Please Help-Dieting and Working Out...and Gaining weight :(

YesiS121
YesiS121 Posts: 9
edited September 28 in Introduce Yourself
Ok, so i need a little help here. I started last week Wednesday and i have been drinking lots of water, eating super healthy, going below my daily calories and working out atleast 4-5 times a week. I lost 1LB the first 2 days and then gained 2 lbs. I just went for my weigh in and i'm up 3 more lbs. please tell me whats going on? Any suggestions or advice on what i should do?? i'm doing zumba, walking, jogging,a bit of insanity and abs. Why am i gaining weight instead of losing it? I have gotten a few responses but none make sense to me.

Replies

  • JennLifts
    JennLifts Posts: 1,913 Member
    If you don't work out regularly, when you first start you can see a little gain as your body is adjusting. Also, be sure not to eat too far under the recommended calories. if it's TOM that is a big one too.
  • GalaxyDuck
    GalaxyDuck Posts: 406 Member
    Your food diary isn't open so it might be hard for people to offer you advice to help you out. Don't be afraid about opening it up, people here are supportive and just want to support healthy lifestyles!

    Without seeing this and going only on the little bit of information you've provided, I can only really ask you questions. When you say you are under your calories each day, how far under? Are you eating back your exercise calories?

    MFP works a little differently than other calorie counters, the calorie limit it gives you daily is what you can eat BEFORE exercising. If you then burn 500 calories doing some exercising, you should be eating the majority of those calories back to keep your body fueled. Undereating is just as unhealthy as overeating, and is not the way to go if you want to become healthier.

    Here's a great post explaining why undereating should be avoided. It also has links to other posts that help explain MFP and how it works.
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/230930-starvation-mode-how-it-works
  • enlarsh
    enlarsh Posts: 67
    If you make your food diary public, we can help you out with some specifics. :-)
  • Jackie0127
    Jackie0127 Posts: 71 Member
    My personal trainer from "Hard Excersice Works" Said at first, it is NORMAL to gain weight in the first week of starting up excersice and healthy dieting. So, give it some time for your body to adjust, keep drinking water to avoid water retention, and pay attention to the time of the month since it can add up over 5 lbs in 1 week. Keep working hard and don't give up! You Can Do It!!!

    Hope this helps :Smile:
  • carpar1
    carpar1 Posts: 211 Member
    Can you open your food diary so we can see what you are eating?

    You are probably losing inches, are your clothes fitting better?
  • michelnie
    michelnie Posts: 30
    Yes diary would be helpful but all I can say is when you initially start out, it's not uncommon for an initial gain. It's your body re-adjusting to your new lifestyle. This is especially true if previously you've been undereating calories. Don't be afraid just keep it up and the weight will eventually start to fall.
  • es0torok
    es0torok Posts: 66 Member
    How honest are you being with yourself about what you eat?

    I struggle with wanting to juggle the portions or leaving out the garnishments when I record/
  • michelnie
    michelnie Posts: 30
    Also forgot to mention that a calorie is not a calorie. You have to be eating healthy foods, there's a difference of reaching calorie goal with junk food and reaching calorie goal with healthy foods.
  • flimflamfloz
    flimflamfloz Posts: 1,980 Member
    Well, maybe you're gaining muscle (plus if you're drinking lots of water, then this will add too - as your body becomes more and more accustomed to it and starts absorbing it more, which is a very good thing btw)...
    I was not losing too much weight when doing lots of weight training myself, but fat was replaced by muscle, so I was overall "in a better shape".

    The "real" indicator is body fat.

    Here is what you can do to make sure you are monitoring your weight correctly (others might want to add on that):
    1) Purchase a scale that allows you to find out your body fat %,
    2) Weight yourself always at the same time (this one is extremely important). Morning is good because you have not eaten or drank anything yet. So this is your "dry weight" so to speak.
    3) Record your body fat % on myfitnesspal (there is an option to do so)

    If weight goes up slightly, and body fat goes down, then you're still on the right track.

    Oh and just record/monitor your weight once a week (or twice max). It varies enough so that you can't really monitor it every day.

    And finally, don't overtrain - I know when you start you are excited and all that, so you want to do everything straight away - but you need to pace yourself. Although it depends on the type of training you are doing, it is better to not "overdo" it (especially if you are a starter, it can be difficult to maintain this pace and motivation sometimes).

    Anyway, best of luck reaching your goal!
  • muellercn
    muellercn Posts: 3
    You could also be gaining muscle! If you are working out that much you might be putting on muscle weight. Keep eating healthy and working out and see how your body is reacting. Although looking at the scale and that number is how you want to gauge how you are doing try concentrating on how your body is reacting and changing. If you notice a sliming but not seeing a significant weight loss its muscle mass you are gaining. Which is good news because muscle helps you burn fat! If you want to see more of a weight change however, kick up the amount of fruits and veggies you are eating and take out some more carbs. Don't go completely without carbs unless you talk to a doctor and/or a professional trainer both of whom can give you healthy ways to eat!

    Good Luck and don't be afraid of muscles!
  • YesiS121
    YesiS121 Posts: 9
    thanks so much!! hopefully it's muscle. i got so frustrated today that i ate taco bell. it was a fresco taco, 150cals so it's not so bad. i try to stay away from carbs. all i usually have is a half of a bagel thin. But i eat a lot of fruits. i'm not a big fan of veggies!
  • YesiS121
    YesiS121 Posts: 9
    thanks. although this is not the first time i start working out, i have never worked out so much. I am weighing myself on the same scale every time. it's the one in my warehouse. i do it randomly when i'm back there but religiously on fridays. I do not feel my clothes loser and i dont feel i look any different. the only thing i can see is my face slimming down
  • YesiS121
    YesiS121 Posts: 9
    trust me, when i diet, i diet. everything i record is everything i'm eating, absolutely everything. from a splenda packet to a splash of ketchup. i record everything. and i'm not eating bad calories except for taco bell fresco today because i was just so upset. i'm so used to taking pills and losing weight quickly and no exercise. i've never tried to correct, healthy way
  • YesiS121
    YesiS121 Posts: 9
    how do i open my food diary to you guys?
  • YesiS121
    YesiS121 Posts: 9
    the thing is, i dont know which days i'm going to work out and which days i'm not, so i eat most of my calories and then go work out and it's so late that i dont want to eat when i get back . i know i should probably eat more before i work out but i'm not sure which days i will be doing what workout and how many cals i'll burn
  • YesiS121
    YesiS121 Posts: 9
    THANKS FOR ALL THE ADVICE AND SUPPORT!!!!
  • ShrinkingNinja
    ShrinkingNinja Posts: 460 Member
    I will gain weight if I eat an apple and don't workout that day. Why? Because I am super sensitive to sugar and fructose.

    You have to find out what works for your body and what doesn't. Sometimes healthy food just doesn't like me. LOL

    Also, as stated, you can gain weight when you start working out. Trick is to not get frustrated and keep on doing the right stuff and than BAM you are losing weight.
  • elizabethblake
    elizabethblake Posts: 384 Member
    thanks. although this is not the first time i start working out, i have never worked out so much. I am weighing myself on the same scale every time. it's the one in my warehouse. i do it randomly when i'm back there but religiously on fridays. I do not feel my clothes loser and i dont feel i look any different. the only thing i can see is my face slimming down

    Don't weigh yourself all the time! Seriously, your weight can fluctuate 5-10 lbs over the course of a week due to hormonal changes, what type of workout you did the day before, fluid retention, etc. Weigh yourself once per week, at the same time each time, preferably first thing in the morning. Weighing yourself all the time will just discourage you.
  • Arizona_JR
    Arizona_JR Posts: 275
    I recently read that during the first 2 weeks of a new workout routine it is not uncommon see a 3-4lb gain on the scale.

    The reason being 'water retention' in the muscles as they try to repair themselves from all of the new stress they are under.

    I'm in the first 10 days of my workout and diet adjustment, and I'm sure I'm suffering a little from it too. Don't get frustrated, just weigh yourself once a week, and once your body adjusts to the new workout routines you may see a sudden drop.

    The last time I jumped back into clean diet & fitness (a few years ago), I was amazed at a 5lb drop during week 2.
  • es0torok
    es0torok Posts: 66 Member

    Don't weigh yourself all the time! Seriously, your weight can fluctuate 5-10 lbs over the course of a week due to hormonal changes, what type of workout you did the day before, fluid retention, etc. Weigh yourself once per week, at the same time each time, preferably first thing in the morning. Weighing yourself all the time will just discourage you.

    I have to disagree with this. I believe BECAUSE your body can fluctuate 5-10 lbs over the course of a week, it is important to weigh yourself every day. Record the weight, then graph it (I use MY Weight HD, for iPad). This will allow you to see the BIG picture. You will see how your body weight actually does fluctuate and become familiar with that. You can watch the lowest weight points to determine if you are actually losing or gaining. If your lowest weight points are moving up over a period of one or two weeks, then you know you aren't losing. If they are lower than your lowest point a week ago, then you are progressing in the direction you want.
  • mosneakers
    mosneakers Posts: 343 Member
    I would probably suggest weighing yourself once a week, at the same time. Water retention, dinner and late night meals can have an effect if you weigh yourself every morning. Plus, I think I read somewhere that our weight fluctuates during the day too.
    I was in the same boat you're in. I had some issues with my scale and my new scale told me I gained 7 pounds in 2 weeks. I was devistated, especially since I felt so good and even had to get some new dress pants.

    How are you feeling (besides being bummed about the weight)?
    Do you have more energy?
    Are you measuring inches?
    Are you getting enough water?

    Maybe also take a look at other things. Look at your diary. Are you consistently over in something? Sodium was a problem for me.
    Good luck!
  • Arizona_JR
    Arizona_JR Posts: 275

    Don't weigh yourself all the time! Seriously, your weight can fluctuate 5-10 lbs over the course of a week due to hormonal changes, what type of workout you did the day before, fluid retention, etc. Weigh yourself once per week, at the same time each time, preferably first thing in the morning. Weighing yourself all the time will just discourage you.

    I have to disagree with this. I believe BECAUSE your body can fluctuate 5-10 lbs over the course of a week, it is important to weigh yourself every day. Record the weight, then graph it (I use MY Weight HD, for iPad). This will allow you to see the BIG picture. You will see how your body weight actually does fluctuate and become familiar with that. You can watch the lowest weight points to determine if you are actually losing or gaining. If your lowest weight points are moving up over a period of one or two weeks, then you know you aren't losing. If they are lower than your lowest point a week ago, then you are progressing in the direction you want.

    I never thought about it like that. That makes good sense; as long as you are graphing it, and not getting frustrated by heavier days, which may be construed as weight gain (fat).
  • YesiS121
    YesiS121 Posts: 9
    i am not measuring inches. should i be? every week as i weigh myself? i do feel better. i'm not as tired as before.
  • Arizona_JR
    Arizona_JR Posts: 275
    i am not measuring inches. should i be? every week as i weigh myself? i do feel better. i'm not as tired as before.

    It's not a bad idea. It helps you track changes over the course of time, and not just what the scales says every day.
  • YesiS121
    YesiS121 Posts: 9
    that makes sense. i will do that today. can i log that in here?
  • dls06
    dls06 Posts: 6,774 Member
    If you make your food diary public, we can help you out with some specifics. :-)

    I agree. If you are doing everything right there must be something wrong. Let us see your diary to make suggestions. and take a look at this. http://news.yahoo.com/video/health-15749655/woman-loses-300-pounds-the-old-fashioned-way-25535671
  • Arizona_JR
    Arizona_JR Posts: 275
    that makes sense. i will do that today. can i log that in here?

    You can log it in under My Home/ 'Check-in' tab
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