Why am i gaining weight?

Myamya123 · January 2014

Hi, so i go on and off eating completely clean. However these past 4-5 days i have been so strict and have been around 50-100 cals under my 1500 limit. My starting weight was 162lbs after weighing myself this morning i am 166lbs. I just dont understand why i could be gaining weight when i have been eating so well. Any thoughts? Thanks

AllieGeorge23 · January 2014

Open your diary.

Myamya123 · January 2014

how do i do that?

AllieGeorge23 · January 2014

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/diary_settings

change to make public.

Myamya123 · January 2014

ok done

arrseegee · January 2014

Your diary looks good so I would recommend keep at it for longer than 4-5 days, that's hardly any time at all and the increase to 166 is likely just normal fluctuations. Check it again in a week and if it's still static then post again and see what responses you get.

mhc100g · January 2014

I would wait for a couple months to see if this is a trend or just an outlier. Meaning, you really can't tell much from one point in time. It may be hormonal, it may be activity, caloric intake...it could be anything. I remember during my bachelors degree (which was along time ago, btw ....lol) we discussed this in ex phys class and the thought was the inflammation process can incease fluid retention during the first 6 weeks of training or so. As a result, the body can physically gain weight during this time. Once the body begins to accomodate the stress, the cortisol levels decrease, and the reaction ceases. I am not saying this is WHAT it is...just throwing out ideas. Of course, you should re-check your calculations and make sure you are eating the right amounts, etc.
Always give yourself something to be positive of...even on a bad day/week/month. Taking measurements (something I am terrible at) can also help you as the weight may be up or the same, but the measurements may be better. Another thing you can do if available is blood work to show you are improving physiologically.

So...don't give up. You know this is not a sprint. Look for trends

auddii · January 2014

Are you weighing your food to make sure it's accurate? You have 4oz of chicken breast, but I find they're usually much larger than that these days (and that entry may be for raw weight, not cooked), and some of your entries say "homemade". The calories for those can be wrong, so I like to use the recipe builder or log taco components separately.

That said, in one week, it's likely just water weight. Is you time of the month coming up? I always put on a few pounds the week before, and it doesn't drop off until the week after. I didn't see anything overly salting, but sometimes we just retain water, and there isn't a clear reason. Give it a few more weeks; likely the weight will drop off again. There is no way you would be able to gain 4lbs in a week. You would have to eat 14000 calories above maintenance for it to be fat, and there's just no way you did that.

eldamiano · January 2014

Must try harder. Dont believe the cosy excuses such as water weight. They dont help. Losing weight is about being tough with yourself. Prepare yourself for the worst but most likely reason - you probably arent recording properly.

auddii · January 2014

Leave it to a man to say women don't gain water weight when on their period. Just ignore hormones and their effects on your body. Whatever.

mumblemagic · January 2014

Read this thread:

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

The figure for fajitas doesn't look right to me - when I make them, the tortilla is about what you have quoted, but the sour cream, chicken etc, are on top of that.

100g for a pork loin steak is quite small - typically the sizes I've eaten are more like 200 - 250 g.

Weigh everything!

Also, drink lots of water! And 2 lbs could just be a small variation, you have to weigh in at the same time of day, preferably after peeing, naked, with dry hair, and make sure that you use the exact same spot on your bathroom floor each time to put your scales on - even slight variations in whether the floor is level can change the scale reading by a lb or 2 which is fine providing you are consistent with the spot you use.

Tedebearduff · January 2014

Seeing your diary doesn't matter ... doing something for 4-5 days you wont see a difference even if you see the number drop odds are its not actually fat.

Anyways you need to be more realistic and chill, this is a marathon not a sprint.

Just because you try hard at work for 4-5 days doesn't mean someones going to notice and give you raise in those 4-5 days, you have to do it day in and day out.

P.S I hate questions like these

lorizimmerman58 · January 2014

I started a 1200. cal diet last Thurs, quit sugar, I was probably eating at least 3000 cal previously. I weighed myself this morning and I have GAINED 2lbs! So......... you are not alone. My theory is that my body thinks I am going to starve and wants to store as much fat as possible right now. I am not going to give up, let your body adjust to the new calories you are eating and keep going, I think it will all catch up in the next week or two. I hope my theory is correct!!!!!!

Myamya123 · January 2014

thanks, its just frustrating, could it possibly be from coffee? i drink quite a bit. I just see when i dont try i keep at the same weight but when i try i gain its confusing. I do have a scale i have been using maybe ill track everything separately then

mumblemagic · January 2014

Agreed.

Also both men and women can gain water weight just by not drinking enough water (paradoxically).

mumblemagic · January 2014

Sorry love but this is boll*cks. Please read this:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1077746-starvation-mode-adaptive-thermogenesis-and-weight-loss

MinnieInMaine · January 2014

4-5 days isn't really long enough to know whether or not your new eating habits are working.

It very well could be water weight from a week ago (sometimes it's quick, sometimes it takes a week or two). Your sodium intake isn't too bad but how is your water intake? You're not logging that so it's hard to tell. If you're not hardly drinking anything, even sodkum intake around the limit will cause retention, especially if you're sensitive. I've learned through tracking that I'm quite sensitive to this kind of inbalance and it can take up to a week to get things back to normal, especially with other things involved like time of month (TOM) or heavy exercise induced water/glycogen retention.

As others suggested...are you weighing/measuring your food or just guesstimating? Guesstimating has its place from time to time but if you have no clue what a serving size really is, it can pay to weigh things, at least at first. And it's amazing how much you may be overeating without knowing the difference.

mumblemagic · January 2014

It is so frustrating isn't it? I've been tracking my weight every day for the last week or so as an experiment. The general trend is down, but even weighing at the same time each day it can fluctuate by up to a kg (i.e. 2 lbs) day by day.

mccindy72 · January 2014

Also both men and women can gain water weight by working their muscles harder, eating too much sodium, eating too many carbs, and hormonal fluctuations (yes, men have hormones too). one week really isn't enough time to determine whether your eating is creating enough of a deficit for you to lose weight, just by watching the scale. "Eating clean" really isn't the issue, it's how many total calories you consume in a day. Get a food scale, weigh and measure everything you eat, then you'll have a much more accurate calorie count.

littleburgy · January 2014

FTFY

The rest of that poster's quote is not necessary or helpful.
I also suspect the "cozy excuse" (whatever that is) of possible water weight. Unless you ate 12,000 calories over your limit this week, that weight is not fat.

otillie03103 · January 2014

My body tends to hold onto a lot of water when I start cutting back and for about a week, nothing and then one day I pee none stop and it's like my body finally gives in to the change. The next day I am down 3 lbs. It's crazy. Keep at it and it will happen.

mccindy72 · January 2014

No. Your body is either retaining water, or you are incorrectly counting your calores. Again, one week really isn't enough time to determine whether your weight loss plan is working.

eldamiano · January 2014

Oh get a grip. You dont if this lady is on her period anymore than I do. It wasnt mentioned in the post. Otherwise, while you are at it, why not make a random assumption that the OP has a rare genetic disease too that inhibits her from losing weight?

Keep your sexist accusations to yourself as if you assume I would tell a bloke a different story. Weight loss IS about being tough with yourself. The amount of people who just blame water... it's just untrue. And so what if it was water? Isnt it best to advise in case it wasnt - the most likely scenario? Or do you have some other telepathic power to assume that it is?

YorriaRaine · January 2014

Proper use of measuring utensils (cups, tbs, etc.) and using a food scale is extremely important. Log everything correctly, you are usually eating more than you think.

Many exercise calories are overestimated. If your using online calculators take off 33 - 50%. Heart Rate Monitors are pretty trustworthy as long as you keep your info up to date inside the watch portion, but take off the calories you would have burned naturally if you had just sat on your but ((bmr / 24 / 60) = estimated natural burn per minute).

jUStPunkin · January 2014

I honestly thought this was only me. I noticed when I put the scale on one tile, it shows one weight, and on another, it's different. I place it on the same tile every time now, so at least I know I'm consistent.

auddii · January 2014

Which was why I asked, and you have popped up in lots of threads saying that water weight gains don't exist, and you and all your friends don't have any of the mundane issues that everyone uses to explain away minor fluctuations in weight.

I'm glad you and all your friends have never had those problems (seriously doubting that though since you have women on your friend's list), but telling people it isn't water weight and that isn't an excuse and to just try harder isn't necessarily helpful either. It's been just a few days. The progress on the scale is not linear. Fluctuations happen. There should be an overall downward trend, and if there isn't, then yes, you need to reassess what you are doing. But if everyone were to try harder every time there was a minor fluctuation on the scale, there is a very real possibility of them ending up with a very unhealthy relationship with food, the scale, and their body.

And you need to calm down.

mccindy72 · January 2014

Oh, that was him again? Good lord. Water weight post troll.

mccindy72 · January 2014

I don't even get periods anymore and I consistently fluctuate 3-5 lbs each week. It's water weight, very triggered by changes in my workout and diet. I certainly don't eat thousands of extra calories and then thousands less calories for a few days each week.

EdDickens · January 2014

The linked article below has some pretty good information about how your body reacts to a new diet and exercise program. It might provide a little insight.

http://www.builtdaily.com/why-am-i-gaining-weight/

eldamiano · January 2014

I tell everybody that overeating is to blame just as much as you suggest water retention is at fault. I did not say that water gains do not exist, but that such reasons are so common I become suspicious. Besides, what is wrong with advising for the worst case and more common scenario?

If we go along the narrative that water may be to blame, then at best, the person will lose a bit down the line or at worst, lose nothing or put on. If it we say that it could be calorie intake, then at worst, the person will lose as expected if true, and at best will lose slightly more if water retention was previously to blame. This will not cause a food disorder.

auddii · January 2014

If a person is eating 1500 calories to lose weight, and the scale goes up 4lbs in a day, and you tell them they aren't doing well enough and they need to try harder, so they drop to 1300 calories a day and exercise more. Then in a few weeks, they see another scale gain, and realize they are still failing, so they need to try harder, so they cut calories again and add another workout.

This cycle is definitely a possibility, especially if someone is feeling demoralized and that no matter what they try, it's not working. However, if they took a step back, ignore the minor gains, then they'd realize that overall they are losing. The microcosm of each and every weigh in should not be used to determine what you are doing wrong or right.

Obviously people react differently to what the scale says, but if they are freaking out after 4 days of attempting to eat well, my guess is that they already don't have a healthy relationship with the scale and weight loss in general. It doesn't seem like telling them they are failing is the best way to approach things. They need to keep doing what they are doing for a few weeks and then reassess. Obviously everyone needs to reassess every now and then to make sure what they are doing is working. But, a small gain shouldn't trigger a knee jerk response of "try harder" or "what you're doing isn't working, fix it".

Why am i gaining weight?

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