gained 9 lbs since I started eating better and exercising! help?

janeanray3
janeanray3 Posts: 16 Member
edited November 24 in Health and Weight Loss
I've been around 127 lb for years and counting calories which average out to 1450cal a day. the last time I weigh my self was 4 months ago and since then I have cut out almost all junk food. I mean i would always eat healthy but on weekends a lot of those 1450 would come from cookies and other junk food. in the past 4 months I've been eating around 1300cal and almost all of those are from good protein, fruits and vegetables and much less processed food than before. I've also been sleeping better (7-8h), I'm less stressed and for the past month or so, I've been exercising 5-6x a week for about an hour (around 2-3x a week HIIT/cardio and 2-3x a week strength/toning training).
the last time i exercise was 4 days ago so it cant be the temporary weight of after workout I've been hearing about. I always drink plenty water (never any soda, regular or diet)

I guess this weight gain wouldn't t be an issue if I looked slimmer but I look fatter too! my clothes fit much tighter.

I'm not pregnant and I've been to the doctors, i have no medical issues.

this morning I was 136 lb.
why have I gained weight? I don't understand and I'm really upset so could I please ask for

Oh and I'm a 21 year old female with height of 5'5.

Replies

  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    But are you in a deficit?
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    You're going to get a ton of responses questioning your logging accuracy. Don't take this personally - when people fail to lose weight they are generally underestimating food (and over estimating exercise.)

    Are you using a digital scale to weigh your food? This makes a big difference in accuracy.
  • dhimaan
    dhimaan Posts: 774 Member
    Liftng4Lis wrote: »
    But are you in a deficit?
    No she is not.

  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10012907/logging-accuracy-consistency-and-youre-probably-eating-more-than-you-think/p1
  • cafeaulait7
    cafeaulait7 Posts: 2,459 Member
    I hold on to the new-exercise water longer than most people say, but that is quite a few pounds you have gained, considering. And the fluid in the muscles usually doesn't make the clothes very tight (a tad in the butt or thighs, sure). My guess is that some healthy food you are eating is high in calories, and/or the suggested portion size is ridiculously small. I love a lot of clean foods that are just packed with calories. Better log everything :) Good luck!
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    You took out "processed" food and added other foods. Those other foods are in portions that have more calories than the portions of the processed foods. This is something fixable.
  • janeanray3
    janeanray3 Posts: 16 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    You're going to get a ton of responses questioning your logging accuracy. Don't take this personally - when people fail to lose weight they are generally underestimating food (and over estimating exercise.)

    Are you using a digital scale to weigh your food? This makes a big difference in accuracy.


    I've been seriously counting calories for about 4 years now and never had an issue with maintaing my weight so I'm pretty sure I'm not over estimating since I would have started gaining weight a long time ago. and yes I use a digital scale. also, I don't eat back the calories I burn off so I don't see how over estimating exercise could be a valid problem here. but thanks for the kind reply!
  • janeanray3
    janeanray3 Posts: 16 Member
    dhimaan wrote: »
    Liftng4Lis wrote: »
    But are you in a deficit?
    No she is not.

    is 1300 not a deficit?
  • janeanray3
    janeanray3 Posts: 16 Member
    cafeaulait7 wrote: »
    I hold on to the new-exercise water longer than most people say, but that is quite a few pounds you have gained, considering. And the fluid in the muscles usually doesn't make the clothes very tight (a tad in the butt or thighs, sure). My guess is that some healthy food you are eating is high in calories, and/or the suggested portion size is ridiculously small. I love a lot of clean foods that are just packed with calories. Better log everything :) Good luck!


    thanks what you said about muscle and water weight makes sense.
    and I do log everything. I weigh everything and count very carefully. I have been for years and never had an issue. I was even eating at 150cal more daily than the 1300 these past months.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    hmmm...do you want to open your diary? Maybe we can spot something.

    Has your daily activity level changed? Change of job? Less active on weekends?
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    I think the answers will lie in your diary. If you open it, temporarily if you wish, you'll get more detailed help.
  • _Terrapin_
    _Terrapin_ Posts: 4,301 Member
    janeanray3 wrote: »
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    You're going to get a ton of responses questioning your logging accuracy. Don't take this personally - when people fail to lose weight they are generally underestimating food (and over estimating exercise.)

    Are you using a digital scale to weigh your food? This makes a big difference in accuracy.


    I've been seriously counting calories for about 4 years now and never had an issue with maintaing my weight so I'm pretty sure I'm not over estimating since I would have started gaining weight a long time ago. and yes I use a digital scale. also, I don't eat back the calories I burn off so I don't see how over estimating exercise could be a valid problem here. but thanks for the kind reply!

    Counting calories since age 17?!? Seriously?

  • janeanray3
    janeanray3 Posts: 16 Member
    _Terrapin_ wrote: »
    janeanray3 wrote: »
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    You're going to get a ton of responses questioning your logging accuracy. Don't take this personally - when people fail to lose weight they are generally underestimating food (and over estimating exercise.)

    Are you using a digital scale to weigh your food? This makes a big difference in accuracy.


    I've been seriously counting calories for about 4 years now and never had an issue with maintaing my weight so I'm pretty sure I'm not over estimating since I would have started gaining weight a long time ago. and yes I use a digital scale. also, I don't eat back the calories I burn off so I don't see how over estimating exercise could be a valid problem here. but thanks for the kind reply!

    Counting calories since age 17?!? Seriously?

    17 year olds cant count?
  • Alyssa_Is_LosingIt
    Alyssa_Is_LosingIt Posts: 4,696 Member
    Are you using a food scale to weigh your portions?

    It would help if you open your diary.
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,332 Member
    The likelihood this is water weight, is not very high, although I know that I can put on 10 or more pounds of water weight which takes about 2 weeks to come off. Having said that, water weight from exercise usually only occurs if you made a big change in your exercise program or its intensity. The possibility of water weight from an big increase in sodium consumption is also a possibility, but again, if you are eating "healthier" that is probably not likely. The more likely option is that somewhere in your counting, you are getting the numbers wrong. This could either be by using an incorrect entry in the database, or by mismeasuring, or perhaps something else. Opening your diary could allow someone to spot this. The final option is you have some medical problem that is messing with either your ability to deal with excess water in your system or affecting your metabolism, although even then, if you are eating at 1300 a day, that would be surprising.
  • newyorkcitymom
    newyorkcitymom Posts: 48 Member
    First of all, 136lbs is a generally healthy weight for a 5'5 woman. Secondly, I really don't think a 21-year old woman should be trying to live on 1,300 calories/day (or 1,400 for that matter) and this is even more true if she's doing strength workouts and HIIT-style exercise. It's not at all healthy for your body. The fact that you are 21 and have been counting calories and eating at 1,400 calories for years is a bit worrisome. A young, healthy, generally active woman of your height should maintain at closer to 1,700 - 2,000 calories minimum. It's entirely possible that you are doing unkind things to your metabolism. It's great you're eating healthier foods. I would highly recommend checking out the "eat more to lose more" group here.
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    You can eat healthy and exercise all you want, but if you eat more calories than you burn you will lose weight. If the scale shows you 9 pounds heavier and your clothes have gotten tighter, you have gained more than just water retention from exercise. You are most likely underestimating intake and/or overestimating calories burned. This not intentional, but it is common and the single number one reason why people gain weight.

    I suggest weighing your food and logging everything you eat. As for exercise calories, eat only about 75% of what your calories back. Really be conscious of how much you eat and make sure you log everything.
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    SLLRunner wrote: »
    You can eat healthy and exercise all you want, but if you eat more calories than you burn you will not lose weight. If the scale shows you 9 pounds heavier and your clothes have gotten tighter, you have gained more than just water retention from exercise. You are most likely underestimating intake and/or overestimating calories burned. This not intentional, but it is common and the single number one reason why people gain weight.

    I suggest weighing your food and logging everything you eat. As for exercise calories, eat only about 75% of what your calories back. Really be conscious of how much you eat and make sure you log everything.

  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    christinev297 wrote: »
    SLLRunner wrote: »
    You can eat healthy and exercise all you want, but if you eat more calories than you burn you will not lose weight. If the scale shows you 9 pounds heavier and your clothes have gotten tighter, you have gained more than just water retention from exercise. You are most likely underestimating intake and/or overestimating calories burned. This not intentional, but it is common and the single number one reason why people gain weight.

    I suggest weighing your food and logging everything you eat. As for exercise calories, eat only about 75% of what your calories back. Really be conscious of how much you eat and make sure you log everything.
    Exactly. Thanks for adding in the missed word. ;)
  • CrazyMermaid1
    CrazyMermaid1 Posts: 356 Member
    My first two pregnancy tests were false negative. Just saying
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    SLLRunner wrote: »
    christinev297 wrote: »
    SLLRunner wrote: »
    You can eat healthy and exercise all you want, but if you eat more calories than you burn you will not lose weight. If the scale shows you 9 pounds heavier and your clothes have gotten tighter, you have gained more than just water retention from exercise. You are most likely underestimating intake and/or overestimating calories burned. This not intentional, but it is common and the single number one reason why people gain weight.

    I suggest weighing your food and logging everything you eat. As for exercise calories, eat only about 75% of what your calories back. Really be conscious of how much you eat and make sure you log everything.
    Exactly. Thanks for adding in the missed word. ;)

    :+1::smile:

  • RuNaRoUnDaFiEld
    RuNaRoUnDaFiEld Posts: 5,864 Member
    Are you near your TOTM? I add 4lbs every time! And some could be water weight if you just changed routine 3-4 weeks ago.
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