Doing everything right and gaining weight
EvetteMarquez
Posts: 24 Member
I'm mostly venting here but would love some helpful advice. I don't know that much about losing weight. I started my healthy lifestyle November 9th and since then I've lost 15lbs which I'm pretty proud of 
But now the scale just will not go down. I'm assuming I'm not exercising enough? I eat lots of fruits, veggies and lean protein but for some reason I'm starting to gain weight and its super frustrating. I eat between 1200-1400 calories everyday and I doing some walking. I was running in the beginning but suffered a leg injury so I cant run for a little while. I honestly feel like I'm losing weight but I'm not losing inches or anything. Any help would be appreciated. TIA
But now the scale just will not go down. I'm assuming I'm not exercising enough? I eat lots of fruits, veggies and lean protein but for some reason I'm starting to gain weight and its super frustrating. I eat between 1200-1400 calories everyday and I doing some walking. I was running in the beginning but suffered a leg injury so I cant run for a little while. I honestly feel like I'm losing weight but I'm not losing inches or anything. Any help would be appreciated. TIA 0
Replies
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Can't see your diary so can't really be helpful.0
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you must not be doing everything right is your gaining weight. Check what your eating and how your eating it. Or see a doctor.0
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You don't gain weight from a calorie deficit (unless you're gaining weight from water retention due to high sodium). One of two things is going on: you're eating more calories than you think, or you're NOT exercising and still eating back your exercise calories.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
Not to be harsh but... If you are doing everything right you would not be gaining weight. I say that coming from a place of "OMG I AM DOING EVERYTHING RIGHT AND I AM GAINING WEIGHT WTF????!" Turns out I wasn't doing everything right, infact I was WAY off on some of my calories burned, and I was eating them back and guess what??? it was too many calories.
I got an HRM and even now I only eat about half my calories back (if I even eat them - it really depends on how hungry I am) I figure it all works out in the end. Are you weighing and measuring all your food? My kitchen scale is my best friend when it comes to food, I always know exactly what/howmuch I am eating, I rarely use a measuring cup (unless its a liquid) and even then I have my glasses figured out and know how much they hold.
So I would re-evaluate. There is a thread (it may have already been posted) its called "in place of a road map" you should check it out it helped me too. Since I got my crap together and read that thread and figured things out I have lost weight.
Good luck!0 -
You may not be eating enough, 1200-1400 sounds awfully low. However, if you open your diary we could give better advice.0
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Ok I opened my diary and to clarify. I feel like I'm doing everything right. I'm trying my best over here
*ALSO I haven't been tracking my exercise a lot lately0 -
You probably aren't eating enough so your body is clinging onto anything it has to store away in case you stop eating. At 219 you need to be eating more in the 2000 calorie range at least!0
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This post might be worth a read.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12
This helped me break a plateau of a couple of months. I ended up eating more and lost more. Work the numbers and see if this changes things for you.0 -
Can you make your diary so we can see it? Just a couple general questions while I wait....are you using food scale? Are you eating enough, how is your sodium? Are you sure 1200-1400 is enough for you, if you haven't already check out this post so you can figure out your BMR and TDEE to make sure you're eating enough. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-120
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Open your diary so we can see what you're eating.
Make sure you're logging everything, including all drinks, especially when you're outside the home.
Weigh everything. It might be worth not going out, just for one week, so that you can be absolutely certain you're counting everything.
Be careful about eating back all your exercise calories; MFP can overcount those and this seems to especially be a risk for heavier people who are walking at a leisurely pace.0 -
This post might be worth a read.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12
This helped me break a plateau of a couple of months. I ended up eating more and lost more. Work the numbers and see if this changes things for you.
Definitely. There's no way in the world that a person in the 200lb range should be eating 1200-1400 calories. That's the problem.0 -
I was going off myfitnesspals recommended calories. I don't think I should be eating 2000 calories that sounds ridiculous.0
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You probably aren't eating enough so your body is clinging onto anything it has to store away in case you stop eating. At 219 you need to be eating more in the 2000 calorie range at least!
219 was my starting weight I'm now down to 204 still in the 200's though
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This post might be worth a read.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12
This helped me break a plateau of a couple of months. I ended up eating more and lost more. Work the numbers and see if this changes things for you.
Thanks!0 -
I would add sodium to your food diary list, you may be surprised what you are taking in there. The question I would have is what is your current weekly weight loss goal set at ?0
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Hey hun,
I just went through your diary and I have to echo what other people are saying, there are some days where you barely break 1,000. I would honestly try to hit between 1400-1700 calories a day. If you're not eating back any of your workout calories you're even lower on your net calories for the day.
Do you have a primary doctor? She or he would be best to get you started.
Congrats on the 15 pounds, that's an awesome accomplishment.
Also your body needs mass amounts of water to flush the fat out (No sources, I believe this to be true from personal experience.) Maybe upping your water intake would help too?
If you're actually not hungry at the end of the day there are other ways to up your calorie count. Protein shakes are a great way to add 150-250 calories along with peanut butter, nuts... my mind is drawing a blank now.
Best of luck on the rest of your journey. 0 -
Are you weighing and measuring all your food and drinks or eyeballing the measurements?
Are you including sauces, ketchups, mayos, butters, oils, etc?
Are you logging the milk/cream/sugar etc in coffee and tea?
Stop using the generic entries in the database..use the one for the food you are eating or input your own.
Add sodium to your tracker. You would be surprised. Log your water... not sure if you just aren't logging it or you are not drinking it.
There is something you are doing wrong if you aren't losing.
I agree with you should be eating more. Find out your BMR and eat that.
How much are you trying to lose? Unless you have to lose over 75lbs you shouldn't have your weight loss goal set at 2lbs per week.0 -
Hey hun,
I just went through your diary and I have to echo what other people are saying, there are some days where you barely break 1,000. I would honestly try to hit between 1400-1700 calories a day. If you're not eating back any of your workout calories you're even lower on your net calories for the day.
Do you have a primary doctor? She or he would be best to get you started.
Congrats on the 15 pounds, that's an awesome accomplishment.
Also your body needs mass amounts of water to flush the fat out (No sources, I believe this to be true from personal experience.) Maybe upping your water intake would help too?
If you're actually not hungry at the end of the day there are other ways to up your calorie count. Protein shakes are a great way to add 150-250 calories along with peanut butter, nuts... my mind is drawing a blank now.
Best of luck on the rest of your journey.
I've just recently upped my water intake because I realized I wasn't getting enough. Some days I can barely get myself to eat so that's why you see those low cal days. I will make an appointment with a nutrionist. Thanks.0 -
OK, I've had a quick look at your diary.
First, drinks -- are you absolutely sure you're never drinking any fruit juice, or alcohol, or coffee or tea with milk, or soda? Because those all have loads of calories.
Second, recipes. If you eat a beef stew, at least at first, you can't rely on database entries for 'homemade beef stew'. That beef stew could be way higher or lower in cals than the one you're eating. You either need to put all the ingredients in yourself to make a recipe, or just enter the ingredients in your portion. Because what matters is your beef stew, not anyone else's. Ditto enchiladas -- I think Mexican food is particularly suspect here in fact.
Third, weights not volume. Cup measures are really unreliable except for liquids.
Fourth, fats. Now, there may be a way to cook up turkey sausage, eggs and peppers for your breakfast without using any fat at all (even the sprays have a bit), and that might be what you're doing. But most cooking has some oil or butter or lard in it, and all those things have lots of cals.
Otherwise -- obviously what's going on your diary is pretty healthy, but my guess is that there are things missing and that's what's caused the grief. And it can be *tiny* amounts of stuff, too, or small errors in things you have regularly.
Good luck! You can definitely get back on track.0 -
Are you weighing and measuring all your food and drinks or eyeballing the measurements?
Are you including sauces, ketchups, mayos, butters, oils, etc?
Are you logging the milk/cream/sugar etc in coffee and tea?
Stop using the generic entries in the database..use the one for the food you are eating or input your own.
Add sodium to your tracker. You would be surprised. Log your water... not sure if you just aren't logging it or you are not drinking it.
There is something you are doing wrong if you aren't losing.
I agree with you should be eating more. Find out your BMR and eat that.
How much are you trying to lose? Unless you have to lose over 75lbs you shouldn't have your weight loss goal set at 2lbs per week.
I do have to lose over 75lbs. I do drink water a lot of times I didn't log it. I measure my food yes. I'm not sure how to add my sodium?0 -
OK, I've had a quick look at your diary.
First, drinks -- are you absolutely sure you're never drinking any fruit juice, or alcohol, or coffee or tea with milk, or soda? Because those all have loads of calories.
Second, recipes. If you eat a beef stew, at least at first, you can't rely on database entries for 'homemade beef stew'. That beef stew could be way higher or lower in cals than the one you're eating. You either need to put all the ingredients in yourself to make a recipe, or just enter the ingredients in your portion. Because what matters is your beef stew, not anyone else's. Ditto enchiladas -- I think Mexican food is particularly suspect here in fact.
Third, weights not volume. Cup measures are really unreliable except for liquids.
Fourth, fats. Now, there may be a way to cook up turkey sausage, eggs and peppers for your breakfast without using any fat at all (even the sprays have a bit), and that might be what you're doing. But most cooking has some oil or butter or lard in it, and all those things have lots of cals.
Otherwise -- obviously what's going on your diary is pretty healthy, but my guess is that there are things missing and that's what's caused the grief. And it can be *tiny* amounts of stuff, too, or small errors in things you have regularly.
Good luck! You can definitely get back on track.
Every now and then I will have coffee with creamer but other than that no calorie drinks for me. I cook up my eggs and stuff with a zero calorie olive oil spray. I think whats wrong is that I DO need to figure out my BMR and up my calories.0 -
TOTALLY agree with the folks who posted that you're not eating enough. For those who said you're not being honest or something, that's absolutely ridiculous (and mean). I gained weight for a while in almost exactly the same situation you're describing. AND I was in the gym - no kidding - 3 hours a day. I was so frustrated!
So, I met a trainer at the DC gym where I work out (Marceleus M. Venable) and he explained that I was at too much of a deficit. He had to badger me into cutting back on my workouts to no more than 90 minutes a day and made me eat more (~1400-1500 calories for a 170 frame - you may need to adjust for your weight) and sure as $*&% I lost weight within 2 weeks. I should also mention that I added weight training. I was really resistant to it, but the muscle really did help me burn more as part of my resting metabolic rate. (he also said not to weigh in around your period because women naturally gain then and it will just crush your spirits).
I know it's counterintuitive, but you need to eat enough so that your body doesn't starve. And weight training won't bulk you up. And that 1200-1250 crap is nonsense unless you're already smaller (like under 150).
Now I'm no expert with a degree, but I have managed to lost and keep off 75 lbs for a few years at a time. I'm still down 40 lbs from my top weight, even though I gained over the holidays and will be getting it back off in the New Year. Trust me - eat more and don't work out more than 90 minutes a day, 6 times a week.
IF you want my diet plan from my nutritionist and trainer, I'm happy to share. If you want to talk to Marcus, I think I have his email around somewhere.
Hang in there!!
~Elizabeth0 -
Your injury has reduced your calorie deficit and you're probably eating too much. In addition, the less you weigh, the fewer calories you need.
Please don't undermine yourself by eating more. A few times a year experts have come on this board and they ALWAYS say:
--That if you're not losing weight, it's because you're not creating a sufficient calorie deficit.
--That an overweight person is in no harm of "starving" herself with a nutritionally balanced low-calorie diet. The main problem is that most people can't force themselves to eat that way longterm.
If eating more sounds counterintuitive, it's because it is.0 -
I don't know if your short, but when I don't exercise, I have to eat no more than 1000-1200 if I want to jump start weight loss again. I know a lot of people wouldn't agree, but it's what works for me.0
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You dont eat enough.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-120 -
I'm mostly venting here but would love some helpful advice. I don't know that much about losing weight. I started my healthy lifestyle November 9th and since then I've lost 15lbs which I'm pretty proud of But now the scale just will not go down. I'm assuming I'm not exercising enough? I eat lots of fruits, veggies and lean protein but for some reason I'm starting to gain weight and its super frustrating. I eat between 1200-1400 calories everyday and I doing some walking. I was running in the beginning but suffered a leg injury so I cant run for a little while. I honestly feel like I'm losing weight but I'm not losing inches or anything. Any help would be appreciated. TIA
Walking is not a great form of exercise at all for weight management, you might burn 100 calories a mile with no afterburn. Does your leg injury stop you weight training? Why did you injure yourself running - did you get a gait analysis and fitted for running shoes? Were you doing a ten minute low impact warm up? Did you follow a couch to 5k plan and adhere to the rest days?
Looking at your food diary - eat way more fruit and veggies, more healthy fats especially oily fish, more mineral rich foods like beans, lentils nuts and seeds. Your macros are skewed, loads of carbs (too much refined/ processed/ high Glycaemic Index) and not enough fats or protein so you may be losing muscle. MFP protein recommendation is a minimum not a maximum or ideal. Try to spread your calories over four to six meals.0 -
You are doing an amazing job so far having lost 15 pounds in almost 8 week. That's nearly 2 pounds per week!
How long has it been since you haven't lost? Weight loss is not a linear thing. We think our bodies will immediately react, and you've even gotten justification for that thinking so far with your success, but that's just not how it works. This could just be a temporary blip for some unknown reason but here are some possibilities?
What have you been doing for exercise since you're not running? Starting something new or increasing the intensity of an exercise can lead to temporary weight gain because the muscles get damaged and will retain water and glycogen as part of the natural healing process.
Could it be that time of the month? Has your sodium intake increased lately? Something in your diet changed?
Have you been eating back your exercise calories? If you are, it could be that you're overestimating burn as one of the above poster mentioned and therefore you're overeating when you eat those back. If you're not, your weight loss could be stalled due to not fueling your body enough. I know it sounds weird but it is possible to not lose or stall out now and then because there is too much of a calorie deficit. Don't be afraid to play around with your intake a bit and see what works best for you.
Good luck!0 -
I don't know if your short, but when I don't exercise, I have to eat no more than 1000-1200 if I want to jump start weight loss again. I know a lot of people wouldn't agree, but it's what works for me.
Same here. She said she had to stop running because she hurt herself and she gained weight. Not surprising.0 -
TOTALLY agree with the folks who posted that you're not eating enough. For those who said you're not being honest or something, that's absolutely ridiculous (and mean). I gained weight for a while in almost exactly the same situation you're describing. AND I was in the gym - no kidding - 3 hours a day. I was so frustrated!
So, I met a trainer at the DC gym where I work out (Marceleus M. Venable) and he explained that I was at too much of a deficit. He had to badger me into cutting back on my workouts to no more than 90 minutes a day and made me eat more (~1400-1500 calories for a 170 frame - you may need to adjust for your weight) and sure as $*&% I lost weight within 2 weeks. I should also mention that I added weight training. I was really resistant to it, but the muscle really did help me burn more as part of my resting metabolic rate. (he also said not to weigh in around your period because women naturally gain then and it will just crush your spirits).
I know it's counterintuitive, but you need to eat enough so that your body doesn't starve. And weight training won't bulk you up. And that 1200-1250 crap is nonsense unless you're already smaller (like under 150).
Now I'm no expert with a degree, but I have managed to lost and keep off 75 lbs for a few years at a time. I'm still down 40 lbs from my top weight, even though I gained over the holidays and will be getting it back off in the New Year. Trust me - eat more and don't work out more than 90 minutes a day, 6 times a week.
IF you want my diet plan from my nutritionist and trainer, I'm happy to share. If you want to talk to Marcus, I think I have his email around somewhere.
Hang in there!!
~Elizabeth
Thanks for that. I'm definitely interested in that diet plan.0 -
I don't know if your short, but when I don't exercise, I have to eat no more than 1000-1200 if I want to jump start weight loss again. I know a lot of people wouldn't agree, but it's what works for me.
Same here. She said she had to stop running because she hurt herself and she gained weight. Not surprising.
Are you talking about me???0
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