Exercise/weight fluctuation help!

kmlt08

I have been going to the gym every day since Monday. I have watched what I have eat but haven't gone over my calorie goals (minus 1 day because I worked out and burned around 1k calories)
Right now I have been going on the elliptical for about 45 minutes a time. I burn around 700 calories. I have started adding stationary bike and treadmill and try to go to the gym for a total of 60-80 minutes.
My question is more does the shock of suddenly working out make you stop losing weight? I haven't worked out at a gym since the 18th of May. I weighed myself on Tuesday and I weigh about a pound more (was 2 on thursday).
I am drinking a TON of water and the ONLY thing I can think of is my net calories ends up being below 1,200 at the end of the day. I tried eating back most of my calories after working out (so it would net over 1,200) and I gained 2 pounds.
So I am curious if this has happened to anyone else. I want to be sure I am not doing something wrong.
I plan to work out 6 days a week for at least 60 minutes a day (on top of chasing a toddler and nursing a baby) and right now set up through my dietitian we have me consuming 1600 calories. (I lowered that on the 20th of May...I was 1900 calories) I drink 1.5-2 gallons of water a day.
Any advice/suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Edestiny7

Use a strapped heart rate monitor if you do not already. Your calories burned will be a closer estimate than what machines tell you. After that, eat back ALL of your exercise calories. It sounds like you are drinking enough water. Your muscles swell with water when you exercise, and hold on to it until you have drank enough so your body knows it doesn't need to hold on to it.

Since you are nursing, I would be careful of not eating enough. Whatever you are not consuming your body will leach from you to fill the breast milk.

Take a look at the 'About Me' on my profile page for my general advice.

I wish you the best!

ceschwartz

2 lbs. is a normal fluctuation. Just keep at it and it will resolve itself.

frugalmomsrock

First, I'll tell you what happens to me:

I usually eat between 1100 and 1400 calories and burn between 1000 and 1300 calories. If I eat more calories than that and eat even half my exercise calories back, I gain weight. It's very frustrating.

I am a nursing mom (my baby just turned a year) as well. I take vitamins, drink a gallon or close to a gallon of water a day, and try to eat healthy foods to get to my calorie goals.

That being said...

1) everyone is different.

2) yes! Suddenly working out can cause a gain. This is because the muscles get microtears in them. The body's defense against internal damage is to create and retain water (like congestive heart failure or the need for drain tubes after surgeries). Your body will eventually become more used to it and only react this way to a really intense workout. For now, it's still in shock so to speak.

3) you can do it!!! Good luck!

Charice

With the amount you are exercising it is possible that you are building muscle mass, which weighs more than fat. That is a good thing and should only affect the weight loss thing temporarily until your body finds the balance and you start losing the pounds again. I would keep eating right and drinking the water, especially if you are nursing. Don't drop your calories, but try eating different foods, i.e. more whole grains, fresh fruits and veggies, etc. Keep it fresh and raw for a week and see where it goes. Plateau's are always frustrating, just keep doing what you are doing and it will eventually work out. Good luck!

kmlt08

Use a strapped heart rate monitor if you do not already. Your calories burned will be a closer estimate than what machines tell you. After that, eat back ALL of your exercise calories. It sounds like you are drinking enough water. Your muscles swell with water when you exercise, and hold on to it until you have drank enough so your body knows it doesn't need to hold on to it.

Since you are nursing, I would be careful of not eating enough. Whatever you are not consuming your body will leach from you to fill the breast milk.

Take a look at the 'About Me' on my profile page for my general advice.

I wish you the best!

I do plan on getting a HRM but right now $$ is tight. (I am hoping to in mid July if not by early August.) I don't want to cheap out on it and am looking at the Polar FT7F one. I really do believe its because I am not eating back or eating enough calories. I think this coming week I am going to try eating all the calories I am working out (I go by MFP calorie counter since they include sex, age, height and weight into your calories you have burned, where the ones at the gym only do your weight) I defiantly feel like I am drinking more than enough. I go through 3 water bottles (sometimes 4) while I am working out alone. I try to drink 1 before I go and 1-2 while I am exercising and then another 1 when I am done. Since I usually work out in the evening should I just plan to spread out my calories during the day instead of waiting until 8-10pm at night to eat? I defiantly need to watch what I am eating so it doesn't effect my supply either. Thank you for all the advice!

kmlt08

2 lbs. is a normal fluctuation. Just keep at it and it will resolve itself.

Thanks! I really should measure myself but I haven't. I really need to now that I am thinking about it, so I don't just use my scale as a dictator of how successful I am.

kmlt08

First, I'll tell you what happens to me:

I usually eat between 1100 and 1400 calories and burn between 1000 and 1300 calories. If I eat more calories than that and eat even half my exercise calories back, I gain weight. It's very frustrating.

I am a nursing mom (my baby just turned a year) as well. I take vitamins, drink a gallon or close to a gallon of water a day, and try to eat healthy foods to get to my calorie goals.

That being said...

1) everyone is different.

2) yes! Suddenly working out can cause a gain. This is because the muscles get microtears in them. The body's defense against internal damage is to create and retain water (like congestive heart failure or the need for drain tubes after surgeries). Your body will eventually become more used to it and only react this way to a really intense workout. For now, it's still in shock so to speak.

3) you can do it!!! Good luck!

I still take my prenatal vitamin because I noticed when I stopped a few months ago for about a week my energy level dropped and I started getting headaches. Started taking them again and I was fine. Way to go on 1 year!! I love it! I was thinking because this is so "new" to my body and I am pushing myself harder than I had even when I was working out before that it "may" have something to do with a shock to my body. I didn't know about the microtears. That is interesting! Thank you!! I defiantly am not planning on stopping, I just want to make sure what I am doing is right and I am not messing something up!

kmlt08

With the amount you are exercising it is possible that you are building muscle mass, which weighs more than fat. That is a good thing and should only affect the weight loss thing temporarily until your body finds the balance and you start losing the pounds again. I would keep eating right and drinking the water, especially if you are nursing. Don't drop your calories, but try eating different foods, i.e. more whole grains, fresh fruits and veggies, etc. Keep it fresh and raw for a week and see where it goes. Plateau's are always frustrating, just keep doing what you are doing and it will eventually work out. Good luck!

I agree they are quite frustrating! Especially when I am pushing myself so hard. I know in the long run it will pay off and I should be patient. I will defiantly try changing up what I am eating.

lloydmel

Try not to freak out if you fluctuate a few pounds (or even four) each week. Make sure you are weighing in at the same time each time. Typically in the morning, after a #2 (I know... TMI) is best....
Water retention can cause up to around 4 pounds of difference in your weight. If you drink a lot of water it is best to keep the water weight down. However, if you are weighing in later in the day or at all times of the day, you will notice a few pounds difference. I doubt you are eating enough to actually gain 2 pounds.... remember 3500 calories is a pound....
Also, remember to eat enough. If you don't, your body will hold onto some of those calories for reserves. If you are nursing... especially full-time, that will take around 500 calories each day... and if you are working out on top of that you need to eat those calories back ( at least most of them).
Don't get so obsessed with the scale. Give yourself about 4 pounds for fluctuation of water weight and if you get to 5 pounds that's when you know there's a problem.
When I was nursing my children, it was like my body was afraid to lose weight. Sometimes women don't lose all of their weight when they are nursing because their body knows that it needs those fat stores. Be patient with yourself and try not to get obsessed with a pound or two here and there. You are doing great! Keep up the wonderful work!

kmlt08

Try not to freak out if you fluctuate a few pounds (or even four) each week. Make sure you are weighing in at the same time each time. Typically in the morning, after a #2 (I know... TMI) is best....
Water retention can cause up to around 4 pounds of difference in your weight. If you drink a lot of water it is best to keep the water weight down. However, if you are weighing in later in the day or at all times of the day, you will notice a few pounds difference. I doubt you are eating enough to actually gain 2 pounds.... remember 3500 calories is a pound....
Also, remember to eat enough. If you don't, your body will hold onto some of those calories for reserves. If you are nursing... especially full-time, that will take around 500 calories each day... and if you are working out on top of that you need to eat those calories back ( at least most of them).
Don't get so obsessed with the scale. Give yourself about 4 pounds for fluctuation of water weight and if you get to 5 pounds that's when you know there's a problem.
When I was nursing my children, it was like my body was afraid to lose weight. Sometimes women don't lose all of their weight when they are nursing because their body knows that it needs those fat stores. Be patient with yourself and try not to get obsessed with a pound or two here and there. You are doing great! Keep up the wonderful work!

I am kinda a scale/weighing addict. I do weigh myself right away in the morning (after using the bathroom) I defiantly think that you guys are right and I am just not consuming enough calories. Yes I nurse my son full-time (he hardly eats anything he is a boobie holic) and I think now that I am going to the gym I should just put my calories back up to 1,900 instead of the 1,600. I was losing on that and working out. I have had such great success with nursing and losing weight but I totally agree that my body could be hanging on to it.
I knew posting on here I would get such good advice! I think I really just need to focus on eating healthy and make sure I am choosing the healthier options and also making sure I am not short changing myself.

This is why I MFP!