I just don't understand.
luckyxjen
Posts: 24
I don't understand how I can burn so many calories a day and be GAINING weight. This is usually where I start falling off of the wagon and getting discouraged. I just don't know what to do anymore.
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Replies
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Hi Honey,
Any chance you can open up your diary? Will be easier for people to give advice if they can see whats going on.0 -
Chances are you aren't eating enough. But all anyone can do is guess until you open up your diary.0
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By chance is it fat turning to muscle? Muscle weighs more.0
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My diary should be open.0
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It's open now, sorry about that guys.0
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MFP has already created a calorie deficit for you. You need to meet that goal, NOT stay under it. You have to think of your body as a machine, when it is fueled properly it will run more efficiently and burn the fat. Educate yourself about BMR and TDEE. Don't eat under your BMR and don't exceed your TDEE and you should do just fine.0
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By chance is it fat turning to muscle? Muscle weighs more.
No chance. It is very difficult to gain muscle for women, especially on a calorie deficit.0 -
i found this thread useful, take a look as it's all about eating all your calories
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/6556-the-answers-to-the-questions?page=1
hope you get back on track0 -
how much weight are you gaining and over how many days?0
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something is off with your diet.
are you sure you're burning as many calories as you think you are? if you're burning more than you think and turning around and eating those calories back then that will make a difference .
also you're not tracking it, but i looked at a few days of your diary and your odium must be through the roof with all those lunch meat, hamburger helper, pepperoni pizza. sodium makes you retain water. you might want to think about tracking that as well.0 -
By chance is it fat turning to muscle? Muscle weighs more.
No chance. It is very difficult to gain muscle for women, especially on a calorie deficit.
No chance? Yes, Chance. It's happens all the time. Especially if you're weight lifting. Your muscles tone up, you add muscle and lose fat. The fat you lose, weighs less than the muscle you gained. It's not really turning into muscle, you're just trading it out. You will really notice it if you were athletic growing up. Muscle memory, it doesn't just tone when you start working out again, it builds. Usually its just a constant loss if you've never really built up any muscle to begin with.0 -
By chance is it fat turning to muscle? Muscle weighs more.
No chance. It is very difficult to gain muscle for women, especially on a calorie deficit.
No chance? Yes, Chance. It's happens all the time. Especially if you're weight lifting. Your muscles tone up, you add muscle and lose fat. The fat you lose, weighs less than the muscle you gained. It's not really turning into muscle, you're just trading it out. You will really notice it if you were athletic growing up. Muscle memory, it doesn't just tone when you start working out again, it builds. Usually its just a constant loss if you've never really built up any muscle to begin with.
Usually muscle isn't gained on a deficit, It's really REALLY hard to do so. It doesn't sound at all like this would be the OP's issue
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No it does not.By chance is it fat turning to muscle? Muscle weighs more.
No chance. It is very difficult to gain muscle for women, especially on a calorie deficit.
No chance? Yes, Chance. It's happens all the time. Especially if you're weight lifting. Your muscles tone up, you add muscle and lose fat. The fat you lose, weighs less than the muscle you gained. It's not really turning into muscle, you're just trading it out. You will really notice it if you were athletic growing up. Muscle memory, it doesn't just tone when you start working out again, it builds. Usually its just a constant loss if you've never really built up any muscle to begin with.
Love it when newbies tell us how it is done.0 -
By chance is it fat turning to muscle? Muscle weighs more.
No chance. It is very difficult to gain muscle for women, especially on a calorie deficit.
No chance? Yes, Chance. It's happens all the time. Especially if you're weight lifting. Your muscles tone up, you add muscle and lose fat. The fat you lose, weighs less than the muscle you gained. It's not really turning into muscle, you're just trading it out. You will really notice it if you were athletic growing up. Muscle memory, it doesn't just tone when you start working out again, it builds. Usually its just a constant loss if you've never really built up any muscle to begin with.
the OP isnt weightlifting or doing much in terms of resistance training, so i think it's safe to assume she isn't building oodles of muscles.besides the fact she isnt the right way to do that, she's also not working out in a way to signal her body that it needs more muscle, much less stronger ones0 -
By chance is it fat turning to muscle? Muscle weighs more.
No chance. It is very difficult to gain muscle for women, especially on a calorie deficit.
More fundamentally, fat does not become muscle. Fat cells may shrink and muscle may develop, but one does not become the other.0 -
I don't understand how I can burn so many calories a day and be GAINING weight.
You're probably overestimating the calories burned from your activities and underestimating the calories you consume.0 -
Checked out your diary.
No veggies? And even though your carbs are under your quota, you could still reduce them and bring up your protein numbers. That might help0 -
By chance is it fat turning to muscle? Muscle weighs more.
No chance. It is very difficult to gain muscle for women, especially on a calorie deficit.
No chance? Yes, Chance. It's happens all the time. Especially if you're weight lifting. Your muscles tone up, you add muscle and lose fat. The fat you lose, weighs less than the muscle you gained. It's not really turning into muscle, you're just trading it out. You will really notice it if you were athletic growing up. Muscle memory, it doesn't just tone when you start working out again, it builds. Usually its just a constant loss if you've never really built up any muscle to begin with.
You are wrong. Sorry.0 -
Check out the thread by the Registered Dietician. He says, as I've said for months, that the energy expenditure estimates on this site are overstated and the BMR calculation is an estimate and a guide.0
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Personally, I think the calories burns you're entering look much higher than realistic. In the beginning, I used MFP's numbers. They were too high. Then I got a heart rate monitor, and found that it also over-estimated. Finally, I got a BodyMedia fit and was surprised at how low the calorie burns came in for some very vigorous types of exercise.0
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From a general perspective, not knowing your situation, and while im not certified by any means. I wouldn't go off your cals burned on this site. ANd if you are, at least greatly underestimate the times. It's what I do and even then I feel it's way too generous.0
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By chance is it fat turning to muscle? Muscle weighs more.
No chance. It is very difficult to gain muscle for women, especially on a calorie deficit.
No chance? Yes, Chance. It's happens all the time. Especially if you're weight lifting. Your muscles tone up, you add muscle and lose fat. The fat you lose, weighs less than the muscle you gained. It's not really turning into muscle, you're just trading it out. You will really notice it if you were athletic growing up. Muscle memory, it doesn't just tone when you start working out again, it builds. Usually its just a constant loss if you've never really built up any muscle to begin with.
You are wrong. Sorry.
Give her some credit, strength training builds muscle. Muscle helps the body become more efficient at burning calories, especially while repairing muscles after training. In this case, one may not lose any substantial weight but still see some body composition changes and loss of inches.
That said, if OP is on a calorie deficit already from diet and doing cardio for burn, it's damn near impossible for muscles to successfully grow. Now that the diary is open, you don't seem to be doing any real muscle work so I doubt this is why. I'd say try to incorporate vegetables, and maybe increase your protein by a few grams. Finally, are you drinking enough water? By enough, I don't mean 8 glasses a day. Sweating means you need even more water than if you were not doing any cardio.
Keep making sure your calories are within 100 (above or below) your goal, you drink lots of water, and you incorporate cardio and you will start to see results. However, I do suggest you look into adding some strength training to your workout routine.0 -
i've experienced this dont get discourged. It could be a number of things but the number one workout killer for me was sodium. You can follow your calories to a tee but sodium wil make you retain water. Also if your muscles are sore do no weight yourself. I was working out really hard and my muscles were sore I noticed I weighed more and when I googled a reason it said when your muscles are repairing it retains water as well. Lastly try adjusting your fitness profile. I had my profile on secondary for the longest not realizing that I wasnt eating enough for my fitness level. The more in shape you get the more calories you need to live. Once I ate more started to lose more. Hang in there!0
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Well personally, my weight has turned to muscle, but of course I do see it.0
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i think you are making some poor food choices even though you are in your calorie range. I saw a lot of pizza, slurpees, and cookies in your diary. I just skimmed it a little but it looks like you are eating a lot of sugar. Most of your calories should be coming from produce and lean meats i think. It really matters where your calories come from. Don't get me wrong, i think everyone on here is still eating junk food from time to time. It just seems like you are eating more than you should if you are trying to lose. I would cut back on that stuff and snack more on fruit and veggies....0
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Well personally, my weight has turned to muscle, but of course I do see it.
When you reduce body fat, the muscles underneath are more visible. Fat does not turn into muscle and gaining muscle on a calorie deficit is nearly impossible.
I'm glad you are seeing success, though. Well done!0 -
muscle isnt created out of thin air. you have to a) be eating a surplus of calories and b) be doing the correct type of workouts.
i'm one of those women who gain muscle very easily. i've always known it and it's always been apparent because i've always been stronger and faster than most other women of similar weights and heights even before i started exercising and training. but even though i'm an easy gainer, i didnt build muscle over the past 8 months of my weight loss even though i was actively doing strength training (for instance i increased my 1 RM deadlift from 135 to 235, bb row has increased from 55 to 125) . not only did i not build muscle, i LOST muscle (10% of my weight loss is from muscle) because i have been eating at a calorie deficit.
not saying it's impossible, but i do think it's interesting that all these women who have never been easy muscle gainers suddenly think they are when they start losing weight and start being able to feel or see muscles under their fat. it's like why are these awesome muscle building genes just now kicking in?0 -
I think this thread was highjacked.....
What do you mean gain weight? How much have you gained over what period of time?0 -
I took a quick look at the OP's diary and lacks a lot of good nutrition. First thing I noticed is that she drinks her breakfast. Not the best way to get calories or to get your day started. I agree with a lot of people that you are what you eat. Too much junk food makes for poor body performance. Be good to your body and you will get the results that you are hoping for.
Since I started using MFP I made sure that I over estimated my food intake and under estimated the exercise. My weight loss has been consistent even if I have days off or been sick. In the first month I had some calorie deficient days of 300 - 700. And not because I was trying either and I was never hungry. I ate some very large salads and snacked on healthier foods. And drank lots of water and tea.
My suggestion is change what you are eating and see how much of a difference it makes. Good luck.0 -
muscle isnt created out of thin air. you have to a) be eating a surplus of calories and b) be doing the correct type of workouts.
i'm one of those women who gain muscle very easily. i've always known it and it's always been apparent because i've always been stronger and faster than most other women of similar weights and heights even before i started exercising and training. but even though i'm an easy gainer, i didnt build muscle over the past 8 months of my weight loss even though i was actively doing strength training (for instance i increased my 1 RM deadlift from 135 to 235, bb row has increased from 55 to 125) . not only did i not build muscle, i LOST muscle (10% of my weight loss is from muscle) because i have been eating at a calorie deficit.
not saying it's impossible, but i do think it's interesting that all these women who have never been easy muscle gainers suddenly think they are when they start losing weight and start being able to feel or see muscles under their fat. it's like why are these awesome muscle building genes just now kicking in?
You're really lucky! But I wouldn't say it's a matter of whether or not one is an "easy gainer". I know I noticed that I have a really easy time putting muscle mass on in my legs because I played soccer for about 15 years and they were really muscular when I was younger.
3 years without soccer and they deteriorated a lot, not to mention that I generally gained about 30 lbs. But as I started strength training these past few months, I've actually noticed an inch INCREASE in the size of my thighs! I found my pants felt tighter, so I measured. It's less than 2" so quite insignificant, but this was while my waist and chest measurements decreased. I think individual muscle memory does play a bit of a role in how we build muscle. It's easier to bring back what you had than to build where you never did.
Aside from all of that, your 100% right in that you cannot build muscle if you are eating a deficit and not doing strength exercises. Low calories and cardio will cause overall weight loss, muscle and fat.
Edit: Sidebar-you have a wicked deadlift! :drinker:0
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