How have I gained weight?!

jane987

HI everybody....

Here's a question for you all.... Hopefully you can help!

The last 7 days I've been REALLY good diet and exercise wise. I've been working out for at least 2 hours a day. That includes a 5k run almost every day, plus classes or weights or walking. On top of this, I've been eating really healthy, and not huge amounts. I've been under my calorie goal (After exercise) almost every day by at least a few hundred....

So, I was surprised this morning when I weighed myself and realised that I've gone up 400grams! It's so maddening. I've been working so hard and I'm still heavier,... Anyone have any advice?

Also, just FYI, I know I could have gained some muscle, but would this have happened so quickly? Over a week?! That seems really fast!

mdelcott

Time of month perhaps

moepwr

Water weight from all the excersise. Make sure you take. Rest day to heal your muscles and theft will let go of some of the water. Good luck and don't let it get to you.

katejenkins1

Water weight from all the excersise. Make sure you take. Rest day to heal your muscles and theft will let go of some of the water. Good luck and don't let it get to you.

^^ this exactly

jofjltncb6

7 days? Really?

Water.

Next?!

(And your scale measure in grams? That is a feature that is going to drive you absolutely insane. In the past 7 days, despite relatively consistent eating and exercise habits, my weight has fluctuated +2 and -3 pounds for a total swing of 5 pound in the past few days. That's a swing of over 2000 grams. And this isn't at all uncommon. You need to follow the/a plan for at least 6 weeks before you can even begin to know if it is "working" or not. Patience, grasshopper...patience.)

jane987

Yes I know! I need more patience but it seems to be happening so slowly... HArd to stay motivated without seeing results

morkiemama

Yes I know! I need more patience but it seems to be happening so slowly... HArd to stay motivated without seeing results

Don't use the scale as results then. Use being able to lift more weight, or run just a little faster, or consciously making a better food choice, or forgoing a temptation, or how your clothes are fitting. Not the scale. The scale is evil and will drive you insane.

I weigh myself maybe once every 2-3 weeks. Usually once a month. That way, I don't go nuts because I've found the scale does that to me.

miamigirl123

Sounds like you've been doing some pretty intense exercise there! Your body's natural response to this is to create inflammation in the muscle tissue. With inflammation comes water retention to heal he muscles so it's TOTALLY normal. Just keep working through it and it will improve!

LilRedRooster

400 grams? You have a scale that tells you your weight in something as small as grams? Isn't 400 grams less than a pound? Like 8/10 of a pound or something like that? I wouldn't even consider that a significant weight gain, since it could be water, waste products, or just undigested food in your belly at any given point during the day.

Pretty sure I used to weigh products for chemistry class in grams, and I had test tubes full of baking soda that weighed more than 400grams..

morkiemama

400 grams? You have a scale that tells you your weight in something as small as grams? Isn't 400 grams less than a pound? Like 8/10 of a pound or something like that? I wouldn't even consider that a significant weight gain, since it could be water, waste products, or just undigested food in your belly at any given point during the day.

Pretty sure I used to weigh products for chemistry class in grams, and I had test tubes full of baking soda that weighed more than 400grams..

1 pound = 453.59237 grams

LilRedRooster

400 grams? You have a scale that tells you your weight in something as small as grams? Isn't 400 grams less than a pound? Like 8/10 of a pound or something like that? I wouldn't even consider that a significant weight gain, since it could be water, waste products, or just undigested food in your belly at any given point during the day.

Pretty sure I used to weigh products for chemistry class in grams, and I had test tubes full of baking soda that weighed more than 400grams..

1 pound = 453.59237 grams

Yes, and 400grams = .88lbs.

Math is splendiferous, I agree, but it's still not even a pound. Unless she eats somethimg to make up fr that .12 of a pound. A banana, maybe?

Ebilfairylight

I think its a bit unfair for everyone to be critising her not weighing in pounds - Many countries use a metric system and weigh in kg/g. Most scales that you will buy in Australia will give you kilograms then at least one decimal place that would show a 400g gain. Why would we use a measurement system that is obsolete in our country?

morkiemama

400 grams? You have a scale that tells you your weight in something as small as grams? Isn't 400 grams less than a pound? Like 8/10 of a pound or something like that? I wouldn't even consider that a significant weight gain, since it could be water, waste products, or just undigested food in your belly at any given point during the day.

Pretty sure I used to weigh products for chemistry class in grams, and I had test tubes full of baking soda that weighed more than 400grams..

1 pound = 453.59237 grams

Yes, and 400grams = .88lbs.

Math is splendiferous, I agree, but it's still not even a pound. Unless she eats somethimg to make up fr that .12 of a pound. A banana, maybe?

Other (and in my opinion smarter) countries use the metric system, which overall makes more sense than our (in my opinion ridiculous) measurement system. However, using our (doesn't conform with the rest of the world nor make any sense) system, I would consider 0.88lbs basically a pound rather than not a pound.

I can see why she was upset since she didn't know WHY it was that way. People explained it was mostly likely water retention, normal fluctuation, etc. I said she shouldn't rely on the scale as her progress marker. I'm more about body composition than weight.

However, that doesn't mean she can't feel bad about 0.88lbs. She just wanted some reassurance. I hope she found it here.

yarwell

I think its a bit unfair for everyone to be critising her not weighing in pounds - Many countries use a metric system and weigh in kg/g. Most scales that you will buy in Australia will give you kilograms then at least one decimal place that would show a 400g gain. Why would we use a measurement system that is obsolete in our country?

It might sound better as 0.4kg, but I take your point.

Any weight has to be viewed against the random daily variations of +/- 1kg.

I have no idea how accurate scales are either, short of putting a 50kg weight on them to see what they register.

jane987

Wow- drama.

I was by no means implying that 400 grams was a huge amount, I was just curious as to why I would have put on weight (no matter how large) in 7 days when I have been eating less and exercising more. In the past I have found it quite easy to lose at least 1 to 1.5kg (Yes, I am Australian and will continue to use the metric system) a week.

Curiosity - not madness.

Thanks for all the supportive responses!

ash190489

Also, just FYI, I know I could have gained some muscle, but would this have happened so quickly? Over a week?! That seems really fast!

Not to dishearten you, but I doubt it's muscle mass, only from experience though and some personal research. I gained 1 kg of muscle in 8 weeks of doing intense strength training 5 days per week minimum - I know everyone is different, but I just don't think that's the answer. I wish I could gain muscle that easily.

I have no idea what it could be... water retention, monthlies... all I know is my weight recently has been going up and down between 57.8kg - 59.5kg (over the past 2 weeks!) Today I was 58.4kg. However, I am not worried, as my goals are not based on the scales anymore, it's based on muscle mass and body fat percentages now. :-)

babycook

Yes I know! I need more patience but it seems to be happening so slowly... HArd to stay motivated without seeing results

Don't use the scale as results then. Use being able to lift more weight, or run just a little faster, or consciously making a better food choice, or forgoing a temptation, or how your clothes are fitting. Not the scale. The scale is evil and will drive you insane.

I weigh myself maybe once every 2-3 weeks. Usually once a month. That way, I don't go nuts because I've found the scale does that to me.

I like being able to lift more. The scale or the tape measure are not moving in the right direction for me. But I sure am getting stronger

HeatherRogersLeeds

In my opinion, eat your full calorie allowance. If you eat too little your body thinks its starving and seems to lose weight slower. That's what i've found anyway, happened to me before. As soon as I upped my calories to the allowance that was recommended for my target weight loss, hey presto it dropped off!

Umeboshi

Water weight and/or constipation.
I weighed this morning after eating and was 237, then a few hours later after many trips to the bathroom (lots of water drinking + small bladder), I was 235. I've had day-to-day differences even bigger than that.

ash190489

I think its a bit unfair for everyone to be critising her not weighing in pounds - Many countries use a metric system and weigh in kg/g. Most scales that you will buy in Australia will give you kilograms then at least one decimal place that would show a 400g gain. Why would we use a measurement system that is obsolete in our country?

^^^^^^ this!

DebraAukett

I get where you're coming from - after such a great week I wouldn't be a happy camper! But like some said it could be because of water weight from exercising

I found this on the net a while back, written by Dean Anderson, a certified fitness trainer: http://www.sparkpeople.com/community/ask_the_experts.asp?q=68 and it makes sense to me::

It's true that many people either gain a little weight or don't see any change on the scale for as long as 4-6 weeks after making a significant change in their level of exercise. This is often explained as "gaining muscle while losing fat" but that isn't quite accurate. This extra weight is usually water.

When you start doing more exercise, your body begins storing more fuel in your muscle cells, where it can be used easily and quickly to fuel your workouts. The process of converting glucose (carbohydrates) into fuel that your muscles actually store and use (glycogen) requires three molecules of water for every molecule of glucose. As your muscles are building up glycogen stores, your body has to retain extra water for this purpose. That's what causes most of the initial weight gain or lack of weight loss. This is a good thing—not something to worry about.

However, despite what the scale says, you are actually losing fat during this time. The extra water retention will stop once your body has adjusted to its new activity level. At that point, the scale should start moving down. You'll end up with less fat, and muscles that can handle a larger amount of work.

graelwyn

I suggest not worrying about 400 grammes. It is just a Ibs, and could have been caused by any number of things, including water retention, muscle, or even a heavier in weight meal than you had the evening before your last weigh in. That is why it doesn't pay to get upset over a pound as in the grand scheme of things, it isn't a lot, unless it is going up a Ib every week in spite of a healthy lifestyle, that is. Even at maintenance, my weight varies by a pound or two from day to day.

bethgames

I get where you're coming from - after such a great week I wouldn't be a happy camper! But like some said it could be because of water weight from exercising

I found this on the net a while back, written by Dean Anderson, a certified fitness trainer: http://www.sparkpeople.com/community/ask_the_experts.asp?q=68 and it makes sense to me::

It's true that many people either gain a little weight or don't see any change on the scale for as long as 4-6 weeks after making a significant change in their level of exercise. This is often explained as "gaining muscle while losing fat" but that isn't quite accurate. This extra weight is usually water.

When you start doing more exercise, your body begins storing more fuel in your muscle cells, where it can be used easily and quickly to fuel your workouts. The process of converting glucose (carbohydrates) into fuel that your muscles actually store and use (glycogen) requires three molecules of water for every molecule of glucose. As your muscles are building up glycogen stores, your body has to retain extra water for this purpose. That's what causes most of the initial weight gain or lack of weight loss. This is a good thing—not something to worry about.

However, despite what the scale says, you are actually losing fat during this time. The extra water retention will stop once your body has adjusted to its new activity level. At that point, the scale should start moving down. You'll end up with less fat, and muscles that can handle a larger amount of work.

Thank you, this is something I will think about at my next plateau and instead of crying and fussing, I will look forward to that next drop. :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:

svwb

"When you start doing more exercise, your body begins storing more fuel in your muscle cells, where it can be used easily and quickly to fuel your workouts. The process of converting glucose (carbohydrates) into fuel that your muscles actually store and use (glycogen) requires three molecules of water for every molecule of glucose. As your muscles are building up glycogen stores, your body has to retain extra water for this purpose. That's what causes most of the initial weight gain or lack of weight loss. This is a good thing—not something to worry about. "

Wow - what a great explanation! I have noticed this water retention with boosting my exercise and wondered why. Thank you!

DebraAukett

I get where you're coming from - after such a great week I wouldn't be a happy camper! But like some said it could be because of water weight from exercising

I found this on the net a while back, written by Dean Anderson, a certified fitness trainer: http://www.sparkpeople.com/community/ask_the_experts.asp?q=68 and it makes sense to me::

It's true that many people either gain a little weight or don't see any change on the scale for as long as 4-6 weeks after making a significant change in their level of exercise. This is often explained as "gaining muscle while losing fat" but that isn't quite accurate. This extra weight is usually water.

When you start doing more exercise, your body begins storing more fuel in your muscle cells, where it can be used easily and quickly to fuel your workouts. The process of converting glucose (carbohydrates) into fuel that your muscles actually store and use (glycogen) requires three molecules of water for every molecule of glucose. As your muscles are building up glycogen stores, your body has to retain extra water for this purpose. That's what causes most of the initial weight gain or lack of weight loss. This is a good thing—not something to worry about.

However, despite what the scale says, you are actually losing fat during this time. The extra water retention will stop once your body has adjusted to its new activity level. At that point, the scale should start moving down. You'll end up with less fat, and muscles that can handle a larger amount of work.

Thank you, this is something I will think about at my next plateau and instead of crying and fussing, I will look forward to that next drop. :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:

Pleasure, it's meant a great deal to me too!

mfp_1

Multi-day trend charts are good for people that like to measure often.

Some scales (e.g. Soehnle) will show trend. You can create a trend chart with pen and paper or using a computer spreadsheet.

chrisb75

If you are exercising 2 hours A DAY, I hope you are eating 2300-2500 calories AT LEAST. If you are one of the 1200 calorie ppl, I can tell you where your weight "gain" is from.