Gaining weight- do not know why

Radiolanguage
Radiolanguage Posts: 9
in Health and Weight Loss
I'm 5'0 female, 19 years old and currently 116 pounds. I keep gaining weight and I don't understand why. Using the information myfitness has given me, I clock in around 700-1000 calories a day with generally healthy food, however It's been 3 weeks with no results. I've read about starvation mode but I realize this only occurs when you're actually starving.

I'm not hungry but do feel bloated, maybe it is a psychological factor after seeing my weight. It seems I have to force myself to eat, even after working out (I do about an hour 5/6 times a week* of cardio). The only reason I can think of why this is happening is stress- which I have to admit, I am worried that my effort is not working. If anyone has any other suggestions critiques or could elaborate on starvation mode/stress gaining, I would really appreciate it.
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Replies

  • Serah87
    Serah87 Posts: 5,481 Member
    You need to eat more!!!

    Edit to add: For your height you are in the healthy range.
  • donyellemoniquex3
    donyellemoniquex3 Posts: 2,384 Member
    You need to eat more!!!

    You need to eat AT LEAST your BMR
  • PezAzul
    PezAzul Posts: 42
    You are doing an hour of cardio 5-6 times daily? So five to six hours daily of cardio? On 700-1000 calories? How are you not passing out??
  • nvpixie
    nvpixie Posts: 483 Member
    You'll probably heart this a dozen times + in this thread, but you definitely need to eat more.

    I'm just a little shorter than you (4'11" and 111 lbs). I lose weight eating around 1600 a day. I'm not insanely active most days, but I can eat up to about 1800 and not gain.

    Your metabolism is probably stalled out from not getting enough nutrients and calories every day. I would bump it up to at least 1300 a day, probably more.
  • DanaHerro
    DanaHerro Posts: 186 Member
    good. freaking. lord.

    EAT!! Your body is going into starvation mode. No wonder you are gaining.
    You need to at LEAST eat your BMR.
  • blleadon
    blleadon Posts: 187 Member
    have you calculated your bmr? you should be eating at least this number
  • Pepper2185
    Pepper2185 Posts: 994 Member
    It's already been said, but it's worth repeating: your body needs more food.
  • Radiolanguage
    Radiolanguage Posts: 9
    Okay, I'm just really nervous of gaining the weight I lost back, I've read a lot on starvation mode and hopefully it is more of a positive myth.

    Also I made a spelling error. I'm motivated about working out but no, I don't work out 5/6 times daily- hahah
  • thedanielle3000
    thedanielle3000 Posts: 8
    I think you need to let go of the stress...and trying so hard. Relax and enjoy the work outs and healthy eating...enjoy it and be happy even for small achievments...they'll soon add up to a big change...give yourself time, you can do it x
  • onwarddownward
    onwarddownward Posts: 1,683 Member
    You are doing an hour of cardio 5-6 times daily? So five to six hours daily of cardio? On 700-1000 calories? How are you not passing out??

    That's nuts. This is anorexia talking. OP don't play with fire. Eat and lay off the cardio before you have a coronary. Not trying to be mean. But seriously, stop.
  • flutterbye811
    flutterbye811 Posts: 86 Member
    I'm 5'0 female, 19 years old and currently 116 pounds. I keep gaining weight and I don't understand why. Using the information myfitness has given me, I clock in around 700-1000 calories a day with generally healthy food, however It's been 3 weeks with no results. I've read about starvation mode but I realize this only occurs when you're actually starving.

    I'm not hungry but do feel bloated, maybe it is a psychological factor after seeing my weight. It seems I have to force myself to eat, even after working out (I do about an hour 5/6 times a week* of cardio). The only reason I can think of why this is happening is stress- which I have to admit, I am worried that my effort is not working. If anyone has any other suggestions critiques or could elaborate on starvation mode/stress gaining, I would really appreciate it.

    umm, why does your profile say you're 23? Kinda fishy post if you can't even get your age correct.
  • harleigh67
    harleigh67 Posts: 131
    I'm 5'0 female, 19 years old and currently 116 pounds. I keep gaining weight and I don't understand why. Using the information myfitness has given me, I clock in around 700-1000 calories a day with generally healthy food, however It's been 3 weeks with no results. I've read about starvation mode but I realize this only occurs when you're actually starving.

    I'm not hungry but do feel bloated, maybe it is a psychological factor after seeing my weight. It seems I have to force myself to eat, even after working out (I do about an hour 5/6 times a day of cardio). The only reason I can think of why this is happening is stress- which I have to admit, I am worried that my effort is not working. If anyone has any other suggestions critiques or could elaborate on starvation mode/stress gaining, I would really appreciate it.

    OBVIOUSLY YOU DID NOT READ AND UNDERSTAND STARVATION MODE TRY READING IT AGAIN! >>>>
    IT DOES NOT MEAN YOU ARE STARVING IT MEANS YOUR BODY IS!!!!!!!!!
  • DanaHerro
    DanaHerro Posts: 186 Member
    Okay, I'm just really nervous of gaining the weight I lost back, I've read a lot on starvation mode and hopefully it is more of a positive myth.

    Also I made a spelling error. I'm motivated about working out but no, I don't work out 5/6 times daily- hahah

    it is NOT a myth. It's reality.
    You NEED to eat your BMR
    End of story.
  • Boogage
    Boogage Posts: 739 Member
    If you're a healthy weight and still not happy with your body it sounds like you need to add in some sort of weight training to tone up and shed fat. You'd need to stop worrying so much about the scale though as muscle would make you heavier but tighter.
  • pcastagner
    pcastagner Posts: 1,606 Member
    Do you have any symptoms of severe calorie deficits?

    If not, how do you measure your food?
  • donyellemoniquex3
    donyellemoniquex3 Posts: 2,384 Member
    Please follow this.

    http://myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/974889-in-place-of-a-road-map-short-n-sweet
  • Radiolanguage
    Radiolanguage Posts: 9
    When I made the profile I didn't pay attention to age, I am 19 but I can see where you're coming from. I also checked out your link Donyellemoniq.

    Thanks for the advice, I'm going to try and eat more! :)
  • SaebraSpirit
    SaebraSpirit Posts: 150 Member
    You need to eat more if you want to loose weight. However you can't be eating sugary or junk foods or processed foods, go for meats, vegetables, nuts, cheese, fish and some berries.

    Eat atleast your BMR and create a small caloric defecit each day from exercise. (I'm not talking 1000 calorie defecit, I'm talking only 300)
    Then thats it. Try loosing weight too fast or creating a very high defecit for long term and your body will start to hang on to every stored fat cell it has and it will slow your metabolism. This is natural, has been observed in many animals as it prevents your body from starving to death however for practical purposes doesn't help us here. =p

    Remember, weight loss especially FAT loss is a very slow and steady change as is weight and fat gain, people don't gain 300lbs overnight from eating one cake or pizza at a party. Neither will they loose 300lbs by doing chronic cardio and burning 3000-4000 calories in a day.

    Be patient, eat right, take it slow and steady to win the race!
  • Radiolanguage
    Radiolanguage Posts: 9
    It seems though that within 2 weeks I've gained 7 pounds.
  • pcastagner
    pcastagner Posts: 1,606 Member
    Ok one more time. How do you measure food?
  • DebbieLyn63
    DebbieLyn63 Posts: 2,654 Member
    Have you GROSSED 700-1000 calories EVERY day? Or are you talking NET?
    If you have actually only eaten that amount, every day, for 2 weeks, with no cheats, and you weigh your food religiously, then there is no way you have gained 7 pounds in 2 weeks.
    Unless you have eaten far less than that for a long time and have lowered your metabolism that much, where 1000 calories is now actually above your TDEE.

    More likely what is happening is that you are eating very low most days, then binging on high carb foods at times which is causing a lot of fluid retention.

    **Try to eat 1000-1200 every day, make sure you get at least 80g of protein and 40g of healthy fats in, then fill the rest with healthy carbs. Stay off of the sugar, rice cakes, etc. If you aren't feeding your muscles enough protein, you will continue to lose muscle mass which will continue to lower your BMR. Your hair will also start falling out, if it hasn't already.
    You need a good level of healthy fats to keep your hormones in check, energy levels high, and certain vitamins are fat soluble so they need the dietary fat. Nuts, avocados, olives, whole eggs, are all good sources of healthy fats.

    And at your weight, you are in a healthy range. Focus more on strength building to get the body shape you want, and don't worry so much about the number on the scale.

    ETA** Start at this calorie level and gradually work up to a higher level as your body adjusts.
  • mfpseven
    mfpseven Posts: 421 Member
    pregnant? or perhaps a physical condition. I would ask a doctor about this for sure, show them what you are eating and describe you workout routine. This doesn't add up
  • Radiolanguage
    Radiolanguage Posts: 9
    Have you GROSSED 700-1000 calories EVERY day? Or are you talking NET?
    If you have actually only eaten that amount, every day, for 2 weeks, with no cheats, and you weigh your food religiously, then there is no way you have gained 7 pounds in 2 weeks.
    Unless you have eaten far less than that for a long time and have lowered your metabolism that much, where 1000 calories is now actually above your TDEE.

    More likely what is happening is that you are eating very low most days, then binging on high carb foods at times which is causing a lot of fluid retention.

    **Try to eat 1000-1200 every day, make sure you get at least 80g of protein and 40g of healthy fats in, then fill the rest with healthy carbs. Stay off of the sugar, rice cakes, etc. If you aren't feeding your muscles enough protein, you will continue to lose muscle mass which will continue to lower your BMR. Your hair will also start falling out, if it hasn't already.
    You need a good level of healthy fats to keep your hormones in check, energy levels high, and certain vitamins are fat soluble so they need the dietary fat. Nuts, avocados, olives, whole eggs, are all good sources of healthy fats.

    And at your weight, you are in a healthy range. Focus more on strength building to get the body shape you want, and don't worry so much about the number on the scale.

    ETA** Start at this calorie level and gradually work up to a higher level as your body adjusts.

    It's what I ate and I do spike my calories once a week- maybe this is the cause going from low to extremely high. Ill try eating more and I measure my food based on the measurements it gives me. I take into account most calories, sugar, sodium, and protein.
  • jennifershoo
    jennifershoo Posts: 3,198 Member
    EAT!!!!!

    You're messing up your hormones.
  • pcastagner
    pcastagner Posts: 1,606 Member
    I measure my food based on the measurements it gives me. I take into account most calories, sugar, sodium, and protein.


    Using what? Food scale? Measuring cups? Eyeballing?

    I think everyone needs to chill and find out if there is a mistake here before telling you to eat more. You log too few calories, but I'd like to know how much you actually eat, which no one has bothered to ask.

    Also, and super important, how do you feel?
  • Radiolanguage
    Radiolanguage Posts: 9
    When I'm eating I usually rely on food cups, again it depends on the product but its more rare that I eyeball things. Usually ill have an egg or a piece of toast for breakfast, some fruit or something light for lunch and for dinner I try eating protein. So whether its chicken or Incoperating it into other foods (salad, wrap). Of course when I do this I count the other products as well. The only thing I am high in for nutrition is sugar.

    How I feel is what is throwing me off. No I'm not pregnant, I'm using the mini pill which doesn't affect weight gain. I am always full to the point where I begin to eat, I question if I should. I also feel bloated in my stomach.

    I'm trying to determain why this is happening. If I am incorrectly measuring my intake, I find it hard to believe that I'm eating 1000+ to gain this much weight.

    I have to admit I am pretty stressed out about this issue and I'm moving across the sea in a week. I didn't think stress could cause this much gain especially when I don't emotionally eat. The only cause that seems to make most sense is again the starvation mode where I am eating too few calories affecting my cognitive ability to detect hunger (primitive instinct to search for food rather than dwelling on not having any) but there is so much negative feedback about this theory that I am skeptical.

    I really appreciate everyone's support, thank you.
  • pcastagner
    pcastagner Posts: 1,606 Member
    Your story doesn't sound true to me.

    Any idea why?
  • Radiolanguage
    Radiolanguage Posts: 9
    I don't understand why it would be false. Do you know what I'm doing wrong?
  • Bonny619
    Bonny619 Posts: 311 Member
    Yeah about 20 people just told you.
  • DebbieLyn63
    DebbieLyn63 Posts: 2,654 Member
    You said you eat extremely high one day, and your sugar level is high. Count everything, everyday, and add up your cals for the week. Most likely you are eating much more than you realize.

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