12,000 calories per day and exercise and I am GAINING?!

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  • Real cheese is good. Processed cheese is high in fat and sodium.

    "Processed cheese food" isn't really cheese at all. Eww... :laugh:

    No, but a lot of people don't know that. And you don't really know what kind of cheese people are eating when you look at their diary unless it says, Kraft slices, or Velveeta. Damn, now I want some..... Bad, bad, bad. Going to eat an apple now.

    I do know the difference. My Father recently got out of the hospital after going into septic shock and a coma. He needs me to cook for him, that was what he requested. And insited I eat some as well. :) I chalk it up to weakness on my part!
  • QueenofScott
    QueenofScott Posts: 305 Member
    It could be that you are it eating enough T this point. Maybe you should try bumping up our calories for a week or so and see if that kick starts your weight loss again. I know it sounds backwards, but sometimes it really helps. Let us know how you do!
  • smichelus622
    smichelus622 Posts: 21 Member
    I gained 4 lbs that first month i went to the gym. It was a nightmare i was so mad and almost ready to give up. But after that month i started to loose again. And although the scales slow and doesnt like to move much i do fit into clothing alot better. So i would say dont give up. I eat bout 1/2 the calories i burn or make sure i eat about 1500 a day. Take measurements. You will be amazed at the end of the month the change there. You have lost a lot already your body is adjusting. I dropped 30 lbs last year and then added exercise. You also have to realize that once you drop it is harder to keep dropping.

    keep strong you can do it.
  • gddrdld
    gddrdld Posts: 464 Member
    stop thinking about the scale and think about body composition.
    my body builds muscle WAY too readily.

    hmmm, I really doubt that.

    Me too.
  • natymatos
    natymatos Posts: 8 Member
    When I saw the 800, I said that's the problem, you are not eating enough. The other thing is that if I"m not mistaken cardio will burn more calories than weight training. I use the gym only when the weather doesn't allow me to be outdoors, but when I can i walk 3-4 miles to burn calories.

    Also I weigh in the morning before eating anything. I think that's more accurate than after working out when your muscles are sore and swolen from the workout.

    Keep going, you are doing a good job
  • nellyett
    nellyett Posts: 436 Member
    I just posted this elsewhere, so this is a copy and paste....:)


    I did the 1200 cals a day when I started too. I do HIIT bootcamp training 3-4 days per week and run between 5 and 10 miles per week. I initially lost in the beginning but had plateaued for MONTHS! I was so frustrated! I tried eating back exercise calories, NOT eating back exercise calories, cheat days, Intermittent Fasting, and carb cycling!! LOL

    Through reading all kinds of posts, I wasn't eating enough for MY body. I did a ton of research, gave myself a headache with all the numbers, but have finally figured it out and it's working for me now....btw I only have about 10 lbs to lose. I'm 5'5" and am 139 lbs.

    What I'm doing, and what's working for ME is that I calculated my BMR and TDEE and am going from there. I'll adjust these numbers as my weight changes. I use the 'Sedentary TDEE' number and reduced it by 15%.

    BMR = 1370

    TDEE @ sedentary = 1645 (less 15%) = 1398

    I have set MFP at 1400 cals per day. I use a HRM to track my exercise calories burned and I EAT THEM BACK.

    So....If I have a rest day and don't workout, I eat 1400 cals for the day.

    If I exercise and burn 400 cals I eat 1800 cals for the day. 1400 base cals + 400 exercise cals = 1800 cals but I NET 1400 cals for the day.

    I've also reset my macros to 30% protein, 40% carbs, and 30% fat.

    Seems so simple to me now, but I was completely confused as to how much I should be eating for weeks!!! It's working like a charm. I lost a full pound this last week, I feel better, sleep better, and have energy for my workouts.
  • measure yourself with a tape measure
  • yoovie
    yoovie Posts: 17,121 Member
    Have you researched what might be the problem before coming and asking?
    Did you study what your plan would do to you biologically before you started?
    Did you just jump in with little knowledge and go full speed ahead and now you are frustrated?
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    Took a brief look at your diary and some of your problem may be your food choices. I see things like cheese, which is high in both fat and sodium, and restaurant food - super high in sodium. The problem with sodium is twofold:

    :noway:

    There's nothing wrong with eating cheese every day. (or a couple times per day) Saying the sodium and fat content is "high" is subjective. Fat from cheese is good fat.

    Real cheese is good. Processed cheese is high in fat and sodium.

    "Processed cheese food" isn't really cheese at all. Eww... :laugh:


    Velveeta is one of my guilty pleasures. I have only had it twice in about 4 months though. So, I do not indulge in it often.

    Oh, Velveeta....I didn't look at your diary. My hubby loves the stuff. Maybe try cheddar cheese instead. I am one of those weirdos who thinks Velveeta tastes more like plastic than cheese. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE cheese, but not processed "cheese food" or "cheese product." I won't even eat a slice of so-called "American cheese" either. Eww. I like cheddar, especially smokey cheddar, and provolone and mozzarella, etc.... Sorry to hijack. Maybe I should start a cheese thread!?! :laugh:
  • geekyjock76
    geekyjock76 Posts: 2,720 Member
    Have you researched what might be the problem before coming and asking?
    Did you study what your plan would do to you biologically before you started?
    Did you just jump in with little knowledge and go full speed ahead and now you are frustrated?
    I'm sure all these apply to her, unfortunately. The main reason people fail at fat loss is a lack of understanding of thermogenesis and human physiology. She's echoing the same misunderstandings as most people who struggle with their goals: I gained two lbs of muscle by going to the gym after just a few days - you gained water weight; I gained two lbs of fat by eating consistently well under my maintenance range - you gained water weight; I'm not hungry thus don't feel the need to provide the calories my body needs - my leptin concentration levels have plummeted and alter satiety thus I am not hungry even if eating 800 calories and exercising like crazy.
  • Jacwhite22
    Jacwhite22 Posts: 7,010 Member
    My fat turns into muscle and the scale wont budge.

    Since I'm not reading through all the comments.....and I'm sure nobody has said it yet.....No. Just no....This does not happen.
  • hiker359
    hiker359 Posts: 577 Member
    3. The scale can only really measure trends, not precise weight loss. The average person's weight can fluxuate by as much as 6-10 lbs per day depending on all the things in #2.

    I read this and laughed since a good #2 will always lead to a good drop in weight for me.
  • lyndakentie
    lyndakentie Posts: 10 Member
    1200 calories is the lowest you should go. 800 is way too low and will mess up your metabolism. Sometimes when you deprive your body too much it will go into starvation mode and will store up what ever it can. When you hit a plateau like that sometimes it is good to add calories, up to 1400 or 1500 for a few days then go back to 1200. You will start losing again.
  • Have you researched what might be the problem before coming and asking?
    Did you study what your plan would do to you biologically before you started?
    Did you just jump in with little knowledge and go full speed ahead and now you are frustrated?
    I'm sure all these apply to her, unfortunately. The main reason people fail at fat loss is a lack of understanding of thermogenesis and human physiology. She's echoing the same misunderstandings as most people who struggle with their goals: I gained two lbs of muscle by going to the gym after just a few days - you gained water weight; I gained two lbs of fat by eating consistently well under my maintenance range - you gained water weight; I'm not hungry thus don't feel the need to provide the calories my body needs - my leptin concentration levels have plummeted and alter satiety thus I am not hungry even if eating 800 calories and exercising like crazy.

    I am not saying that the 2lbs I "gained" is due to muscle gain. Maybe I was not clear in my post 2nd attempt . . .

    When I was in college (a few years ago) I went to the gym for 2hrs 5 days a week. I kept this up over several months and developed more muscle on my body than I like. I do not want this to happen again. I KNOW the 2lbs I gained over this week is NOT muscle. I understanf that and never thought it to begin with!

    What I needed was someone to tell me that it (the weight gain) is probobally nothing to be concerned about at this time.I had an inkling that it was water/swelling. i was asking for confirmation on this.

    What is the point of this forum, if not to ask questions and seek support?!
  • Jacwhite22
    Jacwhite22 Posts: 7,010 Member
    Have you researched what might be the problem before coming and asking?
    Did you study what your plan would do to you biologically before you started?
    Did you just jump in with little knowledge and go full speed ahead and now you are frustrated?
    I'm sure all these apply to her, unfortunately. The main reason people fail at fat loss is a lack of understanding of thermogenesis and human physiology. She's echoing the same misunderstandings as most people who struggle with their goals: I gained two lbs of muscle by going to the gym after just a few days - you gained water weight; I gained two lbs of fat by eating consistently well under my maintenance range - you gained water weight; I'm not hungry thus don't feel the need to provide the calories my body needs - my leptin concentration levels have plummeted and alter satiety thus I am not hungry even if eating 800 calories and exercising like crazy.

    I am not saying that the 2lbs I "gained" is due to muscle gain. Maybe I was not clear in my post 2nd attempt . . .

    When I was in college (a few years ago) I went to the gym for 2hrs 5 days a week. I kept this up over several months and developed more muscle on my body than I like. I do not want this to happen again. I KNOW the 2lbs I gained over this week is NOT muscle. I understanf that and never thought it to begin with!

    What I needed was someone to tell me that it (the weight gain) is probobally nothing to be concerned about at this time.

    Muscle is not gained by time spent in gym alone. It also requires a caloric surplus.
  • FitFabFlirty92
    FitFabFlirty92 Posts: 384 Member
    800-1200 calories is not enough fuel. Your BMR (the amount of calories they would feed you in a coma, making no movement) is certainly higher than 1200. Plus you are trying to work out.

    This. I don't know why half the people who come here start off by starving themselves to lose weight...it's just not necessary.
  • lallaloolly
    lallaloolly Posts: 228 Member
    even if you aren't hungry, you should eat at least 1,200 calories per day (it is likely you aren't hungry because you've trained your body to accept less food, but that doesn't mean your body is still performing at optimal levels). 1,200 is considered the minimum of what your body needs to be healthy and to able to burn fat. if you consistently stay between 800 and 1200, your body is likely going to hang on to whatever weight it can because it's hovering in starvation mode.

    it is frustrating to not see the scale go down, i am experiencing that right now, too. i work out 4-6 times per week and i walk two miles per day with my dog. some days i also do a 20 minute PM yoga routine. i am building muscle, increasing my flexibility, metabolism and endurance, and i have to admit my body looks better and i feel better, so, i have to remember to focus less on scale numbers and more on my general fitness level and how my clothes fit.

    just remember, if you do something good for your body every single day, it will respond (just not always in ways that can be counted on the scale).
  • baptiste565
    baptiste565 Posts: 590 Member
    bump
  • yoovie
    yoovie Posts: 17,121 Member
    Have you researched what might be the problem before coming and asking?
    Did you study what your plan would do to you biologically before you started?
    Did you just jump in with little knowledge and go full speed ahead and now you are frustrated?
    I'm sure all these apply to her, unfortunately. The main reason people fail at fat loss is a lack of understanding of thermogenesis and human physiology. She's echoing the same misunderstandings as most people who struggle with their goals: I gained two lbs of muscle by going to the gym after just a few days - you gained water weight; I gained two lbs of fat by eating consistently well under my maintenance range - you gained water weight; I'm not hungry thus don't feel the need to provide the calories my body needs - my leptin concentration levels have plummeted and alter satiety thus I am not hungry even if eating 800 calories and exercising like crazy.

    I am not saying that the 2lbs I "gained" is due to muscle gain. Maybe I was not clear in my post 2nd attempt . . .

    When I was in college (a few years ago) I went to the gym for 2hrs 5 days a week. I kept this up over several months and developed more muscle on my body than I like. I do not want this to happen again. I KNOW the 2lbs I gained over this week is NOT muscle. I understanf that and never thought it to begin with!

    What I needed was someone to tell me that it (the weight gain) is probobally nothing to be concerned about at this time.I had an inkling that it was water/swelling. i was asking for confirmation on this.

    What is the point of this forum, if not to ask questions and seek support?!

    whoa lady I was just asking those questions before I COULD help you - no need to get a bad attitude at me. I asked those questions so I wouldnt be giving you blind impersonal advice. I asked first cause I actually wanted to help you.
  • I'm sorry. I was not upset in my last post. People just keep saying its not muscle I gained. I am aware of that.

    I just assumed I was not clear enough in my original post. I really didn't mean to seem upset. I was just trying to exercise clear communication through typing.:)

    I'm not even "frustrated". I just had questions. I am not worried that I am not losing weight fast enoung. I was just surprised to see a gain and wanted to discuss it. I have not held the same weight long enoungh to become frustrated.
  • yoovie
    yoovie Posts: 17,121 Member
    well i cant discuss it with you if i dont understand where you are coming from so I asked.

    best of luck to you.
  • hydelaa
    hydelaa Posts: 184
    Try taking your measurements instead of relying solely on the scale number...
  • csplatt
    csplatt Posts: 1,205 Member
    Why would your body burn fat when you are exercising like crazy and eating 800 - 1200 calories a day? It wants to live.

    What she said
  • When you plateau like that you need to switch around your calorie intake. In your case, I suggest upping it. Especially if you are exercising, you need to be consuming AT LEAST 1,200 calories a day and not going under (MFP calculates in a deficit for you, so even when you are eating all of the calories it gives you as a goal you will still lose weight). Your metabolism right now is probably really messed up from eating so little, so try eating more. It sounds weird but that's probably just what you need. Do it soon so you don't have to do a total metabolism reset and take twice as long to lose weight.
  • MrDelts
    MrDelts Posts: 209 Member
    Hi.. I've been a personal trainer for the last 8+ years. I took a look at your food diary. The thing that stands out to me is that you are not evenly distributing your calories throughout the day. I see many days where there are only 2-3 meals and the biggest meal is usually dinner. Regardless of your caloric intake, eating mass calories at night will store as fat. ESPECIALLY CARBS. You are eating waaaayyyy too many grams of carbs at night. In the evening your meals should really contain some sort of lean protein source with veggies and/or salad. No starches at night.

    And remember.. Not all calories are created equal. Eating the cleanest healthiest calories possible will help with the weight loss.
  • AmandaD100
    AmandaD100 Posts: 9 Member
    Fitness is so confusing...everyone always says maybe the scale stopped moving because muscle weighs more than fat. But doesn't a pound of fat and a pound of muscle both weigh a pound?
  • I dont lose any weight either when i go to the gym, i went regularily and did cardio for 7 weeks 4 - 5 times a week. I stopped working out for 2 weeks and lost 8 lbs i was so floored. my body hadnt had time to properly recover for me to shed the weight. this just baffles me. maybe u need to give your body a few days of rest one week and see how you do, i didnt change my eating between when i worked out and when i didnt.
  • Jorra
    Jorra Posts: 3,338 Member
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member
    Fitness is so confusing...everyone always says maybe the scale stopped moving because muscle weighs more than fat. But doesn't a pound of fat and a pound of muscle both weigh a pound?

    Yes, the difference is that muscle takes up less space than fat. But when you are working out, your muscles retain water in their repair process so the scale is not always your best indicator of progress. Use a tape measure instead.