Gaining weight despite diet and exercise? Long
wookiemouse
Posts: 290 Member
I am hoping someone here has gone through this and can offer some advice, because my body is not doing what it is supposed to anymore and I'm getting frustrated.
Background - have worked out since I can remember. I do not miss workouts, even on vacation. 5 days a week, weekends off. Always a combo of cardio and strength. Have been following using my cut value (from TDEE) for about 3 years now - it HAS worked for me. Only recently has it stopped and I am trying to figure out why.
2 summers ago, I was 140 (I am 5'7"). I was happy and on the verge of wearing a bikini for the first time in my life. I needed a little more work on my abs tho, so I kept at my cut calories and decided to clean up my diet. I didn't eat that bad - chips or ice cream now and then - so I converted to clean eating. But still logged on MFP. At the same time, I started lifting more (Cathe Friedrich's STS program, which is 3x a week for an hour - heavy weights). I had done 30-45 mins 3x a week in the past, cardio 2-5 days a week, to get to 140. So this wasn't too drastic a move for me.
I started to sloooowly gain, but figured it was muscle mass since my clothes fit fine. By January of the following year, I was up to 145 but clothes still fit. I didn't feel like I was losing any body fat tho - no inches lost. I finished that program up and started NROLFW, with cardio 5x a week. Continued to gain that summer and fall. Upped my cardio - did Insanity coupled with NROLFW. Cut out ALL refined sugar. By this past January, I was up to 151. I felt that I was still in reach of the 140s, so all was not lost. I just committed to doing what had worked before, exercise and calorie counting.
That is where things got really screwy. I finished up NROLFW and started Body Beast. Started gaining a lb a week! My clothes were not fitting by now - I was gaining fat, could not see muscle definition anymore. My middle is the worst! I was doing weights 5x a week for 30-45 mins and cardio 5x a week for about 30 mins (either steady state or HIIT). By May, I was up to 157 lbs. I was a size 4/6 2 years ago; now my "fat" 8s won't fit. I decided to go all out in May and buckle down - an hour of cardio, an hour of weights daily. Ate 99% clean, stuck to my cut value for calories. Gained 2 LBS a week that month!!!!
Went to my PCP for bloodwork, everything came back normal. Tried sticking to cardio only. No change. Tried sticking to lifting only. No change. Dropped my calories to 1800. Only gained 1 lb that week. Dropped them to 1500. Barely gained a lb that week. By this time, I was up to 167 lbs.
This past week, I lost weight for the first time this year - by dropping my intake to 1300 calories and doing 1 hour of cardio, 1 hour of heavy lifting 5x a week. This makes NO sense!
I calculate my calories burned with a Fitbit and a HRM. The Fitbit is linked to MFP, but not my HRM, so I don't eat back my exercise calories burned. Fitbit comes off when I work out, HRM goes on. I burn 200 cals with my lifting and 400 with my cardio according to my HRM. My heart rate never gets above 130 tho - no matter how hard I push, and I go all out. According to my Fitbit, I burn 2300-2500 a day through normal activity, which is about right since I hit 10K steps every day and don't sit down for more than an hour (other than mealtimes). So that means I am burning around 3000 cals a day. But if I eat above 1300, I gain weight!???!
Medical history - my mother and grandmother both died from hypothyroidism, but my TSH levels show totally normal according to my bloodwork. I have an appointment with an endocrinologist at the end of the month, but have been scouring the internet in the meantime to find answers. I am sick of hearing "just go gluten free!" or "maybe you should try pilates!" because I KNOW that makes no sense. I should be eating at least 1000 cals more than where I'm at yet if I do, I gain like crazy. Something is seriously wrong here. This isn't about the scale - I could care less about the numbers - I have NO CLOTHING that fits me other than my elastic workout shorts! I can't wear that to client meetings! EMWL has totally been my "thing" and has worked wonders. What is going on?
Has anyone experienced anything like this before? I expected changes as I got older (I turn 40 in a few months), but I have been careful about diet and exercise in order to minimize that. I have maintained my weight for a good 6 years prior to this craziness!
Background - have worked out since I can remember. I do not miss workouts, even on vacation. 5 days a week, weekends off. Always a combo of cardio and strength. Have been following using my cut value (from TDEE) for about 3 years now - it HAS worked for me. Only recently has it stopped and I am trying to figure out why.
2 summers ago, I was 140 (I am 5'7"). I was happy and on the verge of wearing a bikini for the first time in my life. I needed a little more work on my abs tho, so I kept at my cut calories and decided to clean up my diet. I didn't eat that bad - chips or ice cream now and then - so I converted to clean eating. But still logged on MFP. At the same time, I started lifting more (Cathe Friedrich's STS program, which is 3x a week for an hour - heavy weights). I had done 30-45 mins 3x a week in the past, cardio 2-5 days a week, to get to 140. So this wasn't too drastic a move for me.
I started to sloooowly gain, but figured it was muscle mass since my clothes fit fine. By January of the following year, I was up to 145 but clothes still fit. I didn't feel like I was losing any body fat tho - no inches lost. I finished that program up and started NROLFW, with cardio 5x a week. Continued to gain that summer and fall. Upped my cardio - did Insanity coupled with NROLFW. Cut out ALL refined sugar. By this past January, I was up to 151. I felt that I was still in reach of the 140s, so all was not lost. I just committed to doing what had worked before, exercise and calorie counting.
That is where things got really screwy. I finished up NROLFW and started Body Beast. Started gaining a lb a week! My clothes were not fitting by now - I was gaining fat, could not see muscle definition anymore. My middle is the worst! I was doing weights 5x a week for 30-45 mins and cardio 5x a week for about 30 mins (either steady state or HIIT). By May, I was up to 157 lbs. I was a size 4/6 2 years ago; now my "fat" 8s won't fit. I decided to go all out in May and buckle down - an hour of cardio, an hour of weights daily. Ate 99% clean, stuck to my cut value for calories. Gained 2 LBS a week that month!!!!
Went to my PCP for bloodwork, everything came back normal. Tried sticking to cardio only. No change. Tried sticking to lifting only. No change. Dropped my calories to 1800. Only gained 1 lb that week. Dropped them to 1500. Barely gained a lb that week. By this time, I was up to 167 lbs.
This past week, I lost weight for the first time this year - by dropping my intake to 1300 calories and doing 1 hour of cardio, 1 hour of heavy lifting 5x a week. This makes NO sense!
I calculate my calories burned with a Fitbit and a HRM. The Fitbit is linked to MFP, but not my HRM, so I don't eat back my exercise calories burned. Fitbit comes off when I work out, HRM goes on. I burn 200 cals with my lifting and 400 with my cardio according to my HRM. My heart rate never gets above 130 tho - no matter how hard I push, and I go all out. According to my Fitbit, I burn 2300-2500 a day through normal activity, which is about right since I hit 10K steps every day and don't sit down for more than an hour (other than mealtimes). So that means I am burning around 3000 cals a day. But if I eat above 1300, I gain weight!???!
Medical history - my mother and grandmother both died from hypothyroidism, but my TSH levels show totally normal according to my bloodwork. I have an appointment with an endocrinologist at the end of the month, but have been scouring the internet in the meantime to find answers. I am sick of hearing "just go gluten free!" or "maybe you should try pilates!" because I KNOW that makes no sense. I should be eating at least 1000 cals more than where I'm at yet if I do, I gain like crazy. Something is seriously wrong here. This isn't about the scale - I could care less about the numbers - I have NO CLOTHING that fits me other than my elastic workout shorts! I can't wear that to client meetings! EMWL has totally been my "thing" and has worked wonders. What is going on?
Has anyone experienced anything like this before? I expected changes as I got older (I turn 40 in a few months), but I have been careful about diet and exercise in order to minimize that. I have maintained my weight for a good 6 years prior to this craziness!
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Replies
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I agree that this is strange. I do remember reading somewhere that TSH tests are not the only factor in determining hypothyroidism so you should probably ask your endocrinologist for further testing. I wish I could help more, but I am not at all an expert on the subject. I am 5'7" 125 pounds and eat around 1500 cals/day and exercise 5x per week (weight lifting classes, sports, yoga, or intervals on the treadmill) and my weight stays steady. I don't eat clean at all (chocoholic) so yea, your story sounds like there is something strange going on with your body.0
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Hi wookiemouse!
I am going through the same thing. It's very frustrating. I am 40 years old, I usually weigh 123-126, I am 5'6" and very active. I run 5-6 days per week, attend spin class twice a week and attend body pump three times a week. This summer I have put on 6 pounds. I know this is not 6 pounds of muscle because I do not like the way I look or feel in clothing. I log my exercise and food intake daily on MFP. I normally net 1200 calories per day. MFP states I am on track to weigh 115 in five weeks (my goal weight is 123). However, my scale is not moving and when it does it goes up. I plan on going to the doctor to check for hypothyroidism. In the meantime, I am disappointed daily when the scale does not move. And, with fall around the corner...I am worried my jeans will not fit. I hope your situation improves. I just wanted you to know you are not alone....0 -
Print out a copy of your food and exercise diary going back as far as you have accurate entries and bring them to the endocrinologist appointment.0
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You said you cut out refined sugars (hope that includes orange juice and fruit yogurt). But did you cut out carbs? They're just as bad.
Carbs are not bad. Sugar is not bad. Fruits are not bad. Yogurt is not bad. Stop spreading misinformation.0 -
Please top spreading this nonsense. No food is good or bad for you unless you are either allergic or have a sensitivity to it or your doctor tells you to cut it from your diet due to a medical condition.You said you cut out refined sugars (hope that includes orange juice and fruit yogurt). But did you cut out carbs? They're just as bad.
Starting you morning with a bagel or bowl of cereal (any cereal), having a bowl of pasta for lunch, and a burger (it's the bun that's bad for you, not the burger) with fries for dinner, is not helpful.
Obviously I'm making major assumptions regarding your diet. But do cut out the carbs if you are indulging. Can't hurt to try for two weeks.
Do you notice how many people on this site post that they can't lose weight, despite their low calorie intake and high level of exercise? It's because a calorie is not a calorie.0 -
I agree. The best thing people could do for themselves is to get rid of the "good food/bad food" mentality. It's outdated and it's simply not true. Moderation is the key.You said you cut out refined sugars (hope that includes orange juice and fruit yogurt). But did you cut out carbs? They're just as bad.
Carbs are not bad. Sugar is not bad. Fruits are not bad. Yogurt is not bad. Stop spreading misinformation.0 -
This is a great idea.Print out a copy of your food and exercise diary going back as far as you have accurate entries and bring them to the endocrinologist appointment.0 -
Aside from what others have suggested in regards to printing off a report and showing your doctor(s)...
Do you use a food scale to weigh out your food?
Could you make your diary public so we can take a look?
When you log your exercise, are you only logging them on fitbit (and then having it to sync to MFP) or are you logging it on both MFP and Fitbit?
How have you set things up with fitbit and MFP to figure out if you should be eating your exercise calories back or not?
Have you tried maybe doing the TDEE method where you have a set calorie goal that includes exercise and just don't eat the fitbit burns back?
Actually, to be clear..are you NETTING 1300 or just eating 1300 with exercise?0 -
um...I am doing body beast but not strictly following the schedule nor meal plan...did you follow their plan to a T?0
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Produce one study that shows subjects eating over their TDEE and losing weight or eating under their TDEE and gaining weight. HInt: there isn't one!You said you cut out refined sugars (hope that includes orange juice and fruit yogurt). But did you cut out carbs? They're just as bad.
Starting you morning with a bagel or bowl of cereal (any cereal), having a bowl of pasta for lunch, and a burger (it's the bun that's bad for you, not the burger) with fries for dinner, is not helpful.
Obviously I'm making major assumptions regarding your diet. But do cut out the carbs if you are indulging. Can't hurt to try for two weeks.
Do you notice how many people on this site post that they can't lose weight, despite their low calorie intake and high level of exercise? It's because a calorie is not a calorie.0 -
someone posted a similar issue recently on a different forum. It was suggested she might start developing insulin resistence....not sure if you were prone to that as she always has elevated blood sugar.
thyroid could change too. Could be temporary abnormality due to all the stress...ask your doctor to have a full panel blood work...sometimes just TSH alone doesn't draw the whole picture. good luck~ I know how it feels and I can totally relate0 -
I am planning on bringing my food diary with me. The carb thing is asinine. Carbs are an energy source, not the enemy. I base my intake on 40/40/20 macros. I do have carbs in the AM - granola and fruit. Carbs at lunch - sweet potatoes. Carbs at dinner - quinoa. These are not bad foods. Your body needs them.
I'm not following the Body Beast plan to a T because I don't agree with some of their supplements. But in general, I do follow the food plan. I WAS taking in 1800-2000 cals a day no matter what my Fitbit said. Fixed number. In the past few weeks, I've found that if I drop as low as 1300 a day and keep up the 2 hours of exercise, then the weight gain stops. That's not healthy tho. Going back to weights only, minimal cardio and upping my calories to 2000. If I gain, I gain. I'm not going to mess up my metabolism any more while things get sorted out. Endo appointment is this Thursday.0 -
Wookie,
I'm glad you didn't fall for the carb nonsense above. Good luck at your doctor's appointment, and I hope you find out what is going on with your body.0 -
Given you have been doing this for so long, I'm going to guess that accurately tracking your food intake is not the problem. I'm assuming you weigh everything, including recipes you make at home.
With that said, I think taking your charts to the endocrinologist is exactly what you need to do. Good luck!0 -
just going to throw this in....please do not be offended but is there any chance you could be pregnant???
Only because the steady gain seems to have been from feb ish this year....a change of 5-10lbs could just be your maintenance range but the gain this year is different0 -
What kind of cardio do you do? Perhaps maybe switch from weights to a low "movement" strength train. A lot of the pilates or piyo might be helpful, that is, if you don't already incorporate those. The ones forcing you to stretch your muscles, while strength training them in a non-bulking way? Gets you hot, sweating, heart rate up, calories would be burnt. Guess that's all I can think of, seems you've done more than your part... Good luck!0
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I saw a show on this last week, and the woman said: My heart rate never goes above 130.. she could not even finish the sentence, the sports trainer said: You are not working hard enough. Regardless of endurance level, you should be able to get into the 150's easy with high resistance and pushing hard. You may just be working under your endurance level.0
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Maybe it is as simple as just taking a break from exercise for 2-4 weeks. Sometimes our bodies just need a break.0
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I think your TDEE has dropped with age. Or you're eating more than you think, or not burning as much as you think. I think this is something you should discuss with your doctor because of your family history. We can give general advice but can't know your exact situation.0
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I was wondering about my TDEE changing as well. Not just because of age, but because I have become much fitter over the years. Workouts that I would be gasping for air in I can talk through easily now. Maybe my body burns calories differently now? And I do give it my all - I outdo the instructor at Body Combat. I bounce around when she takes breaks! I still won't ever be out of breath tho. The thought of "overexercising" has crossed my mind too. In the past 5 years, I can count the number of missed workouts on one hand. I exercise on vacations, only take days off on weekends and if I'm super sick. It's something I enjoy, tho. It would be like giving up a hobby.
Definitely, 100% not pregnant.
As for cardio, it's usually kickboxing. Love Body Combat! Sometimes I'll do a 3-5 mile run if I'm out of the house. Funny that you mention pilates and the like, my sister-in-law is a yoga instructor. I have tried to get into it - yoga, and pilates, and barre workouts - so many times, because I know it's good for you. But I hate it. With a passion. And if I hate a workout, I just won't do it.
I appreciate all the advice. I do know this is not a medical board, but I was curious to see if anyone else had encountered this and had a diagnosis - just so I could suggest it to my own doctor as a possibility. Hopefully I will get some answers later this week!0 -
I'm here to say love the name....I'm no help otherwise.0
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What are your sugar levels at? If you are hypoglycemic (blood sugars are to low) it can cause your body to store every single calorie you take in as fat. If you didn't get a fasting glucose in your blood work, I would suggest either asking your regular doctor (or your endocrinologist) for a Hemoglobin A1C just to make sure your sugars aren't off. The other thing that you can do is get a glucose meter and test your self. You would want to start with a fasting level (first thing in the morning before you get up, after not eating for 8 hours). The normal range for a fasting level (via a glucose monitor) would be 70-99. Anything lower or above this indicates there maybe an issue. Two hours after eating your level should be less than 140. (again anything lower or above this could indicate that there is an issue.0
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i think seeing an endochrinologist is a great idea and you are on the right track.
you sound like me.
your OB-GYN may be a good stop too if you dont get any news from the endochrinologist.
after three years you know how to have a plan.... something is probably off.
and i know people like to say health issues are excuses but they arent always. sometimes your body is actually sick.
lol about cutting out carbs. i wish i could make everyone who says not to eat carbs take a nutrition class.0 -
If I understand correctly, you are implying the gaining weight is fat. If the weight was muscle, then you probably wouldn't even write here.
Muscle takes a while to grow and it requires a lot of dedication. I find the story completely strange. If your working out a lot then it should be muscle but instead it sounds like less working out and eating too much. Fat doesn't come out of thin air.
Just saying... complete honesty.
In my own experience my weight will drop and go up every few days. I maintain my strict diet all the time. The only thing that could add weight is muscle or water. A lot of water will get retained in my body from time to time. I'll gain 5 lbs or more sometimes over night but drop more weight days later.
If you were burning a ton of calories in a day, your body would have no choice but to eat the fat.0 -
If I understand correctly, you are implying the gaining weight is fat. If the weight was muscle, then you probably wouldn't even write here.
Muscle takes a while to grow and it requires a lot of dedication. I find the story completely strange. If your working out a lot then it should be muscle but instead it sounds like less working out and eating too much. Fat doesn't come out of thin air.
Just saying... complete honesty.
In my own experience my weight will drop and go up every few days. I maintain my strict diet all the time. The only thing that could add weight is muscle or water. A lot of water will get retained in my body from time to time. I'll gain 5 lbs or more sometimes over night but drop more weight days later.
If you were burning a ton of calories in a day, your body would have no choice but to eat the fat.
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except she said she has a family history of thyroid problems. guess what your thyroid does... regulates the metabolism.0 -
I read
Waiting on test results right?0 -
Hi hun
I hope you find out what the problem is soon. I understand the recent comment about 'fat doesn't come from nowhere' but in your case I don't agree. It seems like your body is storing sugar (as fat) instead of burning it. I'm no doctor but I had a friend that this happened to and it was caused by diabetes. Maybe ask for a test, once she had the right treatment and regulated her blood sugar she soon dropped her extra weight and got back to normal. The comments about a blood sugar monitor are sensible I think.
Also are you sure you are not just bloating from some kind of allergy? I know you seem to be gaining weight inexplicably but you could be bloated and retaining water, id ask for tests for all allergies (food and other things) just to check. This happens to me sometimes as I have some mild food allergies (not serious enough to affect me in any other way, but I bloat and weigh more, the doctor said that was water).
I am a little confused about why you cant get your heart rate up. Do you feel out of breath, sweaty etc?? Maybe you need to push harder, if you are at your limit physically maybe you HRM is broken??
Sorry I cant be more help than that x0 -
I'm writing to share with you my recent experiences and my doctor's theory. If someone is looking for the same answer as the OP did, maybe it will help.
For starters - for the last 4 years my story goes pretty much like the OP's. Gaining weight (in fat) no matter what. I had 3 personal trainers and spent every free minute on reading about loosing fat. Cross fit, Hiit, classic weight training (and I'm not lifting air in pink dumbells), cardio - all those didn't make the difference. I even desperately went through 3-months kethosis, I tried carb cycling, or no gluten for 9 months even if I have no allergy, and I always measured every gram and wrote it down.
To sum up: I was doing everything I could to loose weight. Despite that I gained 23kgs (about 50pounds) during all those diets and workouts.
My TSH levels were fine, my thyroid USG done by a technician was fine. No hope...
About 6 months ago I went to a highly recommended endo. She made the thyroid's USG herself and then she explained to me, that for a typical technician it could look fine, but my thyroid was twice the size it should be.
That's strike 1
I was given thyroid hormones and my weight gain suddenly stopped. When you're overweight maybe it's not something you aim for, but for me, after all this, it was a huge success.
A few months after that I went to a different doctor with a different matter since I needed a tonsilectomy. Then the otolaryngolist said, that it looks like I've been living with an inflamation for a long time (more than 10 years as it seems). And then she told me something I have never considered, since noone wrote about it in google
She said that if my liver fights with the inflamation for so long it stops burning fat. It even can become impossible for some people (even if we usually think that a sick person gets thin by default). I hope it's understandable since 1. I'm not a doctor, 2. I'm not good in english
I had a tonsilectomy two months ago. Of course I didn't loose any pound then, even after not eating for 2 days in a hospital, but I got used to the fact, that even starving doesn't make anything for me.
But over 3 weeks ago something has changed. The madness started. I'm loosing weight with about 5% of effort of what I did for the last few years. I haven't seen any lost for a few years of extremely hard work and obsession in the kitchen. But now it looks so easy!
So, if this helps anyone who has the same problem - works very hard, eats nothing but clean and counted food and not only nothing good happens but also fat appears from nowhere despite all the effort:
1. Check your thyroid and check again, do the USG, do it elsewhere, checkout your TSH FT3 and FT4
2. Check the OB in blood (I hope it's named the same in the US) as it seems to show that you're struggling with an inflamation (I had OB much over the normal level for at least 11 years)0 -
serinde160 - thank you so much for your post! I will definitely bring it up with my endo. She also suspected inflammation, possibly thought it was a cancer at the time but my white blood cell counts were fine. Who would have thought that liver function would play into it???
At this point, I don't know if the weight gain is fat or water retention. I do know it may be SOME muscle, but I have gained weight from muscle before - and dropped a clothing size in the process. My clothes are getting tighter - this isn't muscle. According to my HRM, MFP and Fitbit, I have been taking in 1100 calories less than I burn daily for the past 2 weeks now. I measure every meal, I don't cheat, I'm very anal about that. I still gained a pound a week. That is very, very wrong. My body is definitely doing something it's not supposed to.0
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