Gaining weight but eating right/working out

sunset927
sunset927 Posts: 4
in Health and Weight Loss
Hello everyone, so I have been working out every day for the past two weeks (burning a minimum of 500 calories each day), eating pretty healthy and am still not losing weight. I feel stronger/more energetic but I just find it weird that I am hardly losing any weight at all. I use to be 115lbs and am now 114lbs. My suggested calorie intake is 1310, and after working out I usually end up having 500-700 calories remaining/left over. I don't understand why I'm not losing any weight.... I'm also really full by the end of the day so I know that eating more cannot be the only answer...

Replies

  • SweetieMelissa
    SweetieMelissa Posts: 68 Member
    One thing... how tall are you?
    You might not be losing weight because you are already at a perfect weight?

    and also, your body is still getting used to this change.
  • Baba_Roxy
    Baba_Roxy Posts: 38 Member
    I am the furthest from being an expert on any of this, but it may be possible that you're gaining muscle from working out! Start measuring your waist, hips, thighs, etc. Then you'll know if you really are getting smaller while building muscle! =]
  • sunset927
    sunset927 Posts: 4
    I'm 5'2"!
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    So are you not eating back your exercise calories? Netting around 810 or less?

    It's only been two weeks - you started a new exercise routine, and probably slashed your calories from whatever you were eating before. Your body is probably wondering what the heck is going on - demanding workouts all of a sudden, and little fuel to run on. And, as I said, it's only been two weeks - anything new takes time for the body to adjust, however, don't sell yourself short and eat too little while trying to burn so much through your workouts.

    Diet is for weight loss, exercise is for fitness. And food is fuel, eat too little for too long, especially with regular exercise, and you're giving your body a reason to store fat, not burn it. Plus you run the risk of jacking with your hormones, messed up metabolism, grumpiness, exhaustion and overall burnt out.

    MFP is set up that your daily goal already had a deficit built in. Eat to goal, do zero exercise, and you'll lose. Exercise creates a much larger deficit, and that's where you run into the under-fueled problem. That's why they add those cals back in -you are supposed to eat them back, bringing your daily net cals at or very near your daily goal.

    If you have problems getting that many cals, eat more calorie dense foods - avocados, nuts and nut butters, full fat dairy - no "diet" anything - use olive and coconut oils in cooking and dressings, whole eggs, cheese, etc. These items pack a good amount of healthy cals in small portions, getting you closer to goal without having to stuff your face or eat junk.

    Eat well, exercise, drink water, get good sleep, take rest days, repeat. And have patience.. It will happen! Good luck!
  • SweetieMelissa
    SweetieMelissa Posts: 68 Member
    Ah okay then. :) They do what Roxy said! <3
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    I am the furthest from being an expert on any of this, but it may be possible that you're gaining muscle from working out! Start measuring your waist, hips, thighs, etc. Then you'll know if you really are getting smaller while building muscle! =]

    Not building muscle on less than 1300 cals a day. And not in two week's time.
  • sunshine1082
    sunshine1082 Posts: 85 Member
    How tall are you? At 114 lbs, you most likely don't have much to lose (unless you're pretty short, hence the question about your height). When you don't have much to lose, weight comes off more slowly.

    How are you getting your calorie burns? MFP's estimates are a little over generous, so you might not be burning as much as you think.

    Also, you should start thinking about eating back at least some of your exercise calories. Assuming you are tracking your calorie intake as accurately as possible, that means you are only giving your body 610-810 calories to carry out its day to day functions. That's not even enough for many small children. Since you've only been at this for two weeks you might not be feeling the negative effects yet, but eventually underfeeding your body like that will cause major problems (lack of energy, hair loss, and loss of muscle mass to name a few).

    If you look through these forums, many people will recommend getting a scale to weigh all your food to get an accurate calorie intake. You might be overestimating your calories (which wouldn't be a bad thing in your case, because the amount you claim to be eating is not healthy).

    Finally, I just want to remind you that you lost a pound, so that does not equal "still not losing weight." Half a pound a week is a healthy loss for someone who doesn't have much to lose.
  • sunset927
    sunset927 Posts: 4
    So are you not eating back your exercise calories? Netting around 810 or less?

    It's only been two weeks - you started a new exercise routine, and probably slashed your calories from whatever you were eating before. Your body is probably wondering what the heck is going on - demanding workouts all of a sudden, and little fuel to run on. And, as I said, it's only been two weeks - anything new takes time for the body to adjust, however, don't sell yourself short and eat too little while trying to burn so much through your workouts.

    Diet is for weight loss, exercise is for fitness. And food is fuel, eat too little for too long, especially with regular exercise, and you're giving your body a reason to store fat, not burn it. Plus you run the risk of jacking with your hormones, messed up metabolism, grumpiness, exhaustion and overall burnt out.

    MFP is set up that your daily goal already had a deficit built in. Eat to goal, do zero exercise, and you'll lose. Exercise creates a much larger deficit, and that's where you run into the under-fueled problem. That's why they add those cals back in -you are supposed to eat them back, bringing your daily net cals at or very near your daily goal.

    If you have problems getting that many cals, eat more calorie dense foods - avocados, nuts and nut butters, full fat dairy - no "diet" anything - use olive and coconut oils in cooking and dressings, whole eggs, cheese, etc. These items pack a good amount of healthy cals in small portions, getting you closer to goal without having to stuff your face or eat junk.

    Eat well, exercise, drink water, get good sleep, take rest days, repeat. And have patience.. It will happen! Good luck!


    So right now MFP says that I have a Net of 576 calories...does that mean I should eat until it says 1310?
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    So are you not eating back your exercise calories? Netting around 810 or less?

    It's only been two weeks - you started a new exercise routine, and probably slashed your calories from whatever you were eating before. Your body is probably wondering what the heck is going on - demanding workouts all of a sudden, and little fuel to run on. And, as I said, it's only been two weeks - anything new takes time for the body to adjust, however, don't sell yourself short and eat too little while trying to burn so much through your workouts.

    Diet is for weight loss, exercise is for fitness. And food is fuel, eat too little for too long, especially with regular exercise, and you're giving your body a reason to store fat, not burn it. Plus you run the risk of jacking with your hormones, messed up metabolism, grumpiness, exhaustion and overall burnt out.

    MFP is set up that your daily goal already had a deficit built in. Eat to goal, do zero exercise, and you'll lose. Exercise creates a much larger deficit, and that's where you run into the under-fueled problem. That's why they add those cals back in -you are supposed to eat them back, bringing your daily net cals at or very near your daily goal.

    If you have problems getting that many cals, eat more calorie dense foods - avocados, nuts and nut butters, full fat dairy - no "diet" anything - use olive and coconut oils in cooking and dressings, whole eggs, cheese, etc. These items pack a good amount of healthy cals in small portions, getting you closer to goal without having to stuff your face or eat junk.

    Eat well, exercise, drink water, get good sleep, take rest days, repeat. And have patience.. It will happen! Good luck!


    So right now MFP says that I have a Net of 576 calories...does that mean I should eat until it says 1310?
    Yes, or close to it anyway. 576 calories isn't much. Net is like "take home pay" after they take your taxes and dues out or whatever - doesn't leave you with much to live on!
  • sunset927
    sunset927 Posts: 4
    So are you not eating back your exercise calories? Netting around 810 or less?

    It's only been two weeks - you started a new exercise routine, and probably slashed your calories from whatever you were eating before. Your body is probably wondering what the heck is going on - demanding workouts all of a sudden, and little fuel to run on. And, as I said, it's only been two weeks - anything new takes time for the body to adjust, however, don't sell yourself short and eat too little while trying to burn so much through your workouts.

    Diet is for weight loss, exercise is for fitness. And food is fuel, eat too little for too long, especially with regular exercise, and you're giving your body a reason to store fat, not burn it. Plus you run the risk of jacking with your hormones, messed up metabolism, grumpiness, exhaustion and overall burnt out.

    MFP is set up that your daily goal already had a deficit built in. Eat to goal, do zero exercise, and you'll lose. Exercise creates a much larger deficit, and that's where you run into the under-fueled problem. That's why they add those cals back in -you are supposed to eat them back, bringing your daily net cals at or very near your daily goal.

    If you have problems getting that many cals, eat more calorie dense foods - avocados, nuts and nut butters, full fat dairy - no "diet" anything - use olive and coconut oils in cooking and dressings, whole eggs, cheese, etc. These items pack a good amount of healthy cals in small portions, getting you closer to goal without having to stuff your face or eat junk.

    Eat well, exercise, drink water, get good sleep, take rest days, repeat. And have patience.. It will happen! Good luck!


    So right now MFP says that I have a Net of 576 calories...does that mean I should eat until it says 1310?
    Yes, or close to it anyway. 576 calories isn't much. Net is like "take home pay" after they take your taxes and dues out or whatever - doesn't leave you with much to live on!

    Oh okay! Thank you everyone for all of your input, it was very helpful :)
  • lisakay0x
    lisakay0x Posts: 46 Member
    Oh hai sunset!

    I think that what's happening comes with being mini. I'm 5'NOTHING, and also have this problem. Typically, my body takes about a month to realize "oh *kitten*! Am I losing weight?! Sorry, here ya go. . ."

    The main thing is that you FEEL better and healthier. The weight WILL come off. It will it will, I promise!

    I've actually learned to set small goals for myself - the first month, expect to shed 2-3lbs, then maybe next month you'll see 5 drop off. The process is slow, but in 3 months, you'll wish you started NOW, So keep going!
  • Baba_Roxy
    Baba_Roxy Posts: 38 Member
    I am the furthest from being an expert on any of this, but it may be possible that you're gaining muscle from working out! Start measuring your waist, hips, thighs, etc. Then you'll know if you really are getting smaller while building muscle! =]

    Not building muscle on less than 1300 cals a day. And not in two week's time.

    And that would be why I stated I am not skilled in these areas. Hoping to learn.

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