Not sure why I'm gaining weight?
zwedwards
Posts: 7 Member
Hiya!
Since January 1st I've been on 1'200 calories a day, and I've lost around 10kg.
Over the last 2 weeks I've been going back up a bit. even though I'm still on 1'200 calories a day, except on the odd day where I go a bit over if I'm extra hungry or feel like a little chocolate (I didn't think this was so bad) I only mean a little bit extra. (perhaps 50-100kcal)
I tend not to exercise as I've been so busy lately, and my new bmr since losing the 10kg is 1,469
Is there anything I can do to prevent the weight gain, and if I wanted to maintain now do I just need to eat 1469...? It still confuses me
for reference 1'm 5'6", 68kg and I'm 20.
Please help
Since January 1st I've been on 1'200 calories a day, and I've lost around 10kg.
Over the last 2 weeks I've been going back up a bit. even though I'm still on 1'200 calories a day, except on the odd day where I go a bit over if I'm extra hungry or feel like a little chocolate (I didn't think this was so bad) I only mean a little bit extra. (perhaps 50-100kcal)
I tend not to exercise as I've been so busy lately, and my new bmr since losing the 10kg is 1,469
Is there anything I can do to prevent the weight gain, and if I wanted to maintain now do I just need to eat 1469...? It still confuses me
for reference 1'm 5'6", 68kg and I'm 20.
Please help
0
Replies
-
You're gaining weight because you aren't eating enough. Sounds weird, but your body is storing everything you're giving it because you're starving yourself.0
-
But surely because I don't exercise, I am giving it enough.
I also have a desk job 5 days a week so I don't do a lot there either.
Plus I've been losing ok until now..... 0 -
It's not just about calories... I would need to see what you are eating to be able to help.
Joanne Moniz
The Skinny on Obesity Group0 -
since your diary isn't open I have to ask some questions
do you weight your food? do you log everything you eat?
As for it not being about calories it is all about calories...and no your body isn't storing everything...0 -
I have a desk job, am about twice your age, I have thyroid issues and I am shorter than you (5' 2"). When I wasn't exercising I was eating 1400 and still losing weight and now I exercise I eat 1600. I think you will find if you eat more you will be a lot happier and start to lose again. I started with 1200 at first too but when I stalled and then discovered I could eat more and still lose weight I was sold. Trust me it works. There are always ways to fit a bit of exercise in too. I try and walk everywhere I can and now I have upped my exercise I just put on a You Tube video as soon as I walk in the house after getting the kids from school and do 20-40 mins before the notion goes off me 0
-
I do weigh and log everything, not always on mpf, I have a notebook too.
I am always over 1200 calories, and never over 1500. except the odd day every 2-3 weeks or so when I eat at my in laws! always a hefty dinner haha
I mostly eat well, hardly any fried foods, lots of veggies and fruit.
usually I have a cup of tea in the morning, then lunch at 1 which is usually about 350-400 calories then dinner is about 7pm (being about 500-600 calories) and if I do have a few calories left i'll eat a yoghurt or some chocolate or fruit.0 -
There could be a few reasons ...weight loss is not linear
You could be forgetting to write stuff down in your notebook or miscalculating...that's why I prelog on here it does everything for me.
It could be water weight from ToM....
How much have you gained? over what time period...0 -
I never get the obsession with people going as low as 1,200 calories. It just isnt necessary.
Some people talk about this starvation mode theory or not getting enough calories, slowing metabolism. This may be true. Am not a real expert in this though.
However, if you are gaining weight, it is likely you arent eating just 1,200 calories. You would be eating at a calorie surplus. Overestimating exercise/underestimating calories. Calorie deficit = weight loss.0 -
Hiya!
Since January 1st I've been on 1'200 calories a day, and I've lost around 10kg.
Over the last 2 weeks I've been going back up a bit. even though I'm still on 1'200 calories a day, except on the odd day where I go a bit over if I'm extra hungry or feel like a little chocolate (I didn't think this was so bad) I only mean a little bit extra. (perhaps 50-100kcal)
I tend not to exercise as I've been so busy lately, and my new bmr since losing the 10kg is 1,469
Is there anything I can do to prevent the weight gain, and if I wanted to maintain now do I just need to eat 1469...? It still confuses me
for reference 1'm 5'6", 68kg and I'm 20.
Please help
Too much sugar in the diet causes leptin resistance, a hormone that controls appetite. Leptin resistance leads to obesity. That is why we are being warned to keep sugar to a minimum, 10 percent of our calories and the reason why a calorie of one food is NOT the same as a calorie of another. It's the quality of the food we eat... how it is metabolized. Counting calories as the only way of weight loss is becoming "old school"
Joanne Moniz
The Skinny on Obesity Group0 -
You're gaining weight because you aren't eating enough. Sounds weird, but your body is storing everything you're giving it because you're starving yourself.
This is incorrect. You can not gain weight if you are truly eating at a deficit. Weight loss may slow down a bit after long term restriction...but actual gain would be impossible. If you are 100% truly and accurately weighing and logging every bite and sip for several weeks and gaining weight (other than the natural fluctuations of a few pounds up and down) then it's time to go see your doctor.0 -
I never get the obsession with people going as low as 1,200 calories. It just isnt necessary.
Some people talk about this starvation mode theory or not getting enough calories, slowing metabolism. This may be true. Am not a real expert in this though.
However, if you are gaining weight, it is likely you arent eating just 1,200 calories. You would be eating at a calorie surplus. Overestimating exercise/underestimating calories. Calorie deficit = weight loss.
I'm sure I log everything accurately.
Also it isn't an obsession, when I was new at it MPF just set me to 1200 so that's what I did. I didn't know any better.
and I worry that if I now increase my calories, I may gain weight because of like you say, the starvation mode thing. perhaps it is true and I've been doing it all wrong 0 -
I never get the obsession with people going as low as 1,200 calories. It just isnt necessary.
Some people talk about this starvation mode theory or not getting enough calories, slowing metabolism. This may be true. Am not a real expert in this though.
However, if you are gaining weight, it is likely you arent eating just 1,200 calories. You would be eating at a calorie surplus. Overestimating exercise/underestimating calories. Calorie deficit = weight loss.
I'm sure I log everything accurately.
Also it isn't an obsession, when I was new at it MPF just set me to 1200 so that's what I did. I didn't know any better.
and I worry that if I now increase my calories, I may gain weight because of like you say, the starvation mode thing. perhaps it is true and I've been doing it all wrong
MFP will give you the calories required for your weekly weight loss goals if it you put it at 2lbs a week that is why with 20kg (10now) you should be aiming for 1/2lb a week.
Starvation mode is a myth in how it is used here...your body will adapt to low calories but 1200 is not a vlcd...adaptive thermogenics...but it takes a while.
As for sugar being the culprit that is a load of crap...to lose weight you need to be in a calorie deficet and it doesn't matter where those calories come from...the quality of the food is for health.
Are you doing any new exercises? could be water weight from ToM.0 -
I never get the obsession with people going as low as 1,200 calories. It just isnt necessary.
Some people talk about this starvation mode theory or not getting enough calories, slowing metabolism. This may be true. Am not a real expert in this though.
However, if you are gaining weight, it is likely you arent eating just 1,200 calories. You would be eating at a calorie surplus. Overestimating exercise/underestimating calories. Calorie deficit = weight loss.
I'm sure I log everything accurately.
Also it isn't an obsession, when I was new at it MPF just set me to 1200 so that's what I did. I didn't know any better.
and I worry that if I now increase my calories, I may gain weight because of like you say, the starvation mode thing. perhaps it is true and I've been doing it all wrong
MFP will give you the calories required for your weekly weight loss goals if it you put it at 2lbs a week that is why with 20kg (10now) you should be aiming for 1/2lb a week.
Starvation mode is a myth in how it is used here...your body will adapt to low calories but 1200 is not a vlcd...adaptive thermogenics...but it takes a while.
As for sugar being the culprit that is a load of crap...to lose weight you need to be in a calorie deficet and it doesn't matter where those calories come from...the quality of the food is for health.
Are you doing any new exercises? could be water weight from ToM.
I see what you mean
I'm not near my ToM so it shouldn't be that, and I don't really exercise at all.
I've sort of gained 1.5-2kg over 2-3 weeks0 -
there probably is error somewhere that you don't realise, I remember I did 1200 for a long time and always consistently lost weight except for 2 weeks where I hit a plateau and realised it was because the noodles I had been eating for dinner had 2 servings instead of just one XD so i had been eating double what I thought I was for dinner lol. started losing again after realising that
I do also realise now though that 1200 is a bit too low, I lost quite a bit of muscle mass so I wouldn't recommend it heh..0 -
I never get the obsession with people going as low as 1,200 calories. It just isnt necessary.
Some people talk about this starvation mode theory or not getting enough calories, slowing metabolism. This may be true. Am not a real expert in this though.
However, if you are gaining weight, it is likely you arent eating just 1,200 calories. You would be eating at a calorie surplus. Overestimating exercise/underestimating calories. Calorie deficit = weight loss.
I'm sure I log everything accurately.
Also it isn't an obsession, when I was new at it MPF just set me to 1200 so that's what I did. I didn't know any better.
and I worry that if I now increase my calories, I may gain weight because of like you say, the starvation mode thing. perhaps it is true and I've been doing it all wrong
MFP will give you the calories required for your weekly weight loss goals if it you put it at 2lbs a week that is why with 20kg (10now) you should be aiming for 1/2lb a week.
Starvation mode is a myth in how it is used here...your body will adapt to low calories but 1200 is not a vlcd...adaptive thermogenics...but it takes a while.
As for sugar being the culprit that is a load of crap...to lose weight you need to be in a calorie deficet and it doesn't matter where those calories come from...the quality of the food is for health.
Are you doing any new exercises? could be water weight from ToM.
I see what you mean
I'm not near my ToM so it shouldn't be that, and I don't really exercise at all.
I've sort of gained 1.5-2kg over 2-3 weeks
If you are absolutely 100% sure you are counting calories correctly...no new exercise...no reason for water weight then you need to go see a doctor and get some blood work done.
I suspect tho it is more simply such as inaccuracies in logging...we all make mistakes...heck I found one in mine on saturday night...0 -
mmmm nope.You're gaining weight because you aren't eating enough. Sounds weird, but your body is storing everything you're giving it because you're starving yourself.
you're gaining because you're eating more somewhere. unless there's an underlying medical issue, i would seriously metaciously list everything you are putting into your body. don't log coffee? log it. don't log tea? log it. don't log condiments? log it.0 -
Try to exercise at least three times this week. Also, try to watch your carb and sugar intake. Do not eliminate, but reduce these. Focus on healthy protein, veges, fats. You will be satisfied and can eat more. Everyone is different, so try to see what works for you. This might work!
Good luck!0 -
You're gaining weight because you aren't eating enough. Sounds weird, but your body is storing everything you're giving it because you're starving yourself.
This made me laugh. If I had a nickel for every time I read something completely idiotic on this site.....
This is 100% not true and I wish you would educate yourself on the topic before looking like a complete fool.0 -
I never get the obsession with people going as low as 1,200 calories. It just isnt necessary.
Some people talk about this starvation mode theory or not getting enough calories, slowing metabolism. This may be true. Am not a real expert in this though.
However, if you are gaining weight, it is likely you arent eating just 1,200 calories. You would be eating at a calorie surplus. Overestimating exercise/underestimating calories. Calorie deficit = weight loss.
I'm sure I log everything accurately.
Also it isn't an obsession, when I was new at it MPF just set me to 1200 so that's what I did. I didn't know any better.
and I worry that if I now increase my calories, I may gain weight because of like you say, the starvation mode thing. perhaps it is true and I've been doing it all wrong
"I'm sure I log everything accurately."
This does get said on here a lot when it is apparent this is not the case. It cant be that so many people, despite weighing and doing everything properly cant lose weight unless they are not logging correctly.
But gaining weight from not eating enough? Never heard of this.
The other thing is... MPF recommended you 1,200 cals a day. So at what rate are you trying to lose? 1lb a week? 2lb?0 -
If you're weighing your food, measuring correctly, etc....then you may want to see a doctor. There are a number of medical conditions that can cause weight gain. Thyroid for example (a problem I have myself) so maybe get it looked into if the gain continues.0
-
dont listen to the starvation mode theory....a deficit will only make you lose weight...not gain. if this were actually the case then anorexics would be overweight....and they arent.
on another note - it could be that your bmr is lower than you think (i had mine tested and its only 1300 so on 1200 calories a day it takes me awhile to lose weight), you arent exercising enough, you are miscalculating what you are eating OR (and this is the most likely) your weight has just plateaued. it happens to the best of us. as long as you stick with a deficit the weight will come off eventually
good luck!0 -
Hiya!
Since January 1st I've been on 1'200 calories a day, and I've lost around 10kg.
Over the last 2 weeks I've been going back up a bit. even though I'm still on 1'200 calories a day, except on the odd day where I go a bit over if I'm extra hungry or feel like a little chocolate (I didn't think this was so bad) I only mean a little bit extra. (perhaps 50-100kcal)
I tend not to exercise as I've been so busy lately, and my new bmr since losing the 10kg is 1,469
Is there anything I can do to prevent the weight gain, and if I wanted to maintain now do I just need to eat 1469...? It still confuses me
for reference 1'm 5'6", 68kg and I'm 20.
Please help
You can reports here on MFP. Run a report on sugar... I know you will find your answer. It Quality; not Quantity these days.0 -
1200 calories is not enough for anybody, regardless of the amount of exercise you are doing.0
-
Hey, I want also to share my thoughts to you though Im new here.0
-
Hiya!
Since January 1st I've been on 1'200 calories a day, and I've lost around 10kg.
Over the last 2 weeks I've been going back up a bit. even though I'm still on 1'200 calories a day, except on the odd day where I go a bit over if I'm extra hungry or feel like a little chocolate (I didn't think this was so bad) I only mean a little bit extra. (perhaps 50-100kcal)
I tend not to exercise as I've been so busy lately, and my new bmr since losing the 10kg is 1,469
Is there anything I can do to prevent the weight gain, and if I wanted to maintain now do I just need to eat 1469...? It still confuses me
for reference 1'm 5'6", 68kg and I'm 20.
Please help
Do you do workouts or any exercises? Have checked your muscles? Another factor that gains weight is muscle mass.0 -
But surely because I don't exercise, I am giving it enough.
I also have a desk job 5 days a week so I don't do a lot there either.
Plus I've been losing ok until now.....
You need to lessen you diet on protein-rich foods. Protein is good building muscles in our body.0 -
But surely because I don't exercise, I am giving it enough.
I also have a desk job 5 days a week so I don't do a lot there either.
Plus I've been losing ok until now.....
You need to lessen you diet on protein-rich foods. Protein is good building muscles in our body.
would you stop with the muscle gains...you don't gain muscle without trying and for a woman it's hard.
You have to be at a surplus of maintenance and lifting heavy weights.
Protien is not just for "building" muscles it helps repair them as well...if you do exercise cardio or lift weights it is important to have lots of protien to help repair and maintain the muscle you have...0 -
dont listen to the starvation mode theory....a deficit will only make you lose weight...not gain. if this were actually the case then anorexics would be overweight....and they arent.
on another note - it could be that your bmr is lower than you think (i had mine tested and its only 1300 so on 1200 calories a day it takes me awhile to lose weight), you arent exercising enough, you are miscalculating what you are eating OR (and this is the most likely) your weight has just plateaued. it happens to the best of us. as long as you stick with a deficit the weight will come off eventually
good luck!
First of all, Starvation mode is not a theory, it is a real process that occurs within the body. When you do not consume the proper amount of calories for your body to accurately complete its daily functions, it begins to store fat. No, this does not mean you gain weight right away. The reason for this is because your body begins taking nutrients and stored macromolecules from your muscles and other areas of your body. In other words, you are building up stored fats and losing muscle, and as we know, muscles are heavier than fat. So you lose weight. In this process, your metabolism is also badly damaged and slows down so as soon as you begin eating more again, you will likely gain a lot of the weight back that you lost while on a low calorie-intake diet. Once your metabolism is damaged, it takes a lot of effort to speed it up again. I can't possibly explain the whole thing here, but I recommend that some of you research this yourselves so you can lose weight more effectively. It's honestly as simple as eating healthy and exercising.0 -
Different things work for different people in all honesty, people can not eat enough and gain weight or eat 1,200 cals and gain weight.
I have heard you need to burn more than you eat to lose weight. that is the theory i am working off, i am going to eat 3-4 small meals a day and set myself a 500cal limit and use that energy to burn 600-700cals on my rowing machine.
i have no idea if it will work, i don't know much about weight loss because i have heard SO many different story's.
if the 1,200 cal is making you gain weight try lowering the limit to 1,000 cals (you say your snacking after you already hit your 1,200 limit that is probably where you are gaining weight)
i am no expert but to me this makes more sense. o.o
This is very bad advice. When people talk about eating less than you burn you have to take into account all of the calories your body uses just being alive, as well as the calories you burn through day-to-day activity like brushing your teeth. Find your TDEE and take a deficit from that. Trying to exercise off every calorie that you eat will put you in the hospital.0
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.6K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.3K Health and Weight Loss
- 176K Food and Nutrition
- 47.5K Recipes
- 232.6K Fitness and Exercise
- 431 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.6K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.4K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.8K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions