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Did 1200 calories for 4 months destroy my metabolism?

clare120
clare120 Posts: 41 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
When I first started college, I decided to lose a few pounds. I was working out regularly and eating 1200 calories per day (I ate back my exercise calories). I lost weight very slowly (only 10 pounds in 4 months).

This semester, I boosted my calories up to 1370 per day. I started lifting weights as well to add to my cardio workouts.

I have gained back 8 pounds!!! My measurements have not changed, but it is discouraging.

Is it muscle? or did I destroy my metabolism by eating 1200? I lift weights (not big ones) 3 days per week.

I have never been overweight. SW: 160 - 4 mos later-->LW: 147 -three mos later-> CW: 155\

Height 5'9 female

Replies

  • Serah87
    Serah87 Posts: 5,481 Member
    Do you weigh your solid foods??
  • clare120
    clare120 Posts: 41 Member
    I do!
  • Serah87
    Serah87 Posts: 5,481 Member
    Can you open your food diary??
  • clare120
    clare120 Posts: 41 Member
    l7qm4sp2xm0m.jpg
    4vt7jp9e6yos.jpg

    blue bikini 147
    multicolor - 155
  • clare120
    clare120 Posts: 41 Member
    yes!
  • Serah87
    Serah87 Posts: 5,481 Member
    I think you look smaller in the multicolor one.
  • TheVirgoddess
    TheVirgoddess Posts: 4,535 Member
    Serah87 wrote: »
    I think you look smaller in the multicolor one.

    Me, too
  • clare120
    clare120 Posts: 41 Member
    Does that mean that the weight gain is just muscle? I'm so bad at this I'm sorry :#
  • Serah87
    Serah87 Posts: 5,481 Member
    clare120 wrote: »
    Does that mean that the weight gain is just muscle? I'm so bad at this I'm sorry :#

    Maybe noobie gains.....how much water do you drink??
  • Zedeff
    Zedeff Posts: 651 Member
    Maybe muscle? You don't look like you've gained fat at all.
  • TimothyFish
    TimothyFish Posts: 4,925 Member
    No
  • clare120
    clare120 Posts: 41 Member
    Serah87 wrote: »
    clare120 wrote: »
    Does that mean that the weight gain is just muscle? I'm so bad at this I'm sorry :#

    Maybe noobie gains.....how much water do you drink??

    I drink at least 64 ounces of water a day (usually around 80 if I run)
  • Serah87
    Serah87 Posts: 5,481 Member
    More then likely it's water weight....keep at it, make sure to weigh solid foods, measure liquids, drink plenty of water and just be very accurate with your diary, every little bite you count, it adds up quickly.
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    Serah87 wrote: »
    clare120 wrote: »
    Does that mean that the weight gain is just muscle? I'm so bad at this I'm sorry :#

    Maybe noobie gains.....how much water do you drink??

    Agree.
  • clare120
    clare120 Posts: 41 Member
    Serah87 wrote: »
    More then likely it's water weight....keep at it, make sure to weigh solid foods, measure liquids, drink plenty of water and just be very accurate with your diary, every little bite you count, it adds up quickly.

    Thank you for the input! You have definitely helped to ease anxiety.
  • Serah87
    Serah87 Posts: 5,481 Member
    clare120 wrote: »
    Serah87 wrote: »
    More then likely it's water weight....keep at it, make sure to weigh solid foods, measure liquids, drink plenty of water and just be very accurate with your diary, every little bite you count, it adds up quickly.

    Thank you for the input! You have definitely helped to ease anxiety.

    :)
  • barbecuesauce
    barbecuesauce Posts: 1,771 Member
    You def look slimmer in the second one. How often do you weigh yourself? If you don't weigh very often and you hop on the scale as you're expecting your period and have eaten high-sodium foods in the recent past, you will see water weight mask any fat loss/true muscle gains.
  • clare120
    clare120 Posts: 41 Member
    barbecuesauce wrote: »
    You def look slimmer in the second one. How often do you weigh yourself? If you don't weigh very often and you hop on the scale as you're expecting your period and have eaten high-sodium foods in the recent past, you will see water weight mask any fat loss/true muscle gains.

    I weighed myself at 147 on Jan 5. I weighed myself at 151 on Feb. 27 and I weighed myself at 155 on March 20. So not too often. just three times in 2015.

    Thanks for the info! I'm feeling lots better now.
This discussion has been closed.

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