly water mixed with some noob gains). A professional body building female would be hard pressed to put on half a pound in 4-6 weeks.

AsaThorsWoman

I've been exercising consistently for months, while eating the Paleo diet. I had noticed a couple pounds of weight gain and no progress as far as loss, so I decided to hop back onto MFP and log again.

I do Centurion Workouts which are similar to Cross-fit, but done at home and use weights and sledgehammer.

I won't give up, I've been riding this pony since about June 2012, however, not always logging on MFP. I've been here on MFP for years so I know it's an effective tool.

I actually got down from 245 to about 185, now floating around 187.

I want to see the 170's! But I promised myself as soon as I went from "obese" range to "overweight" range (which I have) I'd stop focusing exclusively on weight loss and start lifting and embracing strength.

But it's killing me not to see the numbers go down, or even to see them go up!

RGv2

I've been exercising consistently for months, while eating the Paleo diet. I had noticed a couple pounds of weight gain and no progress as far as loss, so I decided to hop back onto MFP and log again.

I do Centurion Workouts which are similar to Cross-fit, but done at home and use weights and sledgehammer.

I won't give up, I've been riding this pony since about June 2012, however, not always logging on MFP. I've been here on MFP for years so I know it's an effective tool.

I actually got down from 245 to about 185, now floating around 187.

I want to see the 170's! But I promised myself as soon as I went from "obese" range to "overweight" range (which I have) I'd stop focusing exclusively on weight loss and start lifting and embracing strength.

But it's killing me not to see the numbers go down, or even to see them go up!

Are those caloric numbers Net or Gross. If Net, I'm guessing the only day you were in a severe deficit was the 16th.....Just a guess though.

ironanimal

8 days and 3lbs up - sounds like you need more fiber in your diet ;D

sjp_511

Are you expecting you period soon? It could be bloat.

lrmall01

Be patient. You mention you are trying a ketotic diet and a severe calorie restriction so if those are new you probably need more time for things to level out a bit.

Just stay the course and see where you are at in about 2 more weeks. If you aren't losing then try dropping your calorie intake by 200 cals per day.

Good luck!

Fullsterkur_woman

I have been bouncing around a five pound range myself since the end of September. I'm in the upper 170s/low 180s and I am focusing on getting strong too.

I've accepted that I can't drive with my foot on the brake and the gas at the same time. I'm going to Iceland to lift stones next summer, and if I still want to restrict calories and lose some fat after that, it'll still be there.

Take a hard look at why you care whether the scale goes down or not.

michellekicks

I find, just anecdotally, that when muscle glycogen is depleted, water fluctuations are far more severe than they would be if you were eating at maintenance. So anything could have caused the shift (I gain at mid-point in my monthly cycle, for instance) but if your logging is accurate, measured, weighed etc. you should see it come back off in a few days. Just keep doing what you're doing.

One caveat: increased fat can be easily underestimated because it's so much more calorie-dense than carbs and protein. Be careful.

misschoppo

You didn't gain 3lbs of fat in just over 1 week, as you said, you would have had to be underestimating your cal consumption by thousands for that to be the case. More likely it is just natural fluctuation caused. My weight fluctuates within a 5lb range and often seems to be unrelated to what I have eaten e.g. I might have a quite low cal day but weigh more the next morning. It used to annoy me but I've come to realise that although I prefer to weigh in daily or every few days as that is just the way I am, its the overall trend over the course of weeks/months that is important to focus on and not the daily changes.

CariS001

I've been cutting my carbs and watching my calories like a hawk... just went up as well and it's frustrating as heck! My muscles are also sore from workouts, so I'm thinking it's likely water retention.

(((hugs))) hang in there!!

mgorham13

Don't even stress about it. I have not lost a pound ( actually I keep losing the same 10lbs) since September and I am absolutely shrinking. Get the measuring tape out and track it each month even though you will probably feel your clothes getting looser before that. The scale is great in the beginning because the weight flies off. You have lost a lot of weight, keep at it let the inches come off for a while and you'll be good to go.

AsaThorsWoman

My logical mind doesn't want to care if the scale goes up or down, but it's so ingrained, I still feel an emotional reaction when I see the numbers go up.

Fullsterkur_woman

My logical mind doesn't want to care if the scale goes up or down, but it's so ingrained, I still feel an emotional reaction when I see the numbers go up.

So, what if you worked on that part, if you're inclined to invest emotional energy working on this?