Pardon Me: I Need to Vent!!!!

LucyFordxo

I'm sure..like many of you here I've been battling my weight issues ever since I can remember. Last Summer-after finally being fed-up of my health failing on me I went on a cleanse and dropped a bunch of weight and felt really fantastic. (The pH Balance Diet by Dr. Robert Young)
Now-I slowly introduced crap into my diet, stopped working out ect ect and put most of the weight I lost back on.

For the entire month of June I have been trying REALLY HARD and working my BUTT off to loose some weight. For example this week...I've been in the gym five days in a row doing mostly cardio and working my thighs. I've been burning about 1,000 calories a day at the gym doing cardio. I got onto the scale this morning and have GAINED SIX POUNDS since 2 weeks ago!!!
SIX FLIPPING POUNDS!!! AND GAINED 2 INCHES ON MY WAIST!!!!! HOW DOES THAT EVEN HAPPEN?!?!?!
I realize "muscle weighs more than fat"- but I've been doing mostly cardio!!! And I've been watching what I eat-especially this week, and you can sure bet I've been drinking good amounts of water!!!
I'd bawl my eyes out if I had the energy.
I could be semi-content if I was at least gaining energy from working out-but I'm not. I'm still dragging my *kitten* all the time-so the reward of "at least you're doing your body some good" isn't working for me. I still feel nasty.

I've been trying for MONTHS to get my weight back under control again and having such a hard time. My body is flip-flopping and it's really starting to take a tool on me emotionally.

*sigh*

ANYWAY. Not to be a dweller, the show must go on. I'm all suited up now to hit the gym and burn more calories; for what purpose I'm not entirely sure.

Ian513

It's possible some of the fat is turning into muscle....that's what I'm marking my weight gain up to, I've slimmed down quite a bit, clothes fit better but I've gained 4-5 pounds in the last two weeks. I run 3 days a week, 9-10 miles a week, I feel a lot better, just not dropping the weight I want. I was diagnosed with hypothyroid about 7-8 weeks ago, I've been on levothyroxine, trying to get the dosage figured out, that could also be contributing to my weight gain.

check out this post:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/641472-hypothyroidism-can-t-lose-weight

Good luck and stay positive....!

-Ian

LittleButMightyOne

Fat does not "turn into" muscle. You can lose fat while you gain muscle, however. And it's what I suggest you do: incorporate strength training into your routine as well as cardio.

pavingnewpaths

Small note: Being stressed makes you gain weight, so take a breather before starting again, haha.

What I think you should do is stop and re-evaluate everything you've been done. Reset your goals and make sure to follow them.
Excersize about 3-4 times a week only, give your body a break. Make sure you're eating back calories too!
If you're eating under your calorie goal, you're body will go into starvation mode. So make sure you aren't doing that. Don't slack off and start eating mindlessely because you'd be surprised how many empy calories the food you eat without realizing has.

Last but certaintly not least, be patient! If you have been eating under your calorie goal and then start eating properly again, you might gain weight before you start losing it again. It takes time, but it's much healthier to lose weight slowly than it is to drop it all at once.

Ian513

Fat does not "turn into" muscle. You can lose fat while you gain muscle, however. And it's what I suggest you do: incorporate strength training into your routine as well as cardio.

Yes, that was my point...sorry....

-Ian

tdmcmains

How much are you eating? maybe not enough???

clynch1968

eating too few calories?

SelkieDiver

Significantly upping your exercise can cause you to retain water. Keep at it and that water weigh WILL subside. Any time I come back to the gym after a break I automatically go up 5 lbs for 2-3 weeks. Its completely normal.

Julzanne72

Would help if your diary was open so we could look at what you are eating. But I would suggest that you make sure, if you aren't already, eating at least some if not all of your exercise calories back. If you are burning that much and not refueling your body, that is going to make you feel pretty beat down and worn out.

heybales

You just asked your body to do extensive energy burns with high intensity cardio.

You burned off a bunch of glucose/water stores, and your body responded by storing more for next time.

500 cal worth of carbs stored as glucose/water weighs 1 lb. That is part of the weight.

Since you went this route before and it didn't work, don't you think you should approach it more realistically?

Are you going to keep doing those types of workouts into foreseeable future?

Why not pick a level of workout frequency you are likely to continue, make it habit.
Feed that level of workout correctly to actually see the improvements.
Make a realistic deficit so you don't fall off it again.

And keep moving.

Fat loss comes mainly from diet changes.
Exercise is for heart health and body improvements, which may or as you found, may not include actual weight loss.

Athijade

Open up your log so people can give you a more educated opinion on what it could be. We needs to see what and how much you are eating plus your burn estimates.

korsicash

They say the muscles protect themselves in a swelling. This causes weight gain in the early periods and what happens is those of us who want results cry and stop. Those who are not scale obsessed keep going and find a few weeks down the line that they have lost weight and inches and the swelling went away. Are you giving yourself rest days?

ArtemisMoon

Usually with people who exercise like mad and can't lose weight, they seem to consistently not eat enough to support their activity level and as a result metabolism slows and the body hangs on to calories with surprising determination. I know someone who is eating 500 cals a day and isn't losing any weight and doesn't understand why (more like she won't listen to common sense).

Also, you may say you are drinking enough, but are you? The old eight 8 oz. glasses of water a day mantra is a one size fits all plan that only fits a few people. Try drinking half your body weight in oz. a day. That will flush your body. If I am dehydrated and drink more, over just a few days my weight will drop by several lbs.

And the above poster made a good point - if you work out after not being very active, for several weeks afterward your body will hold on to a lot more water because of inflammation in the muscles. Once your body settles into routine and your muscles recover, you'll drop it suddenly.

sandown12

Ive lost weight plenty of times with no strenght training just cardio

How many calories are you eating?
Have you worked out your BMR & TDEE
Water weighs alot
TOTM
Inches

I used to go to the gym 4-5 times a week lost 2lbs in 2 months but dropped 2 dress sizes Waist gain Ive had that even now and work out 5-6 times aweek

Maybe check what your eating too is it quiet clean or is it junk calories? x

Pedal_Pusher

This isn't a get rich quick scheme. You gotta keep on keepin' on and make sure you have realistic expectations.

brjustice2000

You may want to start tracking your sugars! I had a week that by calorie deficit should have been a loss of 3 lbs but instead gained over a pound. You don't gain a pound of muscle a week. A personal trainer said look at your sugars. I had myfitnesspal show me the sugar intake and went back several weeks to find to my dismay that my daily sugar intake was always over a 100% and sometimes well over 400%. I wasn't eating table sugar but the sugar was already in the foods I was eating. I quit having raisins in my oatmeal every morning, snacks were changed as well. I now don't eat much fruit as some has very high sugar like my favorite, navel oranges. One large navel orange will wipe out my sugar intake for the day, and I used to eat 3 at a time. We have found no sugar added low fat ice cream which still has natural sugar in it. We use unsweetened almond milk in the oatmeal which eliminates the sugar that was in the skim milk. We made those changes and started dropping weight again. Last week was a great week because I lost 3 lbs. Calorie deficit for this week I should lose the same but it looks like a single pound. Checked my sugar intake and have let it grow too much this week. There is so much more to it than just the calorie count of what goes in and what gets burned in order to lose weight.

Hang in there. It does get frustrating at times. 3 weeks in a row, I lost weight, but no decrease in the waist, the next week a 1/2 inch disappeared. I can't figure it out. I use a body fat monitor, and my new attitude is as long as the fat percentage goes down, I'm happy.

laddyboy

You can't out train a poor diet. Let's see what you are eating. Oh and another thing. Muscle does not weigh more than fat nor does fat weigh more than muscle. 1 lb of fat weighs the same as 1 lb or muscle. So let's start with what you are eating and go from there and move right into you're not eating enough and then we will add some weight training to build some muscle so the muscle can help you burn some fat...weight...I'm getting ahead of us.

laddyboy

Fat does not "turn into" muscle. You can lose fat while you gain muscle, however. And it's what I suggest you do: incorporate strength training into your routine as well as cardio.

Thank you!!!!

nxd10

So sorry.

If it's as hot where you are as it is here, I'd have put all that weight on in water. Check your salt and keep on working.

Good luck!

purplegoboom

Ask yourself:

Are you eating at least 3/4 of your exercise calories back? If you're netting to few calories per day you're not going to lose anything.
Are you taking sufficient rest after workouts?
What type of foods are you eating? Are they all processed, full of carbs, full of sugar, etc.? The more veggies and fruits the better!
Are you doing any type of strength training? Cardio alone will most likely not get you the results you want.
Have you talked to you doctor to have your thyroid checked? Had a complete hormonal panel? Try to rule out any medical issues.

It would help if you opened up your food diary so we can help you more.

MisterTEZ

Now you have vented lucy...I love your profile pic...luv strawberries :flowerforyou:

DonniesGirl69

Are you weighing at the same time of day every time you weigh? Are you weighing naked? Believe me, clothes can and will add weight depending on what and how much you're wearing. If you're not eating enough calories, you'll put on some weight. Could it possibly be that time of the month?? I know I put on a few pounds during that God forsaken week (water weight).

Don't get discouraged and don't give up. It really IS worth it in the end. It's taken me 4 years, all told, to take off and KEEP off the 90 I've lost.......keep on keepin' on

mcarter99

Significantly upping your exercise can cause you to retain water. Keep at it and that water weigh WILL subside. Any time I come back to the gym after a break I automatically go up 5 lbs for 2-3 weeks. Its completely normal.

I agree. If you want the water weight to subside sooner, quit with the unrealistic cardio levels. Your body probably thinks you're being chased by a flippin T-Rex. It's in 'predator on my heels mode'.

Sorry, I thought some humor might help you're venting. I think anytime you feel 'robbed' by the scale, it means what you put into it was probably too much to be sustainable anyway so dial things back to a level you can live with without wanting to throw the scale out the window.

LucyFordxo

Wow you folks, thank you so much for the support.

I will open up my food diary for sure-but I've only updated it yesterday and for today. I'm back at mfp so it's not really reflective yet.

I realize 1,000 calories burnt in cardio sounds like I could be over doing it but I don't think so..it's only about an hour and fifteen minutes worth of cardio at the gym. Last year I was running(outdoors) 5k 3-4 times a week-I'm happy with an active body. God Bless those fancy calorie burning high-tech machiens

I never thought about the possibility of it being from swelling or inflamation-great advice!! This IS the first week I've been back at the gym, I was off for a week and not doing as much cardio previous.
I've been going at it for four days in a row with no rest. In my attempt to go today by bike broke down on the side of the road and I walked it back home. Maybe that's the universe telling me to rest today:laugh:

I really thought you needed to burn more calories then you put in?

I'd say I eat pretty well...I'm a vegetarian (been one for 13 years now) and work hard to get in healthy proteins and oils. However consistancy is key and I'm sure I've lacked that. My diet is a lot of veggies, one-two servings of fruit a day and unless it's a "treat" I watch sugar. Consistancy is key here:I don't want to play the victim of "BOOOHOOO I EAT SO GOOD ALL THE TIME WHHHY!!! WHYYYY?!?!?!?!?!?!"-HOWEVER it's frustrating when I've put good habits into effect with yucky results. I'd assume (*kitten*..I know) that even the moments I've had where I wasn't 100% consistant that it wouldn't lead me to gain six pounds and 2 inches in two weeks.
I do drink a lot of water I strive for six liters of water a day-coffee or tea is a treat for me. I like to add fresh lemon or lime juice to it.

I've had some medical issues in the past. I feel really bloated still. Last year I had a series of hydroclonic's because I was really backed up..(not pooping for two weeks is an issue.) After a first round of hormone testing and things showing up fine (but symptoms suggesting otherwise) I've been refered to a metabolism and hormone specialist. Thankfully my appointment is a week away.

Thank-You all for the words of wisdom.

In addition to the questions I've dropped in this reply...if any of you have suggestions for dairy/gluten/strarch/bean free(people always go on about quinoa. It tastes great I know..but it does a number to my insides) vegetarian proteins that would be sexy. I DO have a great protein powder but I really just have it at breakfast time.

Again! Many thanks xo

mmapags

If this is your first week back, your muscles are storing water ang glycogen as a response to the start of training as others have suggested. Getting back into shape and trimming down should be viewed as a marathon and not a sprint. You are in the first mile. You didn't get overweight in one week, you won't get fit and thin in one week. I also suggest that you incorporate some strength training with the cardio for max benefit and maintaining lean muscle mass.

Catjag

OP-this is not a judgement against you, its just me simply clearing up a myth. Muscle does not weigh more than fat. 1lb muscle=1lb of fat. Muscle can take up less space in your body than fat. Just keep that in mind.

I agree with a lot of the previous posters in reference to weight training and your body holding onto water. What you are going through is very frustrating but don't give, keep powering through!

senyosmom

please remember that recovering muscles hold onto water and add weight. Check again in a couple days.

heybales

I realize 1,000 calories burnt in cardio sounds like I could be over doing it but I don't think so..it's only about an hour and fifteen minutes worth of cardio at the gym. Last year I was running(outdoors) 5k 3-4 times a week-I'm happy with an active body. God Bless those fancy calorie burning high-tech machiens

I really thought you needed to burn more calories then you put in?

1000 calorie burns each day can be fine, they are going to be stressful on the body, and you already put it under stress by eating less. Stress is not good for the body, and hormones, and metabolism. But you need to feed them.

You do need to burn more than you put in. But what should the difference be?

Most people recognize that outside a planned fast, there is obviously a line somewhere that is not safe.

Like - just don't eat. Wouldn't that be the biggest deficit you could have, and then try to workout at this level?
Why would this be a problem?

Same thing applies to underfeeding your body for the level of activity you are expecting from it and putting it through.

You'd probably be better served eating at non-exercise maintenance. And let exercise create the deficit totally.
You are trying to combine it and reaching that unsafe level.

Just go into MFP settings, select Lightly-active, select goal is Maintain.

Now log your exercise and calories burned. Each day it'll tell you "in 5 weeks your weigh..."

You know 1000 could be 2lb weekly. Though you'll find you are still asking the body it improve, and that doesn't mean weight loss.

And give yourself a rest day, and a day of less intensity, or you'll soon find your workouts plateauing and you getting less benefit from it. in other words, if you try for 1000 calories burned each and every day, your body will soon take care of it that you don't get that. Like getting sick or injured for 2 weeks recovery.

purplegoboom

I really thought you needed to burn more calories then you put in?

Well, you already are. Depending on the settings you have with MFP, that is. For instance, I have my settings to lose 1 pound per week. My calories to maintain are around 2000 or so, so to lose a pound per week MFP set my calories at 1500 so I would have a deficit of 500 calories per day, which adds up to 3500 calories (or 1 pound) per week.

The reason you want to eat back your exercise calories is so that you don't net too few calories. If I didn't eat my exercise calories back, I would only net about 800 calories a day. Some people able to do that and have success. But I know if I don't eat my exercise calories back and net at least 1300 a day, I feel weak and sick. I'll get headaches and don't want to do anything. Not only that, but my body will hold onto any calories I eat and won't lose anything. So it's better in the long run if I eat my exercise calories.

LucyFordxo

Ok...so net calories are the difference between the total calories I've consumed and what I've burnt off...and it is reccomended that I eat some of them?

I'm sure MFP explained this to me when I joined two years ago..but I'm re-figuring this calorie counting thing out..it is a newer concept to me.

CrystalDreams

Fat does not "turn into" muscle. You can lose fat while you gain muscle, however. And it's what I suggest you do: incorporate strength training into your routine as well as cardio.

thankyou^^^. fat is fat. and muscle is muscle. your muscles can swell making you look bigger. i was staying the same and it turns out i was eating too much protein.