Gain 5-8 lbs every time I up my workouts

Rworthy
Rworthy Posts: 271 Member
edited November 20 in Health and Weight Loss
So frustrated - everytime I workout more (I use fitbit chsrge hr to track calories burned daily)...I gain like 8 pounds. I worked out hard this week - yoga, walking, hiking carrying 35 pounds, more hiking, a bootcamp, then some jogging. About 500 exercise minutes in a week. Weighed this am - 8 lbs.

This isn't the first time. This happens EVERY time I increase calories burned. The weight doesn't go down until I stop exercising completely. Then is maybe 1/2 pound lower than last time I quit exercising. ......

Ive been up and down 8 lvs since I started focusing on exercise (and since I got fitbit 3 months ago).

What do I do? Just quit exercise and only focus on food? Just ignore scale and keep doing more exercise? Cut down exercise a bit and see what happens? Exercise even more and eat less? Idk...

I do eat sugar at night. Its really really hard to stop especially when I know I have the calories to eat it. .....

Help!!!!!!! Please!!!!!
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Replies

  • lemonsnowdrop
    lemonsnowdrop Posts: 1,298 Member
    It's water weight. Give it time, it'll go away. The sugar has nothing to do with it.
  • kami3006
    kami3006 Posts: 4,979 Member
    It's fluid build up from the workout, not fat. It's normal.
  • Rworthy
    Rworthy Posts: 271 Member
    It's water weight. Give it time, it'll go away. The sugar has nothing to do with it.
    That is what ive read and heard....however I notice it never goes down unless I stop the workouts. ..maybe there is some supplement I can take? Should I try a diuretic? Cut back on sodium?
  • Rworthy
    Rworthy Posts: 271 Member
    kami3006 wrote: »
    It's fluid build up from the workout, not fat. It's normal.
    How long does it take to go away? If I keep workouts like they are - wont I always be full of fluid? Does it ever go back down?
  • funjen1972
    funjen1972 Posts: 949 Member
    Is your goal to be more fit or weigh less? The answer depends on what action you take.

    Its probably water weight that your body is using to recover from the additional workouts.
  • Rworthy
    Rworthy Posts: 271 Member
    It isn't like I never workout...ive been staying steady for over a year. Some setbacks here and there... I lost about 20 in first year. Then bouncing up and down 10 lbs give or take for about 6 months. I upped my workouts once a month for past 3 months....and havent gone past my lowest weight. I don't know whats going on. Im healthy. Ive had tons of bloodtests etc. Periods normal (they thought i had pcos...i dont...)....
  • DeguelloTex
    DeguelloTex Posts: 6,652 Member
    Rworthy wrote: »
    It isn't like I never workout...ive been staying steady for over a year. Some setbacks here and there... I lost about 20 in first year. Then bouncing up and down 10 lbs give or take for about 6 months. I upped my workouts once a month for past 3 months....and havent gone past my lowest weight. I don't know whats going on. Im healthy. Ive had tons of bloodtests etc. Periods normal (they thought i had pcos...i dont...)....
    So you've gained 15-18 pounds in the last three months?

  • RunRachelleRun
    RunRachelleRun Posts: 1,854 Member
    The same thing happens to me. I have noticed it mostly with strength training. But running can also affect it. Easy walking and light yoga have no effect, so you might want to stick with those.

    I also have to be really careful with my calories and weighing, because the extra exercise stimulates my appetite so I can pretty easily end up eating more than the calories I'm burning (which is what I am currently doing - zoinks!).

    I was super busy with work for a couple of months so lost weight through diet only, and I noticed a big drop in lean muscle mass. I think exercise is an important component.

    I suggest taking your measurements, and not only paying attention to the scale. Sometimes when the scale stops moving you will still be losing inches, and that will help you to keep going.
  • maasha81
    maasha81 Posts: 733 Member
    Don't let the scale rule you, it's not the only measuring tool. Get a tape and use it. You're gaining water to repair the muscles ..work through it and eventually the weight will even itself out.

    I am assuming here that you are logging your food accurately.
  • Rworthy
    Rworthy Posts: 271 Member
    funjen1972 wrote: »
    Is your goal to be more fit or weigh less? The answer depends on what action you take.

    Its probably water weight that your body is using to recover from the additional workouts.

    Definitely weigh less. Ive never been able to know what my true goal weight is. I should compare myself to a Williams sister. Im definitely more of an athletc build. Im 5'7" - female - 206 pounds (now 213). According to everything this is obese. I dont know my body fat percentage but I guess it's around 25% (feel free to point me to the direction of a reliable body fat % calculator )...so I have no idea what my goal weight should be. I was personally aiming for 195.
  • Rworthy
    Rworthy Posts: 271 Member
    Rworthy wrote: »
    It isn't like I never workout...ive been staying steady for over a year. Some setbacks here and there... I lost about 20 in first year. Then bouncing up and down 10 lbs give or take for about 6 months. I upped my workouts once a month for past 3 months....and havent gone past my lowest weight. I don't know whats going on. Im healthy. Ive had tons of bloodtests etc. Periods normal (they thought i had pcos...i dont...)....
    So you've gained 15-18 pounds in the last three months?

    No...i started at 228...got to 208...then back and forth from 206 to 213 for several months.
  • Rworthy
    Rworthy Posts: 271 Member
    The same thing happens to me. I have noticed it mostly with strength training. But running can also affect it. Easy walking and light yoga have no effect, so you might want to stick with those.

    I suggest taking your measurements, and not only paying attention to the scale. Sometimes when the scale stops moving you will still be losing inches, and that will help you to keep going.
    Thanks I used to measure regularly but stopped because even measurements were going up...but I'll take a look.

  • Rworthy
    Rworthy Posts: 271 Member
    Dang...just checked...Serena Williams is 5'9" and weighs 155...Im like a super chunky serena. :(
  • OldAssDude
    OldAssDude Posts: 1,436 Member
    Do you eat a lot more when you are working out?

    Are you logging your workouts correctly?
  • PAV8888
    PAV8888 Posts: 14,242 Member
    An average weight female can easily be 31% and up to 36% fat if older. Google normal bodyfat % woman...check the builtlean link.

    You are retaining water for many reasons not the least being increased exercise.

    Please plug your daily weigh-ins into www.weightgrapher.com (has manual entry interface), or use happy scale on the iPhone, or www.trend weight.com (enter weight manually by using a free Fitbit account to enter the measurement if you don't have the scales they want you to use). All free, and all able to finally let you see whether you are gaining or losing weight in spite of water retention etc etc.

    Between TOM, sodium, and exercise, if you don't have a massively humongous deficit and you keep changing what you're doing faster than 4-6 weeks at a time, you are basically two steps behind and chasing the ball.

    And try and exercise and eat at a level that you believe you can keep up for the next 2 to 5 years... else, how to you plan to keep the weight off?

    Take care.
  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    bcalvanese wrote: »
    Do you eat a lot more when you are working out?

    Are you logging your workouts correctly?

    Your Fitbit burn is TDEE (total daily energy expenditure), the calories necessary to maintain your current weight. If you eat at a reasonable deficit from that, you will lose weight. (But you still need to log everything you eat & drink accurately & honestly.)

    Connect your accounts at http://www.myfitnesspal.com/fitbit

    Enable negative calorie adjustments in your diary settings: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/diary_settings

    Set your goal to .5 lb. for every 25 lbs. you're overweight: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/change_goals_guided

    You can learn more in the Fitbit Users group: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/1290-fitbit-users
  • DeguelloTex
    DeguelloTex Posts: 6,652 Member
    Rworthy wrote: »
    Rworthy wrote: »
    It isn't like I never workout...ive been staying steady for over a year. Some setbacks here and there... I lost about 20 in first year. Then bouncing up and down 10 lbs give or take for about 6 months. I upped my workouts once a month for past 3 months....and havent gone past my lowest weight. I don't know whats going on. Im healthy. Ive had tons of bloodtests etc. Periods normal (they thought i had pcos...i dont...)....
    So you've gained 15-18 pounds in the last three months?

    No...i started at 228...got to 208...then back and forth from 206 to 213 for several months.
    Well, you said you gain 5-8 pounds every time you up your workout, the weight doesn't come off, and you've upped your workout three times.

    Something doesn't add up.
  • Rworthy wrote: »
    This isn't the first time. This happens EVERY time I increase calories burned. The weight doesn't go down until I stop exercising completely. Then is maybe 1/2 pound lower than last time I quit exercising. ......

    There is your answer. You ARE losing weight, but you have a +5-8lb "exercise inflammation" buffer. So, keep at the exercise, knowing you could be 5-8lbs less when you stop due to inflammation etc, keep that in mind as your "true weight" if it helps, and keep going! From what little I know of you and what you reveal here, it looks like you should keep going until you hit that "Serena" weight target +5-8lbs.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    edited July 2015
    Yes you're probably retaining water, but that should go down if you continue exercising and are properly hydrated. Sounds like you could be over estimating your calorie burn and therefor not in a calorie deficit. Given your stats it's not like you don't have much weight to lose.
  • DeterminedFee201426
    DeterminedFee201426 Posts: 859 Member
    Rworthy wrote: »
    So frustrated - everytime I workout more (I use fitbit chsrge hr to track calories burned daily)...I gain like 8 pounds. I worked out hard this week - yoga, walking, hiking carrying 35 pounds, more hiking, a bootcamp, then some jogging. About 500 exercise minutes in a week. Weighed this am - 8 lbs.

    This isn't the first time. This happens EVERY time I increase calories burned. The weight doesn't go down until I stop exercising completely. Then is maybe 1/2 pound lower than last time I quit exercising. ......

    Ive been up and down 8 lvs since I started focusing on exercise (and since I got fitbit 3 months ago).

    What do I do? Just quit exercise and only focus on food? Just ignore scale and keep doing more exercise? Cut down exercise a bit and see what happens? Exercise even more and eat less? Idk...

    I do eat sugar at night. Its really really hard to stop especially when I know I have the calories to eat it. .....

    Help!!!!!!! Please!!!!!
    same thing happens to me .. before I started back exerciseing. I was 115 lbs then when I Started within 2 months my weight went up to 123 lbs and have been stuck there ! but i Know if i stop working out for a month or 2 ill turn out weighing between 112-115 lbs possibly .. Them water retention lbs seems to fly off only when I stop my activity. ..
    I think it's pretty normal for ur weight to go up..
  • DeterminedFee201426
    DeterminedFee201426 Posts: 859 Member
    edited July 2015

    Rworthy wrote: »
    This isn't the first time. This happens EVERY time I increase calories burned. The weight doesn't go down until I stop exercising completely. Then is maybe 1/2 pound lower than last time I quit exercising. ......

    There is your answer. You ARE losing weight, but you have a +5-8lb "exercise inflammation" buffer. So, keep at the exercise, knowing you could be 5-8lbs less when you stop due to inflammation etc, keep that in mind as your "true weight" if it helps, and keep going! From what little I know of you and what you reveal here, it looks like you should keep going until you hit that "Serena" weight target +5-8lbs.

  • RunRachelleRun
    RunRachelleRun Posts: 1,854 Member
    Rworthy wrote: »
    funjen1972 wrote: »
    Is your goal to be more fit or weigh less? The answer depends on what action you take.

    Its probably water weight that your body is using to recover from the additional workouts.

    Definitely weigh less. Ive never been able to know what my true goal weight is. I should compare myself to a Williams sister. Im definitely more of an athletc build. Im 5'7" - female - 206 pounds (now 213). According to everything this is obese. I dont know my body fat percentage but I guess it's around 25% (feel free to point me to the direction of a reliable body fat % calculator )...so I have no idea what my goal weight should be. I was personally aiming for 195.

    I use the fat2fit tools military body fat calculator. As long as you use the same one consistently you will get a pretty good idea. I am 5'8" and weigh 198. I put on muscle fairly easily (compared to some) but currently have over 40% body fat (according to the calculator). I also don't know my ideal body weight so I am aiming for 150. I started at 229.
  • lemonlionheart
    lemonlionheart Posts: 580 Member
    So it sounds like the weight increases can be attributed to water retention from exercise, but if it's been three months bouncing around the same weight then you are likely to be eating at maintenance. Do you weight all your food with a food scale? Or do you use cups/spoons/estimates? Do you eat back exercise calories? If so, how do you measure those burns? Can you open your food diary?
  • canadjineh
    canadjineh Posts: 5,396 Member
    Are you losing inches in the places you want to lose inches and gaining muscle in the places you want? That's what counts.
  • hrtchoco
    hrtchoco Posts: 156 Member
    So it sounds like the weight increases can be attributed to water retention from exercise, but if it's been three months bouncing around the same weight then you are likely to be eating at maintenance. Do you weight all your food with a food scale? Or do you use cups/spoons/estimates? Do you eat back exercise calories? If so, how do you measure those burns? Can you open your food diary?
    This is what I was thinking too. OP's weight should decrease during the three months.

  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    Rworthy wrote: »
    It isn't like I never workout...ive been staying steady for over a year. Some setbacks here and there... I lost about 20 in first year. Then bouncing up and down 10 lbs give or take for about 6 months. I upped my workouts once a month for past 3 months....and havent gone past my lowest weight. I don't know whats going on. Im healthy. Ive had tons of bloodtests etc. Periods normal (they thought i had pcos...i dont...)....

    So it's been a year?

    Then you are eating at or over maintenance

    Either your food logging is off or your exercise calories estimate

    I would imagine both

    Open diary?
  • MamaBirdBoss
    MamaBirdBoss Posts: 1,516 Member
    edited July 2015
    Rworthy wrote: »
    funjen1972 wrote: »
    Is your goal to be more fit or weigh less? The answer depends on what action you take.

    Its probably water weight that your body is using to recover from the additional workouts.

    Definitely weigh less. Ive never been able to know what my true goal weight is. I should compare myself to a Williams sister. Im definitely more of an athletc build. Im 5'7" - female - 206 pounds (now 213). According to everything this is obese. I dont know my body fat percentage but I guess it's around 25% (feel free to point me to the direction of a reliable body fat % calculator )...so I have no idea what my goal weight should be. I was personally aiming for 195.

    No. Above 35%. Likely 40%. There's not a chance it's 25%.

    You're probably eating back too many calories if the weight is "sticking" longer than a week. You think you're burning a TON more than you are, so you're eating way too much.
  • Rworthy
    Rworthy Posts: 271 Member
    Rworthy wrote: »
    funjen1972 wrote: »
    Is your goal to be more fit or weigh less? The answer depends on what action you take.

    Its probably water weight that your body is using to recover from the additional workouts.

    Definitely weigh less. Ive never been able to know what my true goal weight is. I should compare myself to a Williams sister. Im definitely more of an athletc build. Im 5'7" - female - 206 pounds (now 213). According to everything this is obese. I dont know my body fat percentage but I guess it's around 25% (feel free to point me to the direction of a reliable body fat % calculator )...so I have no idea what my goal weight should be. I was personally aiming for 195.

    No. Above 35%. Likely 40%. There's not a chance it's 25%.

    You're probably eating back too many calories if the weight is "sticking" longer than a week. You think you're burning a TON more than you are, so you're eating way too much.

    No actually I am burning way more than I eat. How do you know what my fat % is? Man if you can do that over a computer without even taking my measurements you must be super psychic.
  • Rworthy
    Rworthy Posts: 271 Member
    rabbitjb wrote: »
    Rworthy wrote: »
    It isn't like I never workout...ive been staying steady for over a year. Some setbacks here and there... I lost about 20 in first year. Then bouncing up and down 10 lbs give or take for about 6 months. I upped my workouts once a month for past 3 months....and havent gone past my lowest weight. I don't know whats going on. Im healthy. Ive had tons of bloodtests etc. Periods normal (they thought i had pcos...i dont...)....

    So it's been a year?

    Then you are eating at or over maintenance

    Either your food logging is off or your exercise calories estimate

    I would imagine both

    Open diary?
    Yes I have open diary I think. I havent logged consistently in a few weeks with birthdays and vacations. Im starting back today.

    Its the same thing as always...I stop exercising excessively it goes back down...eating stays exactly the same.

  • juggernaut1974
    juggernaut1974 Posts: 6,212 Member
    edited July 2015
    Rworthy wrote: »
    Rworthy wrote: »
    funjen1972 wrote: »
    Is your goal to be more fit or weigh less? The answer depends on what action you take.

    Its probably water weight that your body is using to recover from the additional workouts.

    Definitely weigh less. Ive never been able to know what my true goal weight is. I should compare myself to a Williams sister. Im definitely more of an athletc build. Im 5'7" - female - 206 pounds (now 213). According to everything this is obese. I dont know my body fat percentage but I guess it's around 25% (feel free to point me to the direction of a reliable body fat % calculator )...so I have no idea what my goal weight should be. I was personally aiming for 195.

    No. Above 35%. Likely 40%. There's not a chance it's 25%.

    You're probably eating back too many calories if the weight is "sticking" longer than a week. You think you're burning a TON more than you are, so you're eating way too much.

    No actually I am burning way more than I eat.

    If you're not losing weight, then no, in fact you're not.

    If you open your diary we could look and see if there's potential logging issues that are giving you inaccurate calculations.

    ETA: Your diary is open now. You're not logging consistently, so you have no idea what your true intake is.

    Make a goal to meticulously weigh/measure and log every morsel you eat for the next two weeks. I predict you'll be surprised at how many calories you're actually consuming.
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