Gaining several pounds in a day

Yup- me too. I eat differently than you do, but I have been gaining and losing the same 4-6 lbs for months now!!! Very very frustrating and I am also waiting to break through this frustrating thing!!! I will be looking forward to what everyone else here says.

I also gained 4 lbs since Friday- now, yes, I did "break" my diet for two of those meals- but didn't go hog wild- AND worked out and burned 1000 calories both Sat and Sun!!! so, go figure- the scale is up 4 lbs... I'm with you!!!

So I'm about ready to give up. I have been exercising 3 to 4 times per week minimum. Depending on my schedule a minimum of 30 minutes or up to an hour. I eat one full meal a day except on the weekends, then I might eat two (please do not lecture me about starvation mode I don't believe it I've been this way for years).

I have not lost a single pound in the month or so I've been doing MFP. I am 300 to 400 calories under my calorie goal pretty much every day.

My biggest frustration is the fact that I can get on the scale and gain anywhere from 2 to 4 pounds overnight! I don't understand this, once or twice I have actually lost a couple of pounds from my starting weight, but then BAM, on the scale the next day and have gained even though I was under my calorie goal and exercised. Yes, I do drink water.

Anyone else have a problem with this?

not going to lecture you about starvation mode but my guess is you are:

http://www.hussmanfitness.org/html/TPAdaptation.html

The law of unintended consequences

Your body is an amazing feedback system aimed at balance and survival. Humans are at the top of the food chain because they are able to adapt to their environment. Every action produces a reaction. Every change in its environment triggers a survival response. It's important to keep that in mind when you plan your fitness program. If you treat your body as an enemy to be conquered, you'll produce unintended results.

For example, if you severely cut off the supply of food to your body, it will defend itself by slowing down its metabolism to survive starvation. The body will shed muscle mass the same way that you would throw cargo from a plane that was low on fuel, and it will reduce its thyroid activity to conserve energy. The body will also actually defend its fat stores. In anorexia, muscle loss can be so profound that fat as a percentage of body weight actually rises. Extreme carbohydrate restriction also causes muscle loss, dehydration, and slower metabolism, which is why even successful Atkins dieters can have a significant rebound in weight after they stop the diet (don't worry – the advice on this site will prevent that from happening).

As another example, if you put your body under stress through overexertion and lack of sleep, it will respond by slowing down, reducing muscle growth, and increasing your appetite for junk food, carbohydrates and fat. If you feed your body excessive amounts of sugar and quickly digested carbohydrates, and it will shut off its ability to burn fat until those sugars are taken out of the bloodstream.

This website will show you how to work with your body to quickly produce the changes you want. In order to do that, you need to take actions that push your body to adapt – to build strength, burn fat, and increase fitness. You need a training program, not an exercise routine. You need a nutrition plan, not a diet. You need a challenge, not a few good habits you usually try to follow except when you don't.
Setting the right goal

John Dewey once said that a problem well-stated is half-solved. If you want to reach your goal, you have to define it correctly. See, a lot of people say “I want to lose weight.” Well, if losing weight is your goal, go on a no-carb diet. You'll lose a lot of weight – some of it will be fat, a lot of it will be water, and a dangerous amount will be muscle tissue. You'll lose weight quickly, but you'll slow your metabolism and gain fat more quickly once you go off the diet. Trust me on this. I've been there, done that.

The problem is that you've set the wrong goal. If you want to look better, have more energy and enjoy better health, the goal is not simply to “lose weight.” The goal is to improve your fitness level and body composition. That means losing fat, improving your aerobic capacity, training your strength and defending your muscle tissue. You can't do that with a no-carb diet. You will do it using the approach you'll learn on this website. Trust me on this one too. I know what it's like to feel fat, tired and helplessly out of shape. The whole point of this site is to help others avoid that, by sharing lessons that I had to learn the hard way.
Ready to change?

Right this minute, your body is the way it is because it has adapted to the lifestyle you've thrown at it, in an attempt to survive. Ever seen the directory at the mall with the little red arrow that says “you are here”? Well, fitness is the same way. You are here. You can't start anywhere else. So be kind to yourself. Don't beat yourself up. Don't worry about how much there is to do. Change your self-talk from “My body is my enemy” to “My body is my partner.” Accept where you are right now as the starting point, and start moving.

Changing your body requires more than just “going on a diet” for a few weeks. If you want to change your body, you have to make some changes to your lifestyle (which requires some discipline, but isn't as hard as it sounds). If you create the right environment, your body will adapt to it by becoming leaner, stronger, and more energetic. You can do this.



The words "starvation mode" have been taken a little too literally. Start doing some research on "Adaptive Thermogenesis". This is the scientific term for it. It is real and you are there.

Also read this:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/3047-700-calories-a-day-and-not-losing

I eat one full meal a day except on the weekends, then I might eat two (please do not lecture me about starvation mode I don't believe it I've been this way for years).

Ok we'll skip the lecture. Looks like it's finally caught up to you though. I used to think eating bacon cheeseburgers daily was perfectly good for me. I didn't believe the hype and did it that way for years.

Let us see your diary. Also, if you have bern "doing it that way for years" then couldn't that be why you can't lose weight?

this is true...maybe if you ate a more balanced diet your metabolism would be shocked and kick into gear...not lecturing,though just saying... (but be prepared to be lectured whenever you post on this site...it's just other people who are trying to achieve a goal and want you to do well)

Be sure your NET CALORIES are no lower that 1150 to 1200. If you drop them too low you're body goes into a preservation mode. Not sure if this is your problem but it sounds like something you should consider. Please read these links if you have any questions regarding starving yourself. You won't lose if you drop your NET CALORIES too low. Good luck.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/10589-for-those-confused-or-questioning-eating-your-exercise-calo

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/61706-guide-to-calorie-deficits

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/188509-my-take-on-exercise-calories-please-read-if-you-are-new

I eat one full meal a day except on the weekends, then I might eat two (please do not lecture me about starvation mode I don't believe it I've been this way for years).

Mostly, several pounds in one day is retention, usually water, usually a combination of factors. However, starvation mode or not, the very phrase "I've been this way for years" is very telling. I would assume you are hear because you want different results - you will probably need to do something differently!

Shake up your routine. Try spreading your food more evenly throughout the day, drink even more water and try a new excersize routine/class.

Don't get too hung up on the scale: take your measurements and perhaps you can see the difference there.

Weighing in only once per week (choose the day/time consistently) helps with this. Also, if you open your food diary to the public, you'll surely get some valuable feedback on your diet choices.

I totally agree with this. I only weigh in once a week because there can be so much fluctuation. I weigh myself every Tuesday at around about the same time in similar clothes as an attempt to get a truer reading.

What you are saying is like an alchoholic who has liver disease asking for help, but telling his friends not to lecture him about drinking....EAT YOUR DANG CALORIES. I didn't lecture, I just yelled at you out of love. If you're not losing anyway, why not at least try it? And you need to be eating small frequent meals as well. That may kick start your metablolism....

It really is true that if you don't eat enough calories...your body will start storing fat! Its a science. for about 30 days you can lower your calorie intake to no less than 1200 calories and see a weight loss...but of course 1200 is not a healthy route to take long term! I am 135 lbs and 5 feet 8 inches tall and finally at a good body % and I eat between 1700 calories and 2200 depending on my work out for the day! This is just to maintain! And i used to skip meals and eat Tons at Dinner...and snacked before bed. The best advice I can give as a fitness coach is to eat 5-6 meals a day Eat the amount of calories myfitnesspal.com suggests per your personal info you input...and when you work out you need to know how many calories you are burning...you don't have to eat those calories back but if burning 600 calories is dropping you below that 1200 calorie mark you prob need to reg fig your caloric needs! If you or any one would like more info or tips on this subject please request to be my friend! my diary is open! I logged my calories for months when i first started..but now I do it one week out of every month just to make sure Im eating enough per my current weight and exercise!

I think I make myself crazy if I get on the scale everyday...I am doing the twice a week weigh-in for now.

When I weigh daily and I am up...it sets my mood. I become frustrated and look for an excuse to quit.
Counter-productive for me.

The other thing ...and this keeps coming up over and over ...what are your sodium counts?

Try reducing your prepared foods or high sodium foods. sodium sensative people really need to pay attention to that.
you can be retaining fluid.

not sure if that is helpful but there it is.
:huh:

Weight loss is 80% nutrition. If the scale is popping up "overnight" it is most likely water from too much sodium. Quickest and easiest way to get @ the sodium is to limit canned soups, sauces, and frozen meals as they are typically loaded with it. As for sugar, I find I lose weight better when I limit myself to 2 pieces of fruit a day. While everyone will say "but it's natural sugar," it all adds up. By the time you have 2 pieces a fruit, a serving or 2 of healthy dairy and veggies you are easily nearing 60g of sugar. Sugar can actually have a similar effect as sodium which is why watching your intake, regardless of the source can be important.

Without seeing your journal, can't really give you any other specific advice.

....I eat one full meal a day except on the weekends, then I might eat two (please do not lecture me about starvation mode I don't believe it I've been this way for years).

That's the most telling part of what you wrote. You've been doing it this way for years and it hasn't worked. Time for a change. Open your diary. Eat more.

so the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. maybe it is time to give something else a try for a few weeks, with real honesty and integrity and see if this gets you different results. you have been eating the same way for years-maybe its time to change this pattern in your life-just food for thought.