Frustrated !!! Working out, eating right, gaining weight

marticio1
marticio1 Posts: 8
in Motivation and Support
I am frustrated right now !!!
I have been doing circuit weight training for 6 weeks now and have been getting results with definition....
BUT my metabolism has not kicked in, I have only lost 3 inches overall and my clothes are still tight.

- I have added 20-40 minute cardio workouts in addition to my weight training routine in the mornings.
- I also do hiking, mtn biking and road biking in my spare time and on my "resting" days from weight training.
- I chart all my food and activity with myfitnesspal which I have set at 1200 calories / day and often meet that intake.
- I have gained 10 lbs since starting 6 weeks ago.........and I keep on gaining !!!!

I am soo frustrated right now !!

When is my metabolism going to kick in ??

If anyone knows my frustration and can tell me what is going on.....I would love the support as this is really getting me down. :-(

Thanks for anyone who responds
Rebel Red

Replies

  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    What do you mean by your metabolism kicking in???
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    Do you weigh everything you eat? Also, if you're following MFP numbers you should eat back exercise cals? But if you were ONLY eating 1200 cals you would be losing weight.
  • DavidSTC
    DavidSTC Posts: 173 Member
    - I chart all my food and activity with myfitnesspal which I have set at 1200 calories / day and often meet that intake.

    What do you do to chart your food and activity? Do you carefully measure your food and beverage intake? How do you measure your calories burned? People are notoriously bad about eyeballing their food portion amounts. And, MFP estimates for calories burned for activities are notoriously high.
  • jackielou867
    jackielou867 Posts: 422 Member
    Can't see your diary. What do you mean. ..often meet that intake?
    1200 seems low for the amount of activity you list. Are you adding back calories for that.
    You lost 3 inches in 6 weeks, that sounds like progress to me.
    Gained 10lb, on 1200 calories. I don't think so. Likely this is water and glycogen stored, if you only started lifting 6 weeks ago. First couple of weeks you gain a few llbs same as first 2 weeks of a diet you seem to lose loads but it's just that water
    But just in case, since I can't see your diary, make sure you check you are logging correctly. Are your portion sizes accurate, do you have scales. Are you getting plenty of protein?
  • CABasile
    CABasile Posts: 55 Member
    What type of food are you eating? Is it mostly fresh veggies, some fruit, poultry, limited red meat? Avoiding processed foods? Sometimes processed foods really do crazy things to our bodies and fight against us losing weight.
  • mvfoster
    mvfoster Posts: 4 Member
    Could be that you are not eating enough calories. If you are doing as much exercise as you say, you may need to increase you calories. If you don't eat enough calories you body can go into so called starvation mode; it stores up any calories you eat. Try increasing your calories for a few days to a week.
    Also, muscle weighs more than fat, so the loss in inches probably means what fat you have is turning to muscle.
    :smile:
  • __Di__
    __Di__ Posts: 1,659 Member
    OP I do not understand what you mean by "when will my metabolism kick in?" - your metabolism is always working, if it didn't you would die.

    It is guaranteed, even if you do not think so, that you are eating more calories than you are using up.
  • helentiller83
    helentiller83 Posts: 9 Member
    Also, muscle weighs more than fat, so the loss in inches probably means what fat you have is turning to muscle.
    :smile:

    It doesn't, a pound is a pound, but muscle takes up less space
  • marticio1
    marticio1 Posts: 8
    Okay...I figured out how to make myfitnesspal public so people can look at what I have been tracking.

    I hope that helps to see what I am doing......

    Thanks for all the input so far.....keep it coming please :-)
  • iLoveMyPitbull1225
    iLoveMyPitbull1225 Posts: 1,690 Member
    Still cant view your diary. Id say if you're that active then you are likely not tracking properly, either over estimating your excersise calories burned and eating too much or over eating period due to lack of proper measuring. OR if you're not eating all those calories burned back that could be hurting you.
  • ryanwood935
    ryanwood935 Posts: 245 Member
    Still can't see your diary. Though if you have lost 3 inches overall, you haven't really gained ten pounds. You MAY have gained a pound of muscle, but most of that was probably water weight. Did you see a big jump in weight in the first two weeks, and it's tailed off lately? That initial gain from exercise is from muscles retaining water. If you saw lost inches around the waist, but say arms/legs stayed the same, you probably lost some fat and gained a small amount of muscle.
  • terran1
    terran1 Posts: 1
    I feel your pain. I feel like I am working myself to death and have only lost one pound!!! I quit smoking the first of March and have been packing on the pounds since then. I was already really into exercise. I did crossfit and ran. I injured myself doing crossfit. Now I am doing zumba and low impact machines, and some lighter weight training. I plan on finding the right formula. I'm not saying everything I eat is great, but I stay under calories.
  • marticio1
    marticio1 Posts: 8
    I used to be almost 300 lbs 7 years ago......I got down to my lowest BMI of 140.....started gaining back and wanted to change up my exercise routine......now I am wondering if I should go back to my other way of just doing cardio and be flabby !!
    I am with you terran1 :-( uuggghhh !
  • marticio1
    marticio1 Posts: 8
    Okay...found the other security feature to display my diary......who knew you would have to look in two different places...LOL

    Thanks for your input and now that you can see my diary.....I hope there are others that have been stumped like I am now.

    I am faithfully using myfitnesspal and calculating everything I do.....I use to be with WeightWatchers for 5 years, was 298lbs 7 years ago and lost 90 lbs on my own, and the other 70lbs with WeightWatchers. I kept if off for 2 years...and now I am going back up in weight........so I do know how to watch what I eat and account for everything.
  • DaveDeLange
    DaveDeLange Posts: 48
    You have lost three inches - from your waist presumably? If so, that's great.

    Given the amount of exercise you do, 1200 calories seems quite low. Ideally you should be eating as you mean to continue, and 1200 is pretty meagre. Perhaps think about increasing it to 1800, eating small meals throughout the day. This helps metabolism.

    Who cares what your weight is? You are losing inches.
  • marticio1
    marticio1 Posts: 8
    The 3 inches have been from my arms, thighs and waist........

    When I plug in my figures each day...the only thing myfitnesspal says is if I am under 1200 calories for the day it warns me to eat more.

    It doesn't say anything about having to eat more because I had exercised my butt off.

    Thing of it is.....I have been trained to listen to my hunger signals....and when I am really active I am not that hungry so I only eat when I am hungry.....
  • Lift_Run_Eat
    Lift_Run_Eat Posts: 986 Member
    You may need to up your calories.
    Have you looked at your TDEE? Check out http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/ or http://iifym.com/iifym-calculator/
    (I am sure there are others also). These can give you an idea of what you should be eating everyday.


    Also, have you thought about eating more "clean" foods and less processed? Make your calories count!
  • I_Will_End_You
    I_Will_End_You Posts: 4,397 Member
    If you were eating 1200 calories a day, you'd be losing weight. You're not logging correctly. (portion sizes are off, guestimating calories, etc...) Plus you have days with calorie burns over 2000 calories. How do you determine these burns?
  • kensteven
    kensteven Posts: 9
    Personally speaking I am not loosing weight but not gaining either. One would think "hey man that's great." Yea right. I seem to have reached a plateau. I weigh everything I eat as well as log. Though I am not loosing weight because of my decrease in calories, I notice that my clothes fit much better. So that is rewarding for me. I will not give up my new life style because I have never felt this good about myself in all my born days. I am 64.
  • marticio1
    marticio1 Posts: 8
    I_Will_End_Yo
    I am using myfitnesspal for all my entries.....whatever minutes I spend doing an activity I log it.
    Are the details of the activity not visible ?? I am tracking things as best as I can for what I do.....
    When I do hiking or mtn biking those are the biggest burns for calories... and I have been doing some of these in addition to my regular workouts of circuit weight training + cardio.

    kensteven
    My clothes are still not showing an improvement in being loose.......I am gaining weight still.....but I am feeling strong and fit.
  • fatbastardslim1980
    fatbastardslim1980 Posts: 7
    June 26th- Cookies for Dinner July 13th- No Breakfast
    27-29 June and 4, 19 July- No Food Log July 18th- No Dinner
    June 6th- No Lunch (Beer/Drink after workout) July 20th- No Breakfast
    June 7th- Breakfast Only July 24th- No Dinner
    June 12th- Beer/Drink after workout July 26th- Breakfast Only
    June 14th- No Lunch July 5th- Beer/Drink for Lunch and Dinner after workout
    June 21st -Dinner Only
    June 22nd- No Lunch
    June 23rd- No Dinner
    June 30- No Dinner

    Water intake is low and food is not being accounted for or meals are being skipped.
  • TheNewMe99
    TheNewMe99 Posts: 24
    I am frustrated right now !!!
    I have been doing circuit weight training for 6 weeks now and have been getting results with definition....
    BUT my metabolism has not kicked in, I have only lost 3 inches overall and my clothes are still tight.

    - I have added 20-40 minute cardio workouts in addition to my weight training routine in the mornings.
    - I also do hiking, mtn biking and road biking in my spare time and on my "resting" days from weight training.
    - I chart all my food and activity with myfitnesspal which I have set at 1200 calories / day and often meet that intake.
    - I have gained 10 lbs since starting 6 weeks ago.........and I keep on gaining !!!!

    I am soo frustrated right now !!

    When is my metabolism going to kick in ??

    If anyone knows my frustration and can tell me what is going on.....I would love the support as this is really getting me down. :-(

    Thanks for anyone who responds
    Rebel Red

    Things to think about ... are you pre-menopausal, insulin resistance or diabetic? You may not be losing but gaining muscle at the same time.
    Have you had your thyroid checked? I understand as I am having the same issues. I am increasing my protein and decreasing carbs.
    No white sugar or flour so no bread at all.
  • littleweavers
    littleweavers Posts: 3
    June 26th- Cookies for Dinner July 13th- No Breakfast
    27-29 June and 4, 19 July- No Food Log July 18th- No Dinner
    June 6th- No Lunch (Beer/Drink after workout) July 20th- No Breakfast
    June 7th- Breakfast Only July 24th- No Dinner
    June 12th- Beer/Drink after workout July 26th- Breakfast Only
    June 14th- No Lunch July 5th- Beer/Drink for Lunch and Dinner after workout
    June 21st -Dinner Only
    June 22nd- No Lunch
    June 23rd- No Dinner
    June 30- No Dinner

    Water intake is low and food is not being accounted for or meals are being skipped.

    I noticed this as well, lots of missed meals, and choosing 'generic' listings. It's best to choose the exact brand, or break down the ingredients if it's something like a gyro.
  • LSinVA
    LSinVA Posts: 60 Member
    Diary looks incomplete. My guess is that meals are not being logged and you're guessing. If you really are only eating 300 cal on some days, I think common sense would dictate that it's not enough.

    I don't think anyone can help though because the logging seems completely inaccurate. Sometimes we have to make guesses by breaking down something we don't have a calorie count for but I'm not seeing that. Entire days are not logged... How do you really know what you're eating?

    So you're either a) eating a lot more than you are thinking or b) not logging your exercise correctly. 10 lbs seems like a lot to gain in that short of a period.
  • Cheisend
    Cheisend Posts: 1
    Hi, you need to do interval training to get your heart rate up and get your metabolism moving. Try doing 6 different exercises as many as you can do for 30 secs on 30 secs rest and then repeat 3 reps and move on to the next exercises for e.g. push ups or sit ups 30 secs on 30 secs rest 3xs. Try it it works! Your heart rate needs to be at 120-age x .9 . Good luck!
  • marticio1
    marticio1 Posts: 8
    Thank you all for your input.......
    Although 95% of my entries are complete with all meals, what I actually ate and activity posted ( all done thru myfitnesspal) , I am sure there are some of you that are not 100% all the time.

    If people bothered to read the previous posts and replies leading up to certain exchanges, things would be a lot more "understanding" with respect to what a person is going thru.

    There is such a thing as constructive criticism.....and many of you seemed to be judgmental right off the bat saying that I am lying to myself about my entries. Why lie about entries ??? Who's purpose does that serve....no ones !
    If you can't be honest and truthful with yourself......then why bother ??

    To the few that were respectful and advised that I was eating too few calories with the level of activity, I thank you as I have since adjusted my calorie intake to 1400 and lost 1.5 lbs in one day. Apparently my body was in starvation mode and taking in more calories has made my metabolism switch gears.

    If people were more understanding, compassionate and empathetic the world would be a better place.
  • ryanwood935
    ryanwood935 Posts: 245 Member
    Thank you all for your input.......
    Although 95% of my entries are complete with all meals, what I actually ate and activity posted ( all done thru myfitnesspal) , I am sure there are some of you that are not 100% all the time.

    If people bothered to read the previous posts and replies leading up to certain exchanges, things would be a lot more "understanding" with respect to what a person is going thru.

    There is such a thing as constructive criticism.....and many of you seemed to be judgmental right off the bat saying that I am lying to myself about my entries. Why lie about entries ??? Who's purpose does that serve....no ones !
    If you can't be honest and truthful with yourself......then why bother ??

    To the few that were respectful and advised that I was eating too few calories with the level of activity, I thank you as I have since adjusted my calorie intake to 1400 and lost 1.5 lbs in one day. Apparently my body was in starvation mode and taking in more calories has made my metabolism switch gears.

    If people were more understanding, compassionate and empathetic the world would be a better place.

    I don't think anyone comes in here intending to be a jerk. When we say make sure you are tracking your calories properly, please don't take it as an attack against you or your character. This gets brought up because a LOT of people guess calories, and sometimes it can be significantly off. They aren't trying to cheat themselves or us here at MFP. People come here for advice and this just happens to be a very common mistake.

    Also keep in mind that your weight will fluctuate day to day. It would be almost impossible to lose 1.5 pounds of actual mass in a single day. A lot of that was water. If some comes back, don't be disappointing. Losing weight is a slow and not always linear process.

    I'll also add that when I am cutting, I like to add in about one day a week where I eat at my maintenance calories. Helps me keep my sanity and in theory keeps my body from adapting to a lesser calorie intake. Some studies show this helps keep weight loss on track better than a constant diet, some studies don't back this up. For me, I just like to stuff my face sometimes, and it beats a cheat day where I wreck my work for the whole week!

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