Being good but gaining weight - why?

lillywilko1
lillywilko1 Posts: 3
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi.

I've been eating healthily since New Year's Day, and had a fantastic first week - scales showing 8Ib loss which was a huge surprise and gave me a great boost. Each week since then I have gained weight, my total weight loss over 3 weeks standing at 4Ib.

I'm happy that I've lost some weight but concerned that for 2 weeks in a row I have gained Ibs while eating very healthily and rarely exceeding 1200 cals. I don't want to weigh myself next week to find that I have gained yet more Ibs.

I'm not exercising at the minute as I have a small baby and very little time, although I am busy for most of the day so not exactly sitting in front of the TV either.

Anyone have any ideas what I am doing wrong? Happy to give more info.

Replies

  • deladypilot
    deladypilot Posts: 618 Member
    There are many reasons why it could be happening. Without seeing your food journal, it will be hard for any of us to really tell. It could be that your body needs more than 1200 calories (or less). Each of us is different. For instance, I follow the Weight Watchers program and have for years. I have found that I actually have to go under the points they tell me in order to loose weight and to maintain it, I have to eat what they consider my losing weight points. It took several weeks to figure that out. Even with exercise, I can not eat everything that the normal person should be having. This can make it more of a challenge as I have to still make sure I get everything my body needs. I have also seen others that have to eat more than the basics or their bodies start thinking it is starving and holds on to every little thing.

    So, my thought is to play around with it for a while. If you stick with 1200 for a couple weeks and are not losing, try adding a little more. If that does not work, try taking some away. This could take you several weeks, but it is worth the effort
  • lillywilko1
    lillywilko1 Posts: 3
    Thank you, I will certainly bear that in mind.

    Is there a way of making my food journal public?
  • Purple_Night
    Purple_Night Posts: 16 Member
    If you go to 'settings' at the top of the page, click on 'diary settings' then scroll to the bottom and there will be options for your diary to be public, private etc :)


    Edit - forgot to comment on your original post! - maybe you are eating too few calories? From what i have read 1200 cals is the very least you can have a day but most people need more than this. I am not an expert but i believe that is the basic rule. I know it is hard - i am trying harder to get above 1200 but sometimes i just generally don't feel that hungry.

    For exercising - there are a lot of youtube videos i use that are 10/15 mins long that are great. I just do them in the house. I can imagine it is tiring though for you right now with a baby.

    Good luck and just try not to become too obsessed - sometimes you will lose nothing then another week lose a few pounds. The perks of losing weight! :D
  • lillywilko1
    lillywilko1 Posts: 3
    Thanks, I'll do it now.
  • Purple_Night
    Purple_Night Posts: 16 Member
    No problem and hope you see my edited post ok.
  • now_or_never13
    now_or_never13 Posts: 1,575 Member
    Eat more food. You are netting under 1200 most days.

    Also, track your sodium. I would imagine you are eating a fair bit of it.

    Another thing, never use the "generic" or the "homemade" entries in the database. MFP has members from all over the world that add things to the database so they are not always correct. Always use the package from the food/drink yo consume to get calories from. If you don't have the package make a recipe. Using the generic and homemade entries can cause you to be consuming more or less than you are actually are. Unless you have entered it yourself into the database for the homemade entries that have "1 serving" as the serving size, you don't know what the serving size is.

    Weigh, and measure everything you eat as well. Don't eyeball it.

    Even having a baby I am sure there are times you can sneak in some exercise. While baby is napping do a quick DVD... hold baby and walk around the house... join a gym that has childcare.

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