Why am I gaining weight?
girlr94
Posts: 38 Member
I joined MyFitnessPal about 2 weeks ago and since then I've been counting calories on it. I've been putting in absolutely everything I eat each day, and I've been avoiding unhealthy stuff, and eating loads of fruit and veg. I've cut down on bread as well. They set my maximum as 1320 cals per day and minumum 1200. I've managed to stay within those boundaries pretty much the whole time, except for one or two days where I was about 50 cals above or below the limits. I know you can gain weight if you eat too little but I thought that if it was 1200 or above surely I wouldn't be 'starving myself'? I've tried to be really strict with myself. I know it takes a while to lose weight, more than 2 weeks but surely it should be slowly coming off, not rapidly going on?!
But since I joined I've gained 4 pounds! How is that possible? I've been trying to eat as well as I can, with a balance of foods, but it hasn't worked. My goal is 9st 12, and when I started I was 10st 4, not I'm 10st 8! I've been weighing myself every morning just before I get in the shower, so clothes, food and drink won't affect it. Can anybody enlighten me as to what went wrong?
But since I joined I've gained 4 pounds! How is that possible? I've been trying to eat as well as I can, with a balance of foods, but it hasn't worked. My goal is 9st 12, and when I started I was 10st 4, not I'm 10st 8! I've been weighing myself every morning just before I get in the shower, so clothes, food and drink won't affect it. Can anybody enlighten me as to what went wrong?
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Replies
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Most likely you are not measuring your foods properly and thus underestimating how much you are eating.
From there, I'd suggest looking at your sodium and water intake.
And finally, also suggest that you make all variables constant when weighing every week.0 -
I looked at your diary, and there are quite a few days you are over your calorie goal, a couple of them were by over 600 calories.0
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Those two days where I ate 600 calories over were when I was staying with my gran, and she'd cooked all these meals and I didn't have the heart to tell her that I was trying to cut down because she worries that i won't like what she cooks. I know it's not really an excuse but it's difficult to try to lose weight because when I mention it to my parents they get annoyed because they don't think I need to (I'm 10st 8 and 5ft 5 though so obviously I could do with losing a bit). So I don't tell them and because I live with them I have to eat what they eat. It's not like they're unhealthy because they've both been losing weight in the past year too so we're pretty healthy in my house, but meals like the 'Couscous Houmous pitta bread' thing I don't think my dad realises how many carbs they've got. They'd really freak out if they knew I was counting calories! So I don't always have the opportunity to eat really healthy stuff all the time. For some reason my parents have lost loads of weight from eating this way and they didn't really need to lose much either, so I don't know why it won't work for me! I know it's a bad excuse but I don't want to hurt anybody's feelings by turning food down, because most of it is healthy it's just not all the time. I don't really have a choice in what I eat in the evenings. Sorry I probably sound like I'm making excuses!0
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One thing to remember is that you're trying to lose FAT, not weight. Don't go crazy weighing yourself all the time because there are days where you retain water or have food in your stomach or whatever and the numbers fluctuate. I've had my "weight" change 7 pounds in a day from the morning when I was dehydrated and on an empty stomach to the end of the day when I was full of food, had worked out, and had drank a lot of water.
Find some other weighs of measuring your success. Take pictures of yourself. Get a tailor's measuring tape and measure your waist and neck. You may see progress in those ways.
I had 6 weeks at a time where I didn't lose a pound but lost 2-3 inches off my waist. The science backs up the fact that if you're running a calorie deficit, you ARE losing fat.0 -
I agree with the others about making sure you are weighing/measuring accurately. Fruit can really add up.0
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You are making excuses. But that is a rather neutral statement I think.
You can eat what they make, just remember portion sizes! Eating that many extra calories is not going to help you at all.
If you just simply MUST eat that much, then you're going to have to pick up a lot of exercise.
Sorry, just the way it is. Reduce eating, move more.0 -
It sounds as though you are already eating healthy foods, why not just cut portion size a bit? Either that or do some more excercise on the days you go over to balance it all out? Find an excercise you *love* doing and do that. I swim, and its not just for excercise, its because I need it now as I love it so much. So find your thing and do it
Happy endorphines from excercise too. 0 -
Protein is way too low, fat is too low and carbs are way, way too high0
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One thing to remember is that you're trying to lose FAT, not weight. Don't go crazy weighing yourself all the time because there are days where you retain water or have food in your stomach or whatever and the numbers fluctuate. I've had my "weight" change 7 pounds in a day from the morning when I was dehydrated and on an empty stomach to the end of the day when I was full of food, had worked out, and had drank a lot of water.
Find some other weighs of measuring your success. Take pictures of yourself. Get a tailor's measuring tape and measure your waist and neck. You may see progress in those ways.
I had 6 weeks at a time where I didn't lose a pound but lost 2-3 inches off my waist. The science backs up the fact that if you're running a calorie deficit, you ARE losing fat.
THIS.0 -
Agreed. Portion sizes are crazy. There is a thing called a silent diet. It is where you take 25% less than you normally would eat, thus reducing calories. But, most people aren't likely to notice that you are eating less either. Exercise is absolutely key. I know some mornings I really don't feel like it. I feel discouraged and sore and I have a hundred excuses not to. Who is going to notice anyway? I get depressed and want to hide from the world and myself. BUT, I KNOW I will regret it the next day. I know it will set up an unhealthy pattern for me. So I buck up and do it. I feel better afterwards.0
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I think you need to give it time... it took about 4 weeks for me to lose much at all! and excercise 0
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It could also just be TOM. One week out of the month I tend to weight ~2 lbs more than I normally do. Some women gain a lot more than that for that one week.
Also, if you've just started an exercise program, that will most likely cause water retention.
Just be consistent in how you measure (i.e. same clothes, same time of day, post toilet use, etc). Try not to get discouraged by what you see on the scale. There are a lot of factors that go into weight. I notice a 3-5 lb difference in the same day depending on what time of day I'm weighing myself. Like someone mentioned above, it's a good idea to have another method of judging such as body fat % or measurements.
Give it some time to really tell. 2 weeks is pretty early in to get worried. If you're still gaining after 4-6, then you might want to change things up. Just my opionion for what it's worth. 0 -
Protein is way too low, fat is too low and carbs are way, way too high
Does this really affect fat loss though, I can see protein being important for muscle building what if you just want to shed the fat?0 -
I went through this same thing for a couple of weeks and realized it was because I was eating small things here or there that were not making it to my food log...these little snacks can seriously add up! Make sure you are being honest in your food diary...if not you are only hurting your progress. If you "fall of the wagon" one day dont get discouraged or embarassed...it happens to all of us. The important thing is to recognize what happened and try to eat healthier the next day!0
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Looking at your diary. You need to take control of portion size and I don't see any exercise.0
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It's looks like you are not drinking much water. Water and protein is key to weight loss. You shoud be drinking at least 3 liters of water each day. Also you may wanna change your settings to look at your sodium intake. I bet you are over the limit in sodium and then not drinking enough water. Not a good combination. You're probably putting on a lot of water weight. If your stomach feels bloated or you feel that you have excess fat on your belly then you need to drink more water, eat more protein, less carbs and exercise!0
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Okay, so I was a little nosey and looked at your diary. (hope that's okay) and I know it will be hard to change but there is a lot of processed foods in your diet and sugar and salt. Healthy natural foods keep you full longer and nourish your body properly. Someone on MFP said change at least one thing and when you master that then change something else. It's important to remember that it's a lifestyle change and it's okay to make those changes slowly otherwise it will be very hard to stick to.0
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It's looks like you are not drinking much water. Water and protein is key to weight loss. You shoud be drinking at least 3 liters of water each day. Also you may wanna change your settings to look at your sodium intake. I bet you are over the limit in sodium and then not drinking enough water. Not a good combination. You're probably putting on a lot of water weight. If your stomach feels bloated or you feel that you have excess fat on your belly then you need to drink more water, eat more protein, less carbs and exercise!
All of this!!0 -
I went through this same thing for a couple of weeks and realized it was because I was eating small things here or there that were not making it to my food log...these little snacks can seriously add up! Make sure you are being honest in your food diary...if not you are only hurting your progress. If you "fall of the wagon" one day dont get discouraged or embarassed...it happens to all of us. The important thing is to recognize what happened and try to eat healthier the next day!
I would like to say at this point that I have literally been putting EVERYTHING in that I eat, even if it's just a satsuma or a couple of Skittles. I don't even miss out a glass of squash!0 -
How much water do you drink? What are you doing for exercise? There were too many days where you missed a meal and that isn't good for your metabolism. You should eat a bigger breakfast, more at lunch and then less at dinner, although some people will say it doesn't make a difference. You could also eat more since you are so young.0
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I suggest incorporating exercise into your routine as well. You'll be surprised what a difference even just a daily walk of 45 minutes daily will make. Good luck!:smooched:0
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Protein is way too low, fat is too low and carbs are way, way too high
Does this really affect fat loss though, I can see protein being important for muscle building what if you just want to shed the fat?
It affects weight loss for me. If I am high carbs, I don't lose or I lose very very slowly. The second I bump my diet to high protein, low carbs, low sugar I burn through weight like crazy.0 -
The great thing about exercise is that it allows you to eat (more)! What are you currently doing for exercise? Women tend to go crazy with cardio exercise and neglect weight/strength training. But, if you add muscle you get smaller (not necessarily lighter) and you burn more calories sitting still.
There are alot of places where you can find FREE exercise plans on-line and Apps for your smartphone. I like Bodybuilding.com where you can get a suggested program of cadio/strength training for free. http://www.bodybuilding.com/guides/
As for nutrition, try to limit your carbs and increase your protein (especially if you start stregth training). Healthy fat is key to weight loss too - the kind you find in nuts, seeds, some fish etc. (Almonds, sunflower seeds, flax seeds, avacado, salmon...) So many of us have been programed to eat low-fat and fat-free that we just end up eating more carbs and sugar which can end up being worse on our bodies!
Good luck and stick with it. It has taken me 2 years to lose 60#, but i did it with healthy eating and a variety of exercise.
Stay well!0 -
It really doesn't seem like you have a good idea of what you put in your body and how it affects you.
You say you eat within your calories all the time, but then actually in looking at your diary you don't really. And you have loads of excuses why.
You gained because you didn't burn as many calories as you put in. It's simple. If you want to lose you need to ACTUALLY stick to your calorie goals, not make excuses why you didn't, and you probably want to think about your food choices and maybe think about eating a bit cleaner.0 -
I understand that you feel pressure to make people happy, especially grandma. Eat all you want and then exercise to burn up all the extra calories. :drinker:0
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Agreed. Portion sizes are crazy. There is a thing called a silent diet. It is where you take 25% less than you normally would eat, thus reducing calories. But, most people aren't likely to notice that you are eating less either. Exercise is absolutely key. I know some mornings I really don't feel like it. I feel discouraged and sore and I have a hundred excuses not to. Who is going to notice anyway? I get depressed and want to hide from the world and myself. BUT, I KNOW I will regret it the next day. I know it will set up an unhealthy pattern for me. So I buck up and do it. I feel better afterwards.
A Grandmother would certainly notice.
I think the issue here is portion control and unhealthy food. There is a lot of processed junk in the diary. Just because it's labeled "diet" doesn't mean it's good for you. I also don't see any exercise logged, so that could be a problem.0 -
Without measuring your food with a scale, I think it is very hard to be accurate. Some measure over and some people measure under actual calories. Step one, move out. Step two, measure your food.0
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You also don't mention much about your activity level settings. If you set things up wrong in the first place (you are really sedentary and set your activity level as active), you could be not really eating at a deficit at the calorie levels you are at. I think the important thing is stick with it, measure your food as accurately as possible and make sure you are exercising 0
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I saw a major difference in weight loss when I stopped eating processed foods (basically anything in a box) and switched to whole grains, fruits, and veggies as most of my carbs. Watch your sodium and sugar intake, drink more water, up your protein and healthy fat intake. Your body will respond positively. Also, if you're not weighing/measuring your food, logging every little thing isn't going to do you much good - you're probably underestimating your calories or portions. It's easy to do.0
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^^^ This for me, though it's not like crazy, but it finally moves the scale.Protein is way too low, fat is too low and carbs are way, way too high
Does this really affect fat loss though, I can see protein being important for muscle building what if you just want to shed the fat?
It affects weight loss for me. If I am high carbs, I don't lose or I lose very very slowly. The second I bump my diet to high protein, low carbs, low sugar I burn through weight like crazy.0
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