Holiday Weight Gain

torims6

Hi-
I posted approximately a week ago. From Christmas Eve to January 2nd I gained 8 pounds (from 122 pounds to 130 pounds). During this time, apart from Christmas Day I ran 7 to 10 miles. I largely kept my diet in check and most likely ate less then i normally do. Although on Christmas Day and New Years Eve (didn't track), but I allowed myself dessert so I'm guessing maybe about 500 to 700 calories over what I normally eat. (About 1800 to 2000 calories per day). I really tried to stay on track during the holidays because I had maintained my weight at 122 pounds for like six months and i felt good there. I can't even remember the last time I was 130 pounds.

I'm really depressed, frustrated and confused at this point because my weight still hasn't gone back down. I tried taking a over the counter diuretic for a few days because I look and feel uncomfortably more bloated and puffy and I dropped a couple pounds to 128, but today those two pounds were back.... From my original post the consensus appeared to be that because i increrased my mileage so much (from about 30 to 35 miles in a ten day period) the gain was due to storing glycogen and water retention and it would be down in a few days, but it hasn't. I've resumed my normal routine at the gym and been trying to eat as healthy as possible and mainly fresh fruits and vegetables and lean protein and limiting sodium and carbohydrates as much as possible. I;ve been trying to drink water (even though some days I don't think I drank enough). What is wrong with me? My thighs especially look huge and puffy and my abs have a new layer of fat over them (completely loss the definition) and i got love handles now so I'm fairly sure this is fat, but I don't know how it was possible because I honestly shouldn't have gained more then a pound or two! Please help me I don't know what to do! I honestly want to just stop eating altogether even though I know that is not safe or going to help in the long run-- it's just no matter what i do I just keep gaining.

Love4fitnesslove4food2

There is no way that with that mileage and eating 1800 to 2000 calories a day for 10 days that you gained 8 pounds of FAT. There's just no way. That would required approximately 28,000 calories total or 2800 calories a day MORE THAN THE CALORIES YOU NEED TO MAINTAIN. So, assuming you were maintaing on 1300 to 1500 (which is extremely low for someone active) you'd have had to eat 4100 to 4300 calories every.single.day during that time. You said you didn't do that so you couldn't have gained fat.

Some things to consider:
1) what's your sodium intake like
2) how have your bowel movements been?
3) did you get a new scale?
4) did you move your scale at all?
5) does your scale need new batteries?
6) are you weighing yourself at a different time of day?
7) are you overexercising to compensate (this could cause inflammation and water retention)?
8) could you have underestimated the weight you started at?

mulecanter

My thighs especially look huge and puffy and my abs have a new layer of fat over them (completely loss the definition) and i got love handles now so I'm fairly sure this is fat, but I don't know how it was possible because I honestly shouldn't have gained more then a pound or two! Please help me I don't know what to do! I honestly want to just stop eating altogether even though I know that is not safe or going to help in the long run-- it's just no matter what i do I just keep gaining.

All this from 8 pounds (mostly water)?? Time to pause and reflect about self-image and what's driving you into depression.

torims6

Some things to consider:
1) what's your sodium intake like

Usually slightly above the goal. But on Christmas and New Years Eve was probably higher.

2) how have your bowel movements been?

Somewhat Irregular, but today I had one and I still gained two pounds.

3) did you get a new scale?
no.

4) did you move your scale at all?
no.

5) does your scale need new batteries?
its not digital. it's one of the ones at like a doctors office.

6) are you weighing yourself at a different time of day?
no same time.

7) are you overexercising to compensate (this could cause inflammation and water retention)?
i was overexercising during the period of the holidays (i had more time because i was off from work and i genuinely enjoy running and i was trying to compensate for any splurges I had, but ended up not having many...)

8) could you have underestimated the weight you started at?
no i weighed in three days in a row and it was at that weight.

torims6

My thighs especially look huge and puffy and my abs have a new layer of fat over them (completely loss the definition) and i got love handles now so I'm fairly sure this is fat, but I don't know how it was possible because I honestly shouldn't have gained more then a pound or two! Please help me I don't know what to do! I honestly want to just stop eating altogether even though I know that is not safe or going to help in the long run-- it's just no matter what i do I just keep gaining.

All this from 8 pounds (mostly water)?? Time to pause and reflect about self-image and what's driving you into depression.

Umm i wouldn't be depressed if i thought it was water and wasn't until it had been like four days and it had not budged. i don't know how it is possible to all be fat, but it appears it is because i look larger then before and the weight is not budging whatsoever.

Love4fitnesslove4food2

There is an inaccuracy somewhere. I would guess either you were severely underrating before and now your body is retaining more water than you would predict or you miscalculated how much you were eating. In either case, the base thing to do is eat a healthy amount to lose the added pounds (I wouldn't think you'd need to eat less than 1300-1500) and give it a few weeks. Stop weighing yourself because it's clearly upsetting you and not doing anything to help the situation. Try to be as consistent as possible, workout as hard as you can (I'm not saying increase the duration or the frequency--just give your workouts all you've got), and after 2-3 weeks then stand on the scale. Oh, and make sure you're drinking enough water, eating enough fiber to poo regularly, and not doing anything crazy to overcompensate (eating or exercise wise).