Increased calories but losing weight

Brittknee__

I'm trying to gain five pounds so I increased my daily caloric intake and start doing strength training with heavy weights. However, I seem to be losing weight rather than gaining. In the past two weeks I've lost three pounds. I'm at a loss as for what to do now. I really don't want to start drinking Boost or Ensure because that gets expensive and I'm a poor college student. What should I do to aid my weight gain?

seansquared

Physiologically speaking you can do one of two things to gain weight:

(1) Maintain food intake and reduce caloric expenditure (i.e. eat the same and move less)
(2) Increase food intake and maintain caloric expenditure (i.e. eat more and move the same)

There are no other options, tricks, gimmicks, etc available to you.

Since you are strength training with heavy weights, I would eat more. You said that you increased your caloric intake but do you actually know your maintenance (i.e. no weight gain or loss) intake requirement?

rileysowner

Not being able to see your diary it is pretty much impossible to comment. I can guarantee that you don't have to eat boost or ensure to gain, but you will have to eat more calories.

rezn8

You probably weren't eating enough to feed your exercise routine in the first place. I know you don't want to lose, but some people trying to lose weight actually don't realize sometimes they need to eat more to lose weight long term. Run your numbers on MFP with your basic activity level not including workouts and see what the minimum is to maintain. Then make sure you add your workout calories for daily level.

AmyRhubarb

Have a look at this topic: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

Links and info there for setting up your calories to meet your goal, whether it's losing or gaining. Hope that helps!