WHY AM I GAINING WEIGHT?!

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  • lucan07
    lucan07 Posts: 509
    http://www.acaloriecounter.com/blog/why-am-i-not-losing-weight/
  • firstsip
    firstsip Posts: 8,399 Member
    I am going to make an assumption that some others are not. I am going to assume you are NOT an idiot, but rather an intelligent woman, who knows what she is doing...

    My guess is that you are finally eating the calories your body is needing to start building the muscle your body wants to build because (as you said) you have been doing strength training. Follow what some of the others have said. Follow for a week and see how the equation balances.

    While I still don't think this is fat gain (though I still question the long history of, "I have trouble logging/binge eating" posts), this is not muscle. It takes a SURPLUS of calories to grow muscle. Even the magical "noobie gains" often mentioned wouldn't be more than a pound of muscle... tops. And that'd be difficult to achieve on such a deficit, anyway.
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    My guess is that you are finally eating the calories your body is needing to start building the muscle your body wants to build because (as you said) you have been doing strength training.

    That is ridiculous. Adding muscle mass is *hard* under the best of circumstances, and these aren't the best of circumstances. The idea that she's added measurable quantities of muscle in such a short time, under a caloric deficit, is ludicrous.
  • amy1612
    amy1612 Posts: 1,356 Member
    103lbs at 5ft10 would be extremely underweight #justsaying

    To be honest your food diary looks pretty good to me, just keep with what youre doing, do some exercise you enjoy, dont starve yourself and the rest will come :)
  • amy1612
    amy1612 Posts: 1,356 Member
    My guess is that you are finally eating the calories your body is needing to start building the muscle your body wants to build because (as you said) you have been doing strength training.

    That is ridiculous. Adding muscle mass is *hard* under the best of circumstances, and these aren't the best of circumstances. The idea that she's added measurable quantities of muscle in such a short time, under a caloric deficit, is ludicrous.

    And yes, that is absolutely ludicrous.
  • firstsip
    firstsip Posts: 8,399 Member
    OP, I took the time to read through the last 2-3 weeks. I'm glad to see you've been logging.

    I don't see too much strength training logged? You mentioned that you're doing that, which can easily add WEEKS of water retention as your body gets accustomed to the movements/repair/recovery.

    Your calories burned seem a little... off? What do you use to track? A 20 minute run for 200 calories seems at odds with a 60 minute run for 400 calories, for instance.

    You also haven't actually been eating 1100-1200 most days? I still see several days of eating under that, and as a whole, netting 1200 or lower (I'm being generous saying 1200; you seem to net an average of 1000 everyday still).

    If you're truly amping up the exercise, I'm guessing this is water retention; retention that may be more stubborn as your body doesn't have much to use to repair itself.
  • THECaptainObvious
    THECaptainObvious Posts: 399 Member
    Op, if you open your diary we might be able to give more concrete advice.

    Sounds like your body is adjusting to the muscle building and/or new diet.. Probably water weight. Don't stress.. this stuff takes time.
  • arianamzai
    arianamzai Posts: 36
    OP, I took the time to read through the last 2-3 weeks. I'm glad to see you've been logging.

    I don't see too much strength training logged? You mentioned that you're doing that, which can easily add WEEKS of water retention as your body gets accustomed to the movements/repair/recovery.

    Your calories burned seem a little... off? What do you use to track? A 20 minute run for 200 calories seems at odds with a 60 minute run for 400 calories, for instance.

    You also haven't actually been eating 1100-1200 most days? I still see several days of eating under that, and as a whole, netting 1200 or lower (I'm being generous saying 1200; you seem to net an average of 1000 everyday still).

    If you're truly amping up the exercise, I'm guessing this is water retention; retention that may be more stubborn as your body doesn't have much to use to repair itself.

    Hey...even with the occasional binge eating i still log it all in so it's not like it goes unaccounted...
    Also I don't log my strength training on mfp, I do it in a notebook but thanks for the heads up on water retention :-)
    And yeah as I said, aside from these past two days i've been netting at about 800 calories....i started logging my intake earlier on in the day so I can make sure I get enough food before I sleep
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    OP, I took the time to read through the last 2-3 weeks. I'm glad to see you've been logging.

    I don't see too much strength training logged? You mentioned that you're doing that, which can easily add WEEKS of water retention as your body gets accustomed to the movements/repair/recovery.

    Your calories burned seem a little... off? What do you use to track? A 20 minute run for 200 calories seems at odds with a 60 minute run for 400 calories, for instance.

    You also haven't actually been eating 1100-1200 most days? I still see several days of eating under that, and as a whole, netting 1200 or lower (I'm being generous saying 1200; you seem to net an average of 1000 everyday still).

    If you're truly amping up the exercise, I'm guessing this is water retention; retention that may be more stubborn as your body doesn't have much to use to repair itself.

    Exactly what I think after looking through her diary. Those exercise calorie seem a bit high and off.
  • arianamzai
    arianamzai Posts: 36
    OP, I took the time to read through the last 2-3 weeks. I'm glad to see you've been logging.

    I don't see too much strength training logged? You mentioned that you're doing that, which can easily add WEEKS of water retention as your body gets accustomed to the movements/repair/recovery.

    Your calories burned seem a little... off? What do you use to track? A 20 minute run for 200 calories seems at odds with a 60 minute run for 400 calories, for instance.

    You also haven't actually been eating 1100-1200 most days? I still see several days of eating under that, and as a whole, netting 1200 or lower (I'm being generous saying 1200; you seem to net an average of 1000 everyday still).

    If you're truly amping up the exercise, I'm guessing this is water retention; retention that may be more stubborn as your body doesn't have much to use to repair itself.

    Exactly what I think after looking through her diary. Those exercise calorie seem a bit high and off.

    i record my runs outdoors under the same title as when i go on a tredmill...the 200 calories in 20 minutes is from running outdoors with a heart rate monitor whereas the 400 in 60 minutes is what the tredmill calculates
  • atibrat
    atibrat Posts: 70 Member
    If you're tracking your intake, how could you not purposefully only eat a net of 800-1000? Your body isnt in starvation mode. I was foolish when I started and wasnt netting above 1200 for about a month. I lost 3 lbs a week that month. It wasn't healthy, but I still lost. The only reason, barring medical issues, that you are not losing and are now gaining is because you are eating more than you think. How accurate is your logging? Your diary is closed, so I can only base anything on assumptions. Do you weigh and measure your food? Start a new exercise routine along with your upping of calories?




    I have to say that 10 years ago I joined a gym and started working out 6 days a week doing aerobic classes and body sculpting. I had a friend join with me and at 2 months of going 6 days a week and working out butts off we both gained 6 pounds. I told the trainer what was the point and he said we were gaining muscle and I realized even though I was 6 pounds up on the scale my pants were loose so I kept going and about the 6 month mark weight started to drop like crazy. We went for 2 years until they dropped the classes we were taking. We both were down about 30 pounds and in very good shape and very toned. If someone is just starting out exercising you have to take into account the muscle that you will gain. I think it important to take your measurements as much as getting on the scale. I go by what my jeans say
  • chrisdavey
    chrisdavey Posts: 9,834 Member
    what does the mirror test and measurements say?

    remember "if it ain't 3500 above TDEE then it ain't fat"
  • suprzonic
    suprzonic Posts: 68 Member
    You are not in starvation mode. You are gaining because you are eating more.
    Unlikely...

    You're most likely showing a 'gain' on the scale because you started strength training just a week ago. Muscles retain water to repair themselves. Stop weighing yourself everyday (if it freaks out out and you jump to conclusions). Give these changes a little time to start to work in your favor on the scale....

    patience_grasshopper_mug.jpg?side=Back&height=160&width=160&padToSquare=true

    Hi - I agree ^^^^

    I had to look in my "bumps" to find this link - it helped me out:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/521728-upping-cals-what-to-expect-why-you-need-patience

    plus - you'll still lose weight if you eat more! you really don't have to cut cals so much. Lots of folk eat at their BMR or above and are losing weight ... see:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/823958-girls-who-eat-a-lot-and-still-lose-weight?hl=girls+who+eat
    http://www.zoeharcombe.com/the-knowledge/energy-in-does-not-equal-energy-out/
    http://www.zoeharcombe.com/the-knowledge/eating-less-will-not-make-us-weigh-less/
    http://thebailorgroup.com/

    Best of luck :)

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