Gaining, not losing?

Jmchao

Ok...going to head off a lot of garbage right now... "they" say it takes 3500 calories to gain/lose a pound. So...I eat an average of 1660 calories a day (5'8" and 240lbs and light-moderate activity). I've started adding walking/light jogging to my regimen and my goal is simply to reach or exceed 10,000 steps a day. I have logged everything and even entered recipes I have made to ensure I calculate the calories correctly. So...the garbage...

1) Yes, I am tracking every morsel entering my mouth. I weigh, measure, etc. etc. etc.

2) No, I have not gained muscle (it's been only 2 weeks and I am not lifting weight right now and a pound is a pound is a pound and muscle helps burn fat so if anything, the weight should remain about the same, not go up)

3) I am NOT in starvation mode...I am coming in at approximately a 350 calorie deficit each day.

4) Yes, I drink water.

5) Yes, I eat fruits and veggies and have stayed away from my sweets (which is killing me!)

6) I eat lean proteins that are baked or grilled, never fried.

7) my sodium is less than 2500 mg per day ( as set by MFP)

8) I drink water and use the bathroom many times a day with virtually clear urine, so I am more than sufficiently hydrated.

So...do the math...if I am at an average deficit of 350 calories x 7 days a week x 2 weeks = 4900 calorie deficit overall. That should be at least a 1.25 pound loss, right? So why am I up 5 pounds?

Remember...it takes 3500 calories to make a pound, so even if I am going to get garbage responses about not eating enough, holding on to fat, blah blah blah...it still takes 3500 calories to make a pound, and I am eating at a deficit each day, so mathematically, I cannot have gained 5 pounds....but I have. And it's not going down any...and if it takes 3500 to make/take a pound, I have NOT eaten 17,500 excessive calories in the past 2 weeks. Heck, even if I ate 2000 calories a day and burned nothing, that's still only 14,000 calories in 2 weeks, which is still not enough to gain 5 pounds.

Has anyone else struggled with this and how did you work through it? Yes, I have an underactive thyroid that is being treated with meds, no other medical conditions or medications. Yes, I see my doctor regularly (went within the past 6 months, so I know everything else checks out). But again-even though the thyroid may make it a tad more challenging, I have not mathematically eaten enough to gain 5 pounds.

So where the heck is this weight coming from and how do I get rid of it? I'm trying to get into shape, so please do not suggest I start doing insane workouts and such as I can hardly breathe walking to the mailbox, so to make/break 10,000 steps a day IS a challenge for me right now.

I am just getting so frustrated and ready to quit again. It kills me to see/hear of others dropping 5+ pounds a week (even if it were that mythical "water weight", I'd be happy to see that go!) and here I've gained. I am at a loss....emotionally, not physically...

Reeceybaby1988

I've started adding walking/light jogging to my regimen and my goal is simply to reach or exceed 10,000 steps a day.

this plus natural water fluctuations, when do you weigh youself? is it at the same time/day every week? or are you one of those obsesive people who NEED to weigh themselves every 5 mins?

TOM?

dodgey scales?


do you need a massive crap? coz i can shave off easily 2lbs in a matter of 5 mins that way

Fozzi43

You've just started exercising..could be your body is holding on to water to repair muscle.

Chill.

3dogsrunning

You've just started exercising..could be your body is holding on to water to repair muscle.

Chill.

This. ( drinking water will not solve this type of water retention)

Opening your diary would be a huge help as well.

ETA this link
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/350212--why-scales-lie