Started eating better and exercising = weight gain?

"eating better" (at least as far as weight loss goes) is a meaningless term.

What matters is how many calories you've eaten.

If you're eating more calories than you burn, you'll gain weight - regardless of whether you're "eating better" or not.

No...it's not muscle.

It's probably just normal fluctuations in water weight (either from eating hi sodium foods in the day or two before weighing, from increased exercise, or for a number of other possible issues).

Take measurements now. It can be tons of different factors but DONT give up. You are making better choices by cutting out soda and no take out. Give yourself time and watch your progress in measurement before the scale. For myself the scale can really change my mood so I try to stay away.

I know this is bad but some weeks when I know I've eaten perfectly and am going to have a good loss, I don't exercise or I don't exercise a few days before I weigh in. Almost every time I exercise, I gain 2-3 lbs. I would imagine it would stop happening if I did it on a consistent basis but I hate seeing that gain!

It's possible your gain is water weight/inflammation from exercise.

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If you're not weighing your food, no one on this site will take you seriously. Just saying.

shaylynk wrote: »

I've cut my calories down from over 2000 to 1490. "Eating better" is not a meaningless term. It's a term I used because it correctly describes going from eating take out and soda to eating fruits and salad. No I'm not weighing, but I do measure and eat small portions.

It's an unquantifiable term, which makes it hard for us to know what you mean by it. You'd be surprised how many people here tell us they're "eating better" but then aren't tracking calories or even cutting back portion sizes. I hope that you understand it's important for people to ask questions so that they know how to help you better.

The most common problems we see come from underestimating calories eaten and overestimating calories burned.

Opening your diary might help to get you more specific advice if you're comfortable doing so.

You're logging everything you eat? Including condiments, cooking oils, veggies, cheat days, etc? Are you using a food scale, measuring cups, or eyeballing your portion sizes? Most people can be off in their estimates by several hundred calories when they eyeball portions. Measuring cups are better, but a food scale is going to be the most accurate.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1234699-logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1290491-how-and-why-to-use-a-digital-food-scale

And make sure that you've calculated your calorie goals appropriately. Remember that these are just estimates. You may need to play around a little to find what works best for you.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819055-setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets

If you're exercising and eating back your earned exercise calories, be sure that you're using accurate estimates of your burn. MFP and gym machines have a tendency to overestimate certain activities, which can cause you to eat back more calories than you need to. Even a heart rate monitor isn't 100% accurate. If you're eating those extra earned calories it might be a good idea to eat only 50-75% of those.

AliceDark wrote: »

reginab1984 wrote: »

If you're not weighing your food, everyone on this site will assume that your tracking is somewhat inaccurate . Just saying.

FIFY

Oh, I agree with you 100% and wasn't implying that this was a bad thing. I find myself not taking people seriously if they don't weight most of their food, most of the time. I've crossed over to the dark side...muah hahaha

diannethegeek wrote: »

reginab1984 wrote: »

If you're not weighing your food, no one on this site will take you seriously. Just saying.

I lost the bulk of my weight without a food scale, so I know that it can be done. But double-checking logging accuracy is one of the easier and cheaper ways to be sure that you're in a deficit.

I'm curious as to what advice you'd give in this scenario, though.

I did too, the first and second time. It's easy to do if everything you eat is prepackaged.

This wasn't a statement regarding the utility of weighing one's food. It was a statement that reflects the attitude of the vast majority of people on this forum, which I also happen to agree with. So, yeah. Weigh, weigh, weigh!

AliceDark wrote: »

reginab1984 wrote: »

AliceDark wrote: »

reginab1984 wrote: »

If you're not weighing your food, everyone on this site will assume that your tracking is somewhat inaccurate . Just saying.

FIFY

Oh, I agree with you 100% and wasn't implying that this was a bad thing. I find myself not taking people seriously if they don't weight most of their food, most of the time. I've crossed over to the dark side...muah hahaha

I'm sorry, I totally read your comment in sarcastic font! That may be a cue that I need a forum time-out

I lost a bunch of weight in college and kept it off for 10 years without a food scale. I just bought one last year. I can guarantee that my measurements weren't ever accurate -- they were always either higher or lower. If you're not going to use a food scale, you can't be so set on the number of calories you're consuming, because it's not accurate. If you're not losing, no matter how much you want to believe you're eating X calories, you have to go with the results.

It's ok. I was really just trying to warn the OP, who seems to be pretty new at this, that she's not gonna be able to convince anyone here that her portions are accurate unless she's weighing everything.

I lost weight without a food scale, too, which is actually pretty easy if you buy everything prepackaged. Probably not the healthiest way to go about it, though.

It's not muscle, but part of it, can be water retention due to your new exercise regimen. The rest is most likely logging (protein shakes add calories). Start weighing, it makes a difference.

Perhaps I also read the comment in sarcastic font because of the comment from Reginab1984 on another current discussion 'what has mental health issues got to do with losing weight' - another thoughtless comment made to an agoraphobic member who is worried she might be diabetic. Reginab1984, you really need to watch what you type. Just saying.

diannethegeek wrote: »

reginab1984 wrote: »

If you're not weighing your food, no one on this site will take you seriously. Just saying.

I lost the bulk of my weight without a food scale, so I know that it can be done. But double-checking logging accuracy is one of the easier and cheaper ways to be sure that you're in a deficit.

I'm curious as to what advice you'd give in this scenario, though.

I lost 100lbs only weighing some things some of the time and only measuring things I'm not good at eyeballing. The trick to it is to keep double-checking your eyeballed measurements against the scale occasionally to make sure you aren't drifting too much. And to recognize that no weight loss = something is wrong with the calorie deficit and you need to make adjustments.

That said, I always seem to gain right after increasing my exercise program. Some of it is water I'm sure, but part of it is I go through a phase where I want to eat way more than the exercise calories will justify. I've always been one to get super hungry after aerobic exercise and after an increase I tend to over estimate portions and "sneak snack" just enough to gain a little weight. Once I recognize what is happening, I go back to double-checking my measurements and a zero tolerance policy with unplanned snacking. I also think the urge to eat more tends to wear off as I adjust to the exercise change. Bottom line is that exercising won't help you lose weight if you end up eating back all of the burned calories and then some.

One more thought: what do you consider a "cheat meal?" Is it just playing a little fast and loose with the calorie goal or is it a free-for-all? I'm asking because a free-for-all cheat meal can rack up an awful lot of calories and cancel out most of a week's deficit relatively easily. A couple of cheat meals could have contributed to a few pounds of weight gain. If you decide to do cheat meals, I would suggest that you try to not go above your daily maintenance calories so that you don't stray too far into taking on extra calories for the day.