Please help!

katie_brown_
katie_brown_ Posts: 3
in Health and Weight Loss
So I started using myfitnesspal 2 weeks ago. I've been trying really hard to eat only my allowed calories and to go to the gym 3-4 times a week. I weighed myself today expecting to have lost about 2 pounds. Except I looked at the scale and I had gained 7 pounds! How is this even possible? I promise I haven't been cheating and leaving things out of my diary. I just don't understand how I could put so much work into it and gain so much.

Replies

  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    Are you weighing your food?
    When you stepped on the scale were the conditions the same? (scale in the same spot, similar clothing (if dressed), same time of day, etc)
    How high was your sodium intake the past couple of days?
  • OkamiLavande
    OkamiLavande Posts: 336 Member
    If you just started working out on a normal basis your muscles are retaining water for repair. It's just water weight masking any scale changes. Have you taken measurements? That's a more accurate base for change in body weight/composition.
  • katie_brown_
    katie_brown_ Posts: 3
    I haven't weighed my food because I'm at college and don't have that available. I did notice I go over my sodium a little bit each day, but I don't think that's enough to gain all that weight. And yes, I weigh myself around the same time with the same clothes.

    I also don't have a tape measurer here with me so I don't know my measurements. My jeans do still fit the same as they used to.
  • Psychgrrl
    Psychgrrl Posts: 3,177 Member
    Katie, eye-balling portions doesn't work effectively. You may be eating more calories than you think. That coupled with the sodium/water retention may be the culprit behind your increase. How are you determining exercise calories? Many people accidentally overestimate their effort/burn.

    Tape measures are pretty cheap--might be worth it to pick one up.

    That being said--EVERYONE has crazy fluctuations from time to time, esp. us girls. The important thing is to keep at it and not give up. We've all been there, and may be again!

    Not sure what exactly you mean about eating on campus, but if you're using a dining hall and have Aramark provide your food, their data is now in MFP! :) Just search for Aramark on Campus and the name of the food!
  • craftywitch_63
    craftywitch_63 Posts: 829 Member
    Katie, eye-balling portions doesn't work effectively. You may be eating more calories than you think. That coupled with the sodium/water retention may be the culprit behind your increase. How are you determining exercise calories? Many people accidentally overestimate their effort/burn.

    Tape measures are pretty cheap--might be worth it to pick one up.

    That being said--EVERYONE has crazy fluctuations from time to time, esp. us girls. The important thing is to keep at it and not give up. We've all been there, and may be again!

    Not sure what exactly you mean about eating on campus, but if you're using a dining hall and have Aramark provide your food, their data is now in MFP! :) Just search for Aramark on Campus and the name of the food!

    ^^^^ Believe this. I noticed a BIG difference when I began weighing most of my food and measuring the liquids. If you've gained weight but your clothes fit the same, you could be replacing muscle with fat. Muscle is denser then the same volume of muscle is heavier than fat. Also, second the tape measure advice!
  • katie_brown_
    katie_brown_ Posts: 3
    Thanks for all of your suggestions. I will look into buying a measuring tape in the near future. I may try to only eat the food here that has the calories already assigned to them and spelled out so I know exactly how many I'm eating instead of guessing which food is comparable to the one I'm eating.

    As for how I measure my amount of calories burned during exercise, I just go with whatever the elliptical tells me I burned.
  • tabbyblack13
    tabbyblack13 Posts: 299 Member
    I would make sure you are drinking plenty of water too. If you go to the cafeteria or school cafe they tend to use a lot of salt when preparing food. I'm surprised most do the student at my school didn't end up with high blood pressure after the first semester.
  • Psychgrrl
    Psychgrrl Posts: 3,177 Member
    When you use the elliptical, are you putting in your age and weight? That'll get you closer to an accurate number, but I'd still shave off 20%. The machine is based on a man your age and men have more muscle and burn more calories per minute. At least the ones the machine is based on.

    I use a HRM and the elliptical is literally hundreds of calories off from my HRM.

    Just keep at it--things will get better! :)
  • lucan07
    lucan07 Posts: 509
    http://www.acaloriecounter.com/blog/why-am-i-not-losing-weight/
  • asciiqwerty
    asciiqwerty Posts: 565 Member
    your weight will change through the day - try to set a fixed time/place to weigh every time
    your weight also changes during hte month based on your cycle - so don't worry too much

    as others have said - guessing portion size for tracking is usually wrong,a nd gym machines generally over-estimate

    stay with it - good luck

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