gained half of what I lost back?

avenathus

So I thought I was fairly well-versed in a lot of this stuff at this point but I have reached a wall of confusion where I don't know what applies to me anymore!

I came to MFP not overweight, but looking to lose 15lbs. I think from the beginning my goal should have been to tone up and gain muscle, but I was pretty clueless at first, so the 15lbs was my goal. In any case, I reached my goal about 3 weeks ago, and then I began maintaining. I immediately put back on 2-3lbs but I wasn't too concerned, figuring it was water weight from eating more. I started my strength training plan just a week ago, and I've trained 3 times over the course of that week, with some moderate cardio mixed in.

I have to admit I had a couple of high calorie days over the course of this month, but nothing that would have given me the 3,500 extra cals needed to gain an actual pound of weight. Last Sunday of course was Easter, and my mom gave me a bunch of ham to bring home. I've been eating it this week, but still watching my calories and exercising in some form every day. And all this week I have seen gain after gain! In all, the scale is basically telling me that I just gained back HALF of the weight I've been working hard since February to lose.

If it helps, I am 5' tall and I try to eat between 1200 and 1500 calories a day. I work out moderately for at least half an hour 5-6 days a week. Besides that I have a 9-5 desk job so my everyday life is pretty sedentary.

Here are the numerous factors leading to my confusion about what to do. I HAVE had a couple of off days of eating junk, but I didn't think it would be enough to add on actual pounds. I also don't think I've gained THAT much muscle. I've been strength training for a week now but before that I was just about all cardio. I suppose I MIGHT be in starvation mode, but it's hard to tell since I do eat back some of my exercise calories, and I've been in my goal range pretty consistently. With my food this week I've definitely gone over in sodium a lot, I think because of all that darn leftover ham haha. But could that really cause this much water retention?

I know people will say stop worrying about the scale, but when you get on the scale and have gained back HALF of what you lost... well, it's a SUPER crappy feeling!! And now I'm not sure where to go. Cut down on sodium (well, that's a given, but is it even the major problem in the first place)? Eat less? Eat more? Never eat ham ever again? (I still have some leftover, and I hate throwing food out! grrr) Cut down on exercising? Exercise more? Does anyone have any thoughts? Sorry for the long post

Angela4Health

All I know is sodium can actually play a bigger role in weight gain than you might think. It's amazing how much water our bodies will retain!

Jessaamine

I vote sodium in the ham. Once you get yourself back to your normal foods you'll be fine.

HaleyAlli

3 words: SODIUM. is. HUGE. Let me tell ya, it makes the difference! Also, it sounds like you may be undereating. I would up my calories a little bit, cut down the sodium to at LEAST what is recommended on the site (but actually 1,500 is the healthiest amount), and above all, make sure you drink your healthy recommendation of water every day (and MORE if you go over on sodium). I'm no expert, I'm not perfect at this, but this has made a world of difference for my first few pounds!

Alaniles

Don't be too worried about the weight as it seemed you have now reached your target, focus on your measuring the areas and work to reduce/increase these. Don't forget as your a lady your body WILL flutuate thoughout the month. So Weigh yourself less - Measure youself more. (Also muscle being denser than fat weighs more - can't win at both weight loss and muscle gain!)

avenathus

Thanks for all the quick responses so far I'm definitely going to get back on track with my sodium intake. Usually my intake fluctuates... some days it's quite low (below 1000mg) and some days I'm closer to the 2500. I guess this is the first time I've consistently had an overly high intake!

avenathus

Don't be too worried about the weight as it seemed you have now reached your target, focus on your measuring the areas and work to reduce/increase these. Don't forget as your a lady your body WILL flutuate thoughout the month. So Weigh yourself less - Measure youself more. (Also muscle being denser than fat weighs more - can't win at both weight loss and muscle gain!)

Thanks for this! I do try to tell myself all of these things but I guess I was spazzing out because to me a 7lbs gain = END OF THE WORLD FAILURE! In the end I do want to build muscle and get stronger but it's scary when I see the scale all over the place. Next goal: invest in measuring tape :P (I used to borrow my sister's but then I moved away so now I need to get my own haha)

jenomaha

I saw this in another forum and it is in regards to why you may see the scale go up when you try a new exercise program. :

http://www.dailyspark.com/blog.asp?post=why_the_scale_goes_up_when_you_start_a_new_workout_plan

Good luck!

jennifer3998

I can gain and lose 9 pounds of water weight in TWO DAYS due to sodium. It's crazy. Ham is the worst. Don't worry about it!

avenathus

I saw this in another forum and it is in regards to why you may see the scale go up when you try a new exercise program. :

http://www.dailyspark.com/blog.asp?post=why_the_scale_goes_up_when_you_start_a_new_workout_plan

Good luck!

Wow thanks for this! Very interesting. I have definitely been experiencing the muscle soreness. Seems like this could be a factor!

avenathus

I can gain and lose 9 pounds of water weight in TWO DAYS due to sodium. It's crazy. Ham is the worst. Don't worry about it!

haha wow I'm glad I'm not alone then! I had heard of people gaining and losing a couple pounds of water weight here and there but I was worried that my 7 was abnormal. Good to know it's not! Darn ham, sucks that I love it so much haha.

AllyS7

I don't have anything else to add to what the previous people have posted, but how do you feel? Are your clothes getting tight? Do you feel sluggish or bloated?

avenathus

I don't have anything else to add to what the previous people have posted, but how do you feel? Are your clothes getting tight? Do you feel sluggish or bloated?

I have actually been feeling a bit crummy. My clothes aren't tighter but I am bloated. I actually get bloated VERY easily and have been bloated more often since I started my nutrition and exercise changes... I actually talked to my doctor about that and she just told me to eat Activia haha (and no, it didn't help). I haven't been sleeping very restfully for about a week, and I've been a bit headachey. Other than that I'm not all that sluggish or exhausted.

avenathus

Good news! I'm back down to my more normal weight today. Thanks for soothing my fears, everyone

jennifer3998

Yay! I wasn't joking about the nine pounds btw. I have done that THREE TIMES. It is alarming! Happy you're back to normal!