Eating More....Now What?

amytag

Background: I have been eating about 1300 calories per day for the last 3-4 months, slowly moving down per MFP's suggestion as I lose weight. I have been on MFP religiously for 11 months, and am down 77 pounds. However, I have not lost even a tenth of a pound in a month.

To help me move from this plateau and prepare myself for losing the last 30 pounds in a slow way that will help me sustain and maintain, I reset my calories to 1600 per day, which is my BMR. I did this 8 days ago.

I haven't weighed for the 8 days until this morning, and I've gained 3.6 pounds in a week. My exercise has been consistent this week (30-45 minutes per day/4 days per week plus I ran a 5k this weekend).

Is this initial gain to be expected when you increase to BMR? How much more should I expect to gain? As it stands right now, I have "undone" every bit of progress that I've made in the past 2 months in one week and I'm frustrated! Logically, I know that it's impossible that this is "real" weight gain, but I don't know why it would be water retention either.

juliekins64

I think it is normal to gain temporarily when you increase your caloires but from what I hear you will go back down once your body adapts to the extra amount of calories. Perhaps wait a few weeks and see if the weight "sticks".

Because we are all on here with the same goal I feel the need to recommend you add some weight lifting to your routine. It is very helpful in reducing bodyfat and is far less boring than other exercise. I added lifting to my routine because I don't have much left to lose and it had really changed my body, I was deflated looking before whereas I am rounding and firmer now. I've heard stats say something like adding only 2 session of lifting per week can reduce total bodyfat something like 7% over 8-12 weeks, I might have got the % wrong but it seems true enough for most people. I also run and while it did help me lose weight it was lifting that changed the way I look under the clothes. Good luck and don't forget that the last bit of weight is going to be harder to get rid of so don't be too harsh with yourself.

amytag

Sorry I should add that I do the 30 Day Shred 4 times per week as part of my exercise routine as well as kettle bells workouts. I am not currently a heavy lifter because I don't have a gym membership, but use a 20 lb Kettlebell. I'm hoping to start heavier lifting this summer when I am able to join a gym. (Right now I am limited to doing work outs at home and don't have the $$ to invest in weights)

jacksonpt

How accurately and honestly are you measuring/logging? Are you weighing/measuring all your foods? Do you eat out much? Are you logging those last 2 bites of little Jimmy's pizza and that 1 hershey kiss you grabbed on your way out the door?

juliekins64

Then I think you will be the leanest fittest lady around this summer doing what you are doing.
Great job! Don't worry about a couple of lbs, if you are eating well enough and exercising you will get there in no time.

Gym membership $ will keep me out of the gym this summer so here is my playground strength training routine, google for pictures. My intention is to do at least half of these (3 sets of 10 reps each) every time I take my kids to the park.

Lower:
Squat
Step Ups
Bench Jumps
knee lifts
Slide Lunge
Lateral Leg Lift

Upper:
Elevated Push Ups
Push Ups
Swing Row
Pull Ups/Chin Ups
Bench Dip
Picnic table lifts
Monkey bars
Donkey kicks
Flye/Reverse Flye

Core:
Russian Twists
Hanging Knee Tucks
Swing Crisscross
Swing Crunch
Superman

3foldchord

1300 to 1600 is a bit of a jump and your body will take some time to adjust. I would just add 100 a week, probably. I'm a chicken-wimp like that.

psuLemon

It's very normal. Give your body about a month before you freak out. I can gain that in a day if I eat bad one day, lol. Also, when you increase calories, did you increase carbs a lot? If so, you will store more water. Can you open your diet so we can look?

Phrick

Sorry I should add that I do the 30 Day Shred 4 times per week as part of my exercise routine as well as kettle bells workouts. I am not currently a heavy lifter because I don't have a gym membership, but use a 20 lb Kettlebell. I'm hoping to start heavier lifting this summer when I am able to join a gym. (Right now I am limited to doing work outs at home and don't have the $$ to invest in weights)

There's a book called "You Are Your Own Gym" that's dedicated to showing body-weight exercises. I have ordered this to use because i also have no gym membership. I know it's reccommended by some of the lifters here as a good starting point, I'd check out the reviews on Amazon too (but buy it from Walmart.com where it's only $10.80 :laugh:)

juliekins64

Sorry I should add that I do the 30 Day Shred 4 times per week as part of my exercise routine as well as kettle bells workouts. I am not currently a heavy lifter because I don't have a gym membership, but use a 20 lb Kettlebell. I'm hoping to start heavier lifting this summer when I am able to join a gym. (Right now I am limited to doing work outs at home and don't have the $$ to invest in weights)

There's a book called "You Are Your Own Gym" that's dedicated to showing body-weight exercises. I have ordered this to use because i also have no gym membership. I know it's reccommended by some of the lifters here as a good starting point, I'd check out the reviews on Amazon too (but buy it from Walmart.com where it's only $10.80 :laugh:)

You can find great workout routines using stuff in your home/own body weight/weights for free on the internet. I'll spend an hour browsing blogs and whatnot and find great new exercises with photos and I copy&past so I can add them to my routine. Even googling Playground or junglegym exercise routine will turn out hundreds of useful and free ideas.

amytag

Thanks everyone!

I am pretty stringent about logging, even when I eat the occasional Robin's Egg (I had three last week). Looking back at my week, I did eat out twice, and had some pickles yesterday (ie, out of the ordinary sodium) so I am probably jumping to conclusions about the stupid scale. I think I'll try to drink more water and keep at 1600 calories, and see what next week's weigh-in holds for me.

Definitely going to check the body weight exercises! Being flabby is a big fear of mine because of the weight I've already lost. My legs are toning up nicely due to running but my arms need some work.