Sudden Weight Gain

NJL13500

Provide your stats (height/weight/age/bodyfat% if you know it/etc)
5'6"
137.4 pounds
42
Around 23% via online calculators. Closer to 20% via calipers (used by me-so I'm not sure how accurate this is)


What's your current gross intake of calories, on average?
From 3/10-4/6 it has been 1953 on average


What's your current average intake of protein, carbs, and fats, in grams? (GRAMS, not percent!)
Protein-99 grams
Carbs-228 grams
Fats-66 grams

Do you use a food scale and measure everything?
I do use a food scale and measuring spoons/cups for things that are not packaged. I admit that I am not as consistent with this when I am away from home.

Do you track all of your intake, daily? (Everything?)
Yes-the good, the bad and the ugly-even on vacations.


Do you take cheat days or days off?
Not intentionally. Some days I just feel hungry or want certain things and make less healthy choices. I usually try to offset with extra exercise when possible.

How much weight have you lost so far and over what time period?
On 2/10/12 I weighed 190 and reached 130 by 11/30/12. I maintained that weight loss (60 pounds in 10 months) until March 6, 2013. On 3/6 I went up to 135 and then on 3/31 up to 137 and on 4/5 up to 140 pounds. I am back down to 137 as of today.


Describe your activity (exercise and non exercise) and did you change that activity withing the last couple of months?
I use a Body Media armband and my TDEE average over the past 28 days is 2406. I lift using the heaviest weight that I can for 3 days per week and do 2 body parts per day. On lifting days I do about 30 minutes of easy steady state cardio to unwind. On non-lifting days I run or do other cardio and my target is usually 45 minutes to an hour. Running or cycling.

I teach middle school and the amount of movement I get in any given day varies. I rarely sit behind my desk all day. When I sync my BodyMedia when I get home I usually have an average burn of 1400 calories by 3:00 pm.

I switched up my routine on 1/4/13 to start to do heavier lifting. My prior focus had been on cardio and lighter weights.

How long have you been stalled and if it is not a complete stall please be very specific as to how much you have lost over the stalled period.
I wouldn't mind a stall. Mine is actually a large gain over a short period of time that has persisted for a month now.


Are you breastfeeding?
No


Do you have thyroid issues/risks or PCOS?
Not that I am aware of.


Also, please ensure that you have your diary open.

Anything that you can suggest would be helpful. I am concerned because not only did my weight go up quickly in a short period of time, but my clothes are getting tight which to me means that it is probably not "adding muscle" or at least not adding ONLY muscle. If my pants were not getting tight I actually wouldn't be so worried about the weight itself.

Sarauk2sf

If you weigh weekly, what has your weight been over each of the last 6 weeks?

NJL13500

I weigh daily but record less often. I do not let daily fluctuations bother me and look at the trend over time. Here is what I have recorded:
4/10-137.4
4/6-137.2
4/5-140
4/1-135.8
3/22-134.6
3/12-133
3/7-130.6
2/25-130.6
2/20-130
2/15-130
2/5-131.8
1/31-130

Measurements as well:
1/10/13
Bust 34
Waist 27
Hips 34
Thigh 20
Bicep 10
Forearm 9
Neck 13
Calf 14
Shoulders 39

3/16/13
Bust 35
Waist 28
Hips 34.5
Thigh 20.5
Bicep 10.25
Forearm 9.25
Neck 13
Calf 14
Shoulders 14.5

4/10/13
Bust 35.5
Waist 29
Hips 35
Thigh 20.75
Bicep 10.5
Forearm 9.5
Neck 13
Calf 14.5
Shoulders 40

NJL13500

Also added a picture from today (not flexed). I also have quite a bit of loose skin that makes it difficult to see what I'm actually working with.

Picture Flexed

Will_Thrust_For_Candy

I have experienced something similar.....but to the tune of 12lbs since I started SL back in November! I am really curious to see what the experts recommend for you too Funny enough, I don't look like I have gained 12lbs....thank God for that! Inches have stayed pretty static...not much of a gain in that respect.....clothes still fitting okay.....but I just can't get past it!

As of March 1 I increased my deficit which so far has been okay but I have had to modify my lifting a bit as I just can't progress on SL as fast as the program goes without eating more :frown: My modification has still been fine though....and added in more cardio although I see that you do that too. I feel your pain....SO FRUSTRATING!

Sarauk2sf

Have you changed your lifting routine or other exercise routine in that period?

I note from your diary that sometimes you only record food under one meal - is that just for ease or are you only eating once/twice a day (calories look the same whether you log one meal or multiple).?

LoveMyLife_NYC

In for the responses. I've also unintentionally gained 10 pounds in the last 3 months.

NJL13500

I eat throughout the day. I was trying different things in terms of logging to see what worked best for me. I think that I've found part of the answer to be my recent increase in fiber. I've stopped taking the supplements and lost an inch back off my waist. I'm also back down to 135.4 as of yesterday. I think I might have just made too many changes at once. I'll give it some more time to settle in (less the fiber supplements) and see what happens. At least I know that I'm not alone in gaining weight when adding heavier lifting. Thanks for all of the input.. I try not to worry about the scale, but the measurement issue was what alarmed me. I'm thinking that it was too much fiber all at once.

Sarauk2sf

Hi! What has your weight done since you stopped the fiber supplements - has it some back down to prior levels?

NJL13500

Hi Sara-Pretty much. I was down to 133.2 again last Tuesday. I have not weighed myself since then. I'm trying calorie cycling for the next 3 weeks and I want to weigh myself when I am all done. My waist has gone back down an inch though. I think I reacted poorly to the fiber supplements. I think some of the weight gain is muscle though (which is why I'm not too concerned about being 133 instead of 130), which my measurements in my other body parts support.

I continue to have issues with going over on sodium (especially on weekends), but I'm learning how my body reacts to different things.

Thanks again for your feedback.

Sarauk2sf

Locking so we can keep track of active threads easier. Please feel free to PM either myself or SideSteel, and include a link to this thread. and we will unlock should you wish to add anything to it.

Hopefully you stopping the supplements will help - if not, feel free to ask us to open the thread again for more input.