eating at TDEE-15% and gaining weight?

maltipink
maltipink Posts: 147 Member
Hi everyone,
I was referred to this board from a poster on the general message boards and this seems like it will be an amazing resource! I have a question about the whole TDEE-15%. I am 5'11" and my TDEE-15% is about 1900cal/day. At the end of May (May 28) I did two things, I started doing large amounts of exercise and also eating about 1900 calories a day. I have a body media device and it tells me that my average daily burn is between 2000 (rest days) and 2600 (exercise days). I have averaged them and have come up with a 2300 daily burn. If I subtract 15%, I get 1955 calories. Most days I only get in about 1800 calories. My issue is that since I have been exercising and eating 1900 calories a day, I have gained 6.2 pounds! Is my body reacting negatively to the large increase in calories from what I was eating before. I had been doing WW and when you figure out the points per calorie, it is really not that many. I know sometimes you gain a little weight when you start exercising but it seems like every time I get on the scale, it goes up more. I am so frustrated. Do I need to do a full metabolic reset and gain even more weight? Thank you for any help!

Replies

  • PLUMSGRL
    PLUMSGRL Posts: 1,134 Member
    Welcome, glad you found us!:flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:

    Have you read the stickies "Once you have your TDEE and BMR" and "Upping cals-what to expect" they should help answer your questions:wink:
  • Raynn1
    Raynn1 Posts: 1,164 Member
    Im going to say you arent eating enough. Your body is still hanging on to everything, especially if you are working out a ton. 1800 cals, and if you are burning say 400, then your net is only 1400
    Also, if you just started eating more, then your body is adjusting. it cane take a few weeks and a few gained pounds back before things start to trend down again.

    Make sure you read all of hte stickies at the top of forums to get a better understanding on how things work. This will help:)
  • SweatpantsRebellion
    SweatpantsRebellion Posts: 754 Member
    Welcome! :flowerforyou: I'm also going to bet that you are likely still not eating enough with your activity level. Read up and make sure you are always netting at least BMR on your workout days.
  • maltipink
    maltipink Posts: 147 Member
    Im going to say you arent eating enough. Your body is still hanging on to everything, especially if you are working out a ton. 1800 cals, and if you are burning say 400, then your net is only 1400
    Also, if you just started eating more, then your body is adjusting. it cane take a few weeks and a few gained pounds back before things start to trend down again.

    Make sure you read all of hte stickies at the top of forums to get a better understanding on how things work. This will help:)

    I burn about 2300 on average and eat about 1800-1900. I am really bad at explaining things somtimes lol! I am so hoping that it is just temporary . I really did not want to do do a full reset to 2300 and then go down from there.
  • maltipink
    maltipink Posts: 147 Member
    Welcome! :flowerforyou: I'm also going to bet that you are likely still not eating enough with your activity level. Read up and make sure you are always netting at least BMR on your workout days.

    Hi! My BMR is 1496 on rest days. I am eating 1800-1900
  • maltipink
    maltipink Posts: 147 Member
    Welcome, glad you found us!:flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:

    Have you read the stickies "Once you have your TDEE and BMR" and "Upping cals-what to expect" they should help answer your questions:wink:

    Thank you!
  • MeDoula
    MeDoula Posts: 233 Member
    Welcome :happy:

    How long has it been that you increased your calories? When did you add activity?
    I also come from WW and figured out that my cal ranged between 1000-1400. I eat relatively clean and know that my sodium intake with WW was way less than it is with 1800 cal. It took me couple days to adjust and make sure it stays low. My weight started going down then.

    Have you read the stickies yet? They really helped me understand what to expect and it was tremendously helpful to read about others experiences.

    My advice is to get rid of the scale for first couple weeks.
  • maltipink
    maltipink Posts: 147 Member
    Welcome :happy:

    How long has it been that you increased your calories? When did you add activity?
    I also come from WW and figured out that my cal ranged between 1000-1400. I eat relatively clean and know that my sodium intake with WW was way less than it is with 1800 cal. It took me couple days to adjust and make sure it stays low. My weight started going down then.

    Have you read the stickies yet? They really helped me understand what to expect and it was tremendously helpful to read about others experiences.

    My advice is to get rid of the scale for first couple weeks.

    Hi! I upped my calories about 3 weeks ago and upped my exercise from non existent to hardcore about 4 weeks ago. So, you eat about 1800 now, even though WW had you between 1000 and 1400? Did you have a weight gain when you first upped your calories. I am sifting through the stickies right now. There is a lot of information out there, I am also watching the Youtube videos Kiki has posted. They are very good and inspiring!
  • nannabannana
    nannabannana Posts: 780
    Any hints at what helps...bump for later
  • ladyace2078
    ladyace2078 Posts: 460 Member
    If you are working out hardcore and you burn 2600 calories on exercise days and 2000 calories on non-exercise days, then your average isn't 2300. Your average is [(2600*6 days) + (2000*1 day)]/7 days = 2514 calories if you are working out 6 days a week. A 15% cut from that 2137 calories. You need to eat more!

    Also remember that when you workout more you retain more water because your muscles are healing themselves.
  • maltipink
    maltipink Posts: 147 Member
    If you are working out hardcore and you burn 2600 calories on exercise days and 2000 calories on non-exercise days, then your average isn't 2300. Your average is [(2600*6 days) + (2000*1 day)]/7 days = 2514 calories if you are working out 6 days a week. A 15% cut from that 2137 calories. You need to eat more!

    Also remember that when you workout more you retain more water because your muscles are healing themselves.


    Hi, thanks for the response! I guess I was erring on the low end because the BMF numbers can have up to 10% innacuracy. Whether it is up or down, no one knows. Also I am two days at 2000
  • Helloitsdan
    Helloitsdan Posts: 5,564 Member
    Inflammation is common in folks who work out too much.
    Fish oil pills and rest helps.
    Cut routine down to 3 days a week and take daily walks for 10-20 mins and youll do great!
  • maltipink
    maltipink Posts: 147 Member
    Inflammation is common in folks who work out too much.
    Fish oil pills and rest helps.
    Cut routine down to 3 days a week and take daily walks for 10-20 mins and youll do great!


    Fish oil? Interesting. I have actually started using the elliptical because running just these past 3 weeks has hurt my left knee so bad I can barely walk. I tried to run this morning and I literally could not get my legs to run, then I hobbled home! If I cut my workouts down to 3 days, then I will have to reduce my calories...booo!
  • lesliemcq
    lesliemcq Posts: 5 Member
    Wondering how this turned out. I am on day 4 and up 3 lbs - getting discouraged.
  • Wondering how this turned out. I am on day 4 and up 3 lbs - getting discouraged.

    I gained 6 on my reset of 4 weeks. Once I began my cut I lost all of the 6 plus 1 pound in a week's time. Most of mine was obviously water retention because I was not eating 4000+ calories above my TDEE per week to gain the 6 pounds.