First setback for me (beginner...advice please)

Hello everyone...this is my very first post on these forums.

I've been using myfitnespal for the past 3 weeks. I'm a 6'2 male, and when I first started I was at 275 lbs. Last week I weighed in at 265 (I weigh myself every friday after working out). Ever since that last weigh in, I have still been doing the same stuff (never going over my calorie goal and I workout 5-6 days a week) and have actually gained a pound. I alternate every workout between lifting weights and cardio. I'm thinking that maybe it's muscle that I've added from lifting since I have tried to hit the weights a little bit more then the cardio, but my net calorie goal is below 2,000 calories so I'm at a caloric deficit and wondering if I'm doing something wrong. Anyone have any input or have anything similar happen? Any advice is appreciated.

Replies

  • bleep
    bleep Posts: 68 Member
    Are you weighing all your food?
  • LokiOfAsgard
    LokiOfAsgard Posts: 378 Member
    Well, you don't gain muscle on a calorie deficit, you just workout to not lose muscle.
    But, you could be retaining water in those muscles.
    Uhm, it could be you're not eating enough if you're not eating your exercise calories?
    Also, weighloss isn't linear. Next week you could lose two pounds. It all depends.
    You've been doing the same workout for three weeks, I guess? Maybe changing it up could help :)

    Bottom line, as long as you're eating less than your maintenance, you're doing fine
  • susannamarie
    susannamarie Posts: 2,148 Member
    It isn't muscle.

    Weight loss is not linear. You could have had less water in your body last week and more this week or many other things. It is especially common for your muscles to retain water after you have just started a workout program.

    Keep doing what you are doing. If you go a few weeks without a loss, *then* start shifting stuff around.
  • ottermotorcycle
    ottermotorcycle Posts: 654 Member
    Seconded that weight loss is not linear. You lost 10 pounds in 3 weeks, which is fast. That can happen at the beginning of a lifestyle change. Now you're stalling. That happens to almost everyone, especially when they initially lost a bunch of weight at once. Keep doing what you're doing, and you will lose weight. You're on the right track!
  • luadams2
    luadams2 Posts: 122
    It is very common for this to happen so don't worry. I was freaking out because I dropped 9 lbs. in five weeks then ... nothing. Like you, I also gained a pound. But I lost that pound and nothing else. So I got on the net and started reading about how the body will reach a plateau and want to stay at a certain weight for awhile. It's not anything you aren't doing or are doing. Eventually, the plateau will go away and you will start to lose again. I have gone ahead and picked up an extra workout a week hoping for some new results and am trying to eat below my calorie limit every day. I think I may have lost another pound but I'm not going near that scale for a month. Good luck and don't give up. Persevere!