I gained weight! HELP!

I had been weight training 2-3 days a week for several months now. I started to see some definition especially in my arms. However, I kept up my horrendous eating habits of eating fast food everyday. I only lost 6 pounds from weight training without changing my diet. About 2 and a half weeks ago I began eating healthy. As a result of my new diet I had lost 13 pounds in just 2 weeks. Yesterday, I went out to eat and I ordered a burger. I now have learned that eating a burger is a really bad idea when trying to lose weight. Today, I woke up all bloated and fuller looking all over and I have gained 4 pounds! It is really disappointing considering I was steadily losing weight. Could it be the insanely high amounts of sodium the burger had or did I gain fat? I was 185 pounds now I am 189! I need advice.

Replies

  • PennyVonDread
    PennyVonDread Posts: 432 Member
    It's okay.

    Weight isn't a permanent life sentence, otherwise you wouldn't be here, right?

    Take a deep breath and try again tomorrow.
  • lemonsnowdrop
    lemonsnowdrop Posts: 1,298 Member
    It was the sodium. You gained water weight, not fat. Drink a lot of water today and it'll be gone in the next couple of days.
  • HappyBouncyJello
    HappyBouncyJello Posts: 14 Member
    It's just water weight.

    Keep up your good eating and reweigh yourself next week. =)
  • lorigrocks
    lorigrocks Posts: 123 Member
    I always gain weight around my time of the month and if I eat salty foods I get bloated...but it does come back off very quickly so don't worry as long as you stay on track.
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    I eat burgers almost weekly. My weight goes up and down daily (I weigh every morning - the fluctuations don't bother me, I find it more fascinating that frustrating) - totally normal. You didn't gain 4 pounds of fat overnight. If you like burgers, enjoy them, fit them into your goals, and don't freak out if you show a slight gain on the scale - it will drop back off. Not a big deal.
  • vorgas
    vorgas Posts: 741 Member
    Could it be the insanely high amounts of sodium the burger had or did I gain fat? I was 185 pounds now I am 189! I need advice.
    Was this your burger?
    Huge-Burger.jpg
    No? Then it probably isn't real weight gain. A 1/2 pound burger can't make you gain 4 pounds.
  • Vixy1989
    Vixy1989 Posts: 57 Member
    Doesn't muscle weigh more than fat? If you're weight training, you would be gaining muscle, correct? I honestly am not worrying about how much I "weigh", but how good I'm feeling and that I'm not going to be in size 22 clothes anymore...
  • tmaryam
    tmaryam Posts: 289 Member
    Don't panic if the water retention takes more than a week to come off. There's a lot more to it than just drinking more water. Add patience and you'll be fine! Congrats on the success.
  • antiant777
    antiant777 Posts: 16 Member
    I'm having the same things happen as you :) I have been lifting heavy for the last two months, and really haven't lost weight for a month now. Even though I'm eating with a calorie deficit. I have always weighed myself daily, and not seeing the scales move for a month makes me a little bit crazy. But, I am noticing big changes in my body, arms, fat loosing from my chest. So I know im loosing fat, just not weight. Because im a "Noob" lifter, I will put on muscle weight also allot faster than someone that has been lifting for a long time, plus the water retention in the muscles.
    Hang in there, i feel your frustration.
  • geebusuk
    geebusuk Posts: 3,348 Member
    As above - the rapid weight loss was probably mostly just water weight, maybe some 'food weight' too.
    The weight gain was a little bit of the water back.
    Afraid fat rarely goes that quickly - but thankfully also doesn't return that easily either :).
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    High sodium content in the burger made you retain 4 pounds of water. Going from "healthy* foods which are typically low sodium to fast food which is very high in sodium will do that. It is no big deal nothing you have to worry about. Drink lots of water return to your lower sodium diet and the water will sluff of quickly.
  • JTick
    JTick Posts: 2,131 Member
    The above posters covered the sodium issue.

    However...

    13 pounds in 2 weeks? What is your calorie goal? If that loss rate continues, you need to eat more to slow it down.
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    The above posters covered the sodium issue.

    However...

    13 pounds in 2 weeks? What is your calorie goal? If that loss rate continues, you need to eat more to slow it down.

    Going from a fast food diet (very high sodium) to a "healthy" diet (read whole foods.low in sodium) means OP probably reduced their sodium intake by several thousand milligrams and considering your body retains 2 pounds of water per 400mg that 13 pounds was probably a ton of water retention they sluffed off.

    This 8 think is the reason so many people get enamored by eating *healthy*
  • geebusuk
    geebusuk Posts: 3,348 Member
    think is the reason so many people get enamored by eating *healthy*
    Indeed.

    Oh so often on here I see "eat a slice of pizza and *boom* my weight goes straight up, but it comes down when I eat clean-paeleo-veggie, so I'll stick to that"
  • 2013sk
    2013sk Posts: 1,318 Member
    Wow that much have been one big burger!!!!!!!!!

    Youve weighed yourself when you havent been to the toilet!!!! Drink lots of water & flush it out

    Water weight!!!!!!!!