Why do I gain it back so easily???

So I've been doing Insanity since March 1st and i'm down to my last week of the program. I lost 10 pounds and just a few inches. For Lent I gave up pasta, bread, potatoes, cake and cookies. On Easter Sunday I was kinda afraid to eat some of those things I had given up. So I was careful and kept my portions under control at dinner. Afterwards I did have a piece of cake and 2 cookies. I gained 3 pounds!!!
It always happens to me that I work so hard to lose weight and as soon as I eat one thing that's kind of a cheat I gain the weight right back!
Why does this happen and am I the only one???

Replies

  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    Are you weighing your food? Your diary indicates general measurements and not weighing. Thee is usually enough of a caloric difference between the two to lessen a calorie deficit.

    Where are you getting the exercise burns from? Your burns seem a bit overstated, which results from using MFP, internet, and machine calorie burns. Cut those in half.

    You don't gain overnight just from eating a few sweets. You gain weight by eating enough over your TDEE frequent enough to kill your calorie deficit. This can happen by a combination of underestimating calories in and overestimating calories burned.

    Even with the above, you could just be experiencing natural weight fluctuations, or water. .
  • lin7604
    lin7604 Posts: 2,951 Member
    your not alone. it happens to me too. i have almost wanted to give up at times because it's so frustrating. this year i have had NO luck, gained 4 lbs, gained 1/2 inch on my hips and my cellulite is starting to come back.. ugh.... not sure if it's just the exercise i am doing is not the right kind for me or if i am eating too much? i have no idea. i just dont' like how i am looking this year so far.... something has to change but not sure if it's the cals, or the exercise...
  • drew06
    drew06 Posts: 28
    Food with high processed carbs and sugar tend to lead your body to retain water. So if you don't normally eat those things (which from what you said it seems you don't) and you have a slice a cake and a few cookies chances are any weight you see on the scale the next day is more than likely water.

    You won't gain 1,2,3 or whatever amount of pounds from having a slice of cake once every other week or what not, it actually might be helpful for you in the long run not only mentally, but also physically due to hormones and other things that I will not get into.

    Just go back to your normal routine and those 2-3 pounds should be gone by the end of the week guaranteed. Of course, if that slice of cake was the size of Shaq's shoe and the cookies were extra large, then you could have gained a tad bit.
  • Captain_Wobbles
    Captain_Wobbles Posts: 240 Member
    If you mean you gained 3 pounds over the course of a day, then it is more likely you are retaining water due to sodium. Although some people will argue the number is inaccurate 1 lb of fat would be apx 3500 calories. Unless that piece of cake and those cookies totaled 10500 calories on top of your maintenance numbers its nothing to worry about.
  • weird_me2
    weird_me2 Posts: 716 Member
    It's completely normal for your weight too fluctuate like that ave it's not a real gain. Think about this-did you eat 10000 calories over maintenance? I highly doubt it. You were eating lower carb and indulged in food that was higher carb and probably higher in sodium than you are used to. You are retaining water. I weigh daily and regularly gain or lose 1, or 2 or even 3 lbs daily depending on my hydration, my food intake and even how much sleep I had. Earlier this week I had pizza and boneless wings but stayed in my calorie goal. My weight jumped up 2.5 lbs overnight, dropped down.5 lb the next day, then stayed there for 3 days, but today it dropped another 3 lbs.

    Just keep doing what you are doing and you will see a downward trend even if the scale doesn't always do what you want it to do.
  • Vigilance88
    Vigilance88 Posts: 95 Member
    ^what they said, mostly water

    Couldnt help checking your diary though.
    Eating 1200, doing insanity and not eating excercise calories seems a bit drastic.
    we don't know your height/weight though, so I'll leave it at that :p
  • fancyface1955
    fancyface1955 Posts: 90 Member
    thank you everyone.

    I wasn't sure if it might have been water. this past week I had been so dry and parched as if I had swallowed a box of salt. I drank so much water. Not sure what it might have been that I had eaten- my levels hadn't increased that much.
    The funny thing is that my "goal jeans" still fit me with the weight gain so I guess that's what counts the most.
  • fancyface1955
    fancyface1955 Posts: 90 Member
    ^what they said, mostly water

    Couldnt help checking your diary though.
    Eating 1200, doing insanity and not eating excercise calories seems a bit drastic.
    we don't know your height/weight though, so I'll leave it at that :p
  • fancyface1955
    fancyface1955 Posts: 90 Member
    thank you.

    I'm at 126 and 5'3.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,031 Member
    So I've been doing Insanity since March 1st and i'm down to my last week of the program. I lost 10 pounds and just a few inches. For Lent I gave up pasta, bread, potatoes, cake and cookies. On Easter Sunday I was kinda afraid to eat some of those things I had given up. So I was careful and kept my portions under control at dinner. Afterwards I did have a piece of cake and 2 cookies. I gained 3 pounds!!!
    It always happens to me that I work so hard to lose weight and as soon as I eat one thing that's kind of a cheat I gain the weight right back!
    Why does this happen and am I the only one???
    Dropping carbs will result in less glycogen storage. When one reintroduces carbs back to the body, glycogen and water are stored in the cells and liver. Depending on how long they dieted this way, weight can go up as much as 10lbs.
    Part of the reason why I don't let clients do low carb. Just calorie deficit.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • frozentrace
    frozentrace Posts: 60 Member
    I do feel your pain.

    I hate weekends, because over weekends my family tends to go out alot, or I tend to take a vacation to a nearby city and hang out with friends, so I generally gain 1-2kg over a weekend, and I spend the whole week trying to lose it, and the whole cycle repeats itself again after friday. So it is getting frustrating!
  • jessicaworkinitout
    jessicaworkinitout Posts: 3 Member
    Wow I feel what you're saying I will start cutting my burn because MFP says I'm suppose to be 10lbs lighter but no results thanks for the tip.