What am I doing wrong?

apmessam
apmessam Posts: 7
in Health and Weight Loss
Am eating at about 1,200 Kcal/day (a little above or below each day). Exercising regularly (sometimes twice a day). Have incorporated strength/resistance training in my workouts. Despite all of this, I have managed to gain nearly 2 lbs this week. What am I doing wrong?

Replies

  • grimendale
    grimendale Posts: 2,153 Member
    Open your diary. We can't see what you are eating, so it is hard to provide feedback. How do you measure you food (with scale or by eyeballing it)? Do you eat back exercise calories for your burns? What are your current and goal weights? How did you obtain the 1200 number? How long have you been lifting? If you just started weight training, you are going to be retaining water in your muscles, which will cause you to have apparent weight gain without necessarily gaining fat. Have you been tracking body measurements?
  • trisH_7183
    trisH_7183 Posts: 1,486 Member
    You might not be eating enough.There's lots of info on MFP.
  • Corinne_Howland
    Corinne_Howland Posts: 158 Member
    Frustrating, isn't it? I'm up two, down one, up one, down two. You get the picture. I've been doing this for over a month, now. I'm also doing 1200 cal. Eating back my exercise calories. Working hard at standing still. :( I am considering getting a HRM to be sure that I'm burning what I think I'm burning.
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    It could be a number of things but if you've just started working out on weights I'm going to suggest it's probably water weight (a function of both muscle repair and increased glycogen storage).

    Don't be too concerned about small fluctuations like this (unless they keep going in the wrong direction - then it will be time to reassess your diet and exercise program). The number on the scale is only one indicator of health and probably not anywhere near the most important.
  • rebeccalee1986
    rebeccalee1986 Posts: 338
    I was having 1200 calories a day and not losing much weight, I also extremely tired. I increased my calories to 1500 once I looked at my BMR and have started losing nicely. I would check what your BMR is to determine calories personally. I also measure all my food so I know I am eating the correct portions
  • karenkennedy34
    karenkennedy34 Posts: 4
    i have eaten 1200 every day this week and worked out 4 days between 60 and 90 mins each time, i weighed myself today and i stayed the same, i was a bit upset for about a min, then i got over it, its only numbers on a machine, i know i did well with my eating and i got a well done from my husband, and my gym instructor commented that my stamina is getting better, my point is as long as you know you are eating and exercising well then your body weight will eventually catch up, it cant hold onto excess weight forever, at the end of the day, noone can see the scale numbers, but they can see you eating well and working out hard, so forget the scales and be proud that you had a good week, ive watched programs like the biggest loser where even they gain weight, but then a couple of weeks later a ton comes off, just be patient and dont give up, youll get your big loss.
  • apmessam
    apmessam Posts: 7
    I'm 5'6 and as of today 169.8 lbs (will not say 170). I measure my food. I just started strength/resistance training regularly last week. On the free weights the max I use is 20 lbs on the resistance machines, I go up to 70lbs depending on the exercise. I'm not eating junk food (ok, I did have some cookies the other night), but still, who says you can't have cookies? Even then, I still managed to stay within the 1,200 Kcal range. Honestly, I don't know. I was gonna go for a run this morning, but am very demotivated. I had a very good week of exercise and eating, but this has just made me lose hope.
  • apmessam
    apmessam Posts: 7
    I've checked my BMR using different websites and the number varies greatly. So that's when I decided to stick with MFP 1,200 calorie plan. What site/calculation did you use to get the BMR?
  • toutmonpossible
    toutmonpossible Posts: 1,580 Member
    Am eating at about 1,200 Kcal/day (a little above or below each day). Exercising regularly (sometimes twice a day). Have incorporated strength/resistance training in my workouts. Despite all of this, I have managed to gain nearly 2 lbs this week. What am I doing wrong?

    I think you're probably eating more than you think. It never hurts to get checked out by a doctor, though.
  • skinnyinnotime
    skinnyinnotime Posts: 4,078 Member
    Are you eating exercise cals back? If not n you're working out that much you're not fuelling your body sufficiently.

    Also, when you incorporate a new workout your body isn't used to it so you will be retaining more water in your muscles.
  • jenilla1
    jenilla1 Posts: 11,118 Member
    It could be a number of things but if you've just started working out on weights I'm going to suggest it's probably water weight (a function of both muscle repair and increased glycogen storage).

    Don't be too concerned about small fluctuations like this (unless they keep going in the wrong direction - then it will be time to reassess your diet and exercise program). The number on the scale is only one indicator of health and probably not anywhere near the most important.

    :drinker:
  • apmessam
    apmessam Posts: 7
    Are you eating exercise cals back? If not n you're working out that much you're not fuelling your body sufficiently.

    Also, when you incorporate a new workout your body isn't used to it so you will be retaining more water in your muscles.


    I've been trying to eat the exercise calories back. This week I was more successful than last week. I have been trying to switch up the workouts each day so that my body doesn't adapt to the same thing. I work different muscles each day, do different types of cardio etc..
  • __Di__
    __Di__ Posts: 1,658 Member
    Are you eating exercise cals back? If not n you're working out that much you're not fuelling your body sufficiently.

    Also, when you incorporate a new workout your body isn't used to it so you will be retaining more water in your muscles.


    I've been trying to eat the exercise calories back. This week I was more successful than last week. I have been trying to switch up the workouts each day so that my body doesn't adapt to the same thing. I work different muscles each day, do different types of cardio etc..

    How are you measuring your calorie burns OP?
  • apmessam
    apmessam Posts: 7
    I'm measuring my calorie burns using MFP and Runtastic which syncs directly with MFP.
  • __Di__
    __Di__ Posts: 1,658 Member
    I'm measuring my calorie burns using MFP and Runtastic which syncs directly with MFP.

    I'll tell you why I am asking, because you said in your opening post that this week you have put on 2lbs and then further down the thread you said this week you have been better and eating more of your exercise calories back.

    This 2lb weight gain looks as though it is tied up with you eating more of your exercise calories back, be careful you are not overestimating those exercise calories.

    I am sorry you feel demotivated, but don't let it stop you doing stuff like your running :flowerforyou:

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