Why am I gaining?
vicky_t1981
Posts: 12 Member
Hi really need help. My food has been bad for years. I've never really been a healthy or consistent eater. I've recently started eating three regular healthy meals a day. 1200 calories is my intake. I've cut out bread, pasta white potato generally bad carbs. Usually eat eggs for breakfast. Start off with protein and usually chicken at tea time. (Healthy lunch). Also started back at the gym. Why have I gained 4lb? Is it because I don't usually eat three meals a day and does this mean I won't lose this way
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Replies
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If you have started back at the gym, it's likely that your muscles are holding on to water to help adjust to the new activity. This weight will drop as you get used to your new routine.
How long have you been eating 1,200 calories?0 -
Increased exercise could mean increased water retention to help cushion and repair sore muscles. Should taper off as your body gets used to the new routine.
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10084670/it-is-unlikely-that-you-will-lose-weight-consistently-i-e-weight-loss-is-not-linear/p10 -
Your diary is locked so can't help you there.
Two things that could be happening 1) you just started exercising - could be water retention, or 2) you logging is inaccurate and you eat more than you think
Also how long have you been at this? Weight fluctuates - if you're looking at results too quickly you're probably not getting an accurate picture of whats going on.0 -
Been eating 1200 calories just over a week0
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vicky_t1981 wrote: »Been eating 1200 calories just over a week
Do you measure and weigh all of your portions and ingredients?0 -
I'll see if I can unlock it... it's been a year since I last ate clean and exercised. Been back on it a week. I'm guessing I'm expecting to much to quick. But I've never done it this way before with three meals a day. Worried I won't get anywhere like this0
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Put 4lb on in a week0
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water retention and time (1 week). 1 week isn't long enough to see any significant change in fat loss no matter what you do.0
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vicky_t1981 wrote: »I'll see if I can unlock it... it's been a year since I last ate clean and exercised. Been back on it a week. I'm guessing I'm expecting to much to quick. But I've never done it this way before with three meals a day. Worried I won't get anywhere like this
One week is way too soon to jump to any conclusions about why this is happening.0 -
vicky_t1981 wrote: »Put 4lb on in a week
Yep, that sounds like water retention. It's not a bad idea to tighten up your logging and be sure you're choosing accurate entries in the database, but give your body a couple of weeks after you make changes before you reassess.0 -
Are you measuring everything with scales and making your own recipes?0
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I've opened my profile. I wasn't expecting to lose this quick but was worried about the fact I'm gaining. Was going to carry on eating g this way for a month and see how it went0
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With less than 15 pounds to lose, expect weekly weight losses to be in the neighborhood of 1/2 pound a week.
That said, water weight can fluctuate wildly. As Janejellyroll pointed out sore muscles can hold water, time of month you may retain water, higher sodium meal you may retain water. Daily weigh ins will be up and down.
1200 is as low as MFP will go (you likely selected an aggressive goal of 1 pound a week).....so unless you are incredibly petite....you will lose weight.
Meal timing does not effect weight loss.....eat as many or as few meals as you like. Eat any foods you like, but try to meet your protein and fat goals. But, it's hard to eat a lot of junky type things and meet goals. I don't cut out anything that will not be a lifestyle change for me.0 -
One week is a short time to gauge anything, but try logging every meal and everything u eat and most importantly keep a calorie deficit that is the only way to lose weight0
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For a long time I only really ate one proper meal a day. Never ate breakfast so I'm eating more now0
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But healthier0
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1200 cals seems really low, don't be scared of carbs you need them.0
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vicky_t1981 wrote: »I've opened my profile. I wasn't expecting to lose this quick but was worried about the fact I'm gaining. Was going to carry on eating g this way for a month and see how it went
Yeah...clearly an issue with accurate logging too.
I don't say this as an insult or criticism, but with most of your entries being things like "1 serving; 1 plate" etc...you really have no idea how many calories you're really consuming. You'll be much more successful if you can tighten up your logging.
That said, as to the specific topic of this thread, the short-term gain is almost assuredly additional water weight from the new exercise regiment.0 -
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juggernaut1974 wrote: »vicky_t1981 wrote: »I've opened my profile. I wasn't expecting to lose this quick but was worried about the fact I'm gaining. Was going to carry on eating g this way for a month and see how it went
Yeah...clearly an issue with accurate logging too.
I don't say this as an insult or criticism, but with most of your entries being things like "1 serving; 1 plate" etc...you really have no idea how many calories you're really consuming. You'll be much more successful if you can tighten up your logging.
That said, as to the specific topic of this thread, the short-term gain is almost assuredly additional water weight from the new exercise regiment.
This0 -
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vicky_t1981 wrote: »I've opened my profile. I wasn't expecting to lose this quick but was worried about the fact I'm gaining. Was going to carry on eating g this way for a month and see how it went
A couple of suggestions -- you have some fruit measured in cups and some in weight. For accuracy, you want to weigh all of it. Avoid entries that say "homemade." You have no idea if your homemade omelette matches some else's, for example. Choose the entry for eggs and then log anything you use to prepare them (like oil, butter) and whatever you put in the omelette. Same for the oats -- you have an entry for "1 sachet" of oats and milk -- but you have no idea if the person who made that entry is using the same amount of milk as you did. Log the oats and the milk separately for best results.0 -
TavistockToad wrote: »juggernaut1974 wrote: »vicky_t1981 wrote: »I've opened my profile. I wasn't expecting to lose this quick but was worried about the fact I'm gaining. Was going to carry on eating g this way for a month and see how it went
Yeah...clearly an issue with accurate logging too.
I don't say this as an insult or criticism, but with most of your entries being things like "1 serving; 1 plate" etc...you really have no idea how many calories you're really consuming. You'll be much more successful if you can tighten up your logging.
That said, as to the specific topic of this thread, the short-term gain is almost assuredly additional water weight from the new exercise regiment.
This
So maybe I'm eating more calories than I think?0 -
vicky_t1981 wrote: »TavistockToad wrote: »juggernaut1974 wrote: »vicky_t1981 wrote: »I've opened my profile. I wasn't expecting to lose this quick but was worried about the fact I'm gaining. Was going to carry on eating g this way for a month and see how it went
Yeah...clearly an issue with accurate logging too.
I don't say this as an insult or criticism, but with most of your entries being things like "1 serving; 1 plate" etc...you really have no idea how many calories you're really consuming. You'll be much more successful if you can tighten up your logging.
That said, as to the specific topic of this thread, the short-term gain is almost assuredly additional water weight from the new exercise regiment.
This
So maybe I'm eating more calories than I think?
Yep.0 -
vicky_t1981 wrote: »TavistockToad wrote: »juggernaut1974 wrote: »vicky_t1981 wrote: »I've opened my profile. I wasn't expecting to lose this quick but was worried about the fact I'm gaining. Was going to carry on eating g this way for a month and see how it went
Yeah...clearly an issue with accurate logging too.
I don't say this as an insult or criticism, but with most of your entries being things like "1 serving; 1 plate" etc...you really have no idea how many calories you're really consuming. You'll be much more successful if you can tighten up your logging.
That said, as to the specific topic of this thread, the short-term gain is almost assuredly additional water weight from the new exercise regiment.
This
So maybe I'm eating more calories than I think?
I would guess you probably are, but as noted, that's a separate issue from the short term spike in weight.0 -
What "tighten up logging" means is using a kitchen scale and weighing every single food item that you eat, (highly recommend weighing in grams rather than ounces) including cooking oils and, of course, all condiments. It also means checking that entries you choose are accurate.0
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janejellyroll wrote: »vicky_t1981 wrote: »I've opened my profile. I wasn't expecting to lose this quick but was worried about the fact I'm gaining. Was going to carry on eating g this way for a month and see how it went
A couple of suggestions -- you have some fruit measured in cups and some in weight. For accuracy, you want to weigh all of it. Avoid entries that say "homemade." You have no idea if your homemade omelette matches some else's, for example. Choose the entry for eggs and then log anything you use to prepare them (like oil, butter) and whatever you put in the omelette. Same for the oats -- you have an entry for "1 sachet" of oats and milk -- but you have no idea if the person who made that entry is using the same amount of milk as you did. Log the oats and the milk separately for best results.
Thank you i shall do that0 -
vicky_t1981 wrote: »TavistockToad wrote: »juggernaut1974 wrote: »vicky_t1981 wrote: »I've opened my profile. I wasn't expecting to lose this quick but was worried about the fact I'm gaining. Was going to carry on eating g this way for a month and see how it went
Yeah...clearly an issue with accurate logging too.
I don't say this as an insult or criticism, but with most of your entries being things like "1 serving; 1 plate" etc...you really have no idea how many calories you're really consuming. You'll be much more successful if you can tighten up your logging.
That said, as to the specific topic of this thread, the short-term gain is almost assuredly additional water weight from the new exercise regiment.
This
So maybe I'm eating more calories than I think?
I think it's quite likely you're eating more than you think. Your fruit could be much more since you're using cups instead of weighing it. You are using generic and homemade entries, which could be way off. And when we eat take-out, those calorie counts are often just guesses.0 -
Cortisol. Stress hormone. How do you feel on 1200 calories? It may be too low. I don't have enough information. Plus it sounds like a short term fluctuation. However, I know from experience that a low calorie diet does stress the body, which releases cortisol, which causes problems including weight gain in the forms of fat and water retention. If you feel ok, stay the course and do be sure to drink lots of water (cliche, but it does matter), lots of sleep, lower your stress, and if that doesn't work you'll need to figure out what the shortfall is with your diet and exercise. The temptation is to eat less and exercise more but it's not always that simple; in fact, in some cases it actually makes the problem worse. Good luck.0
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Oops, @janejellyroll beat me to it.
Here is a kitchen scale that I really love, though there are many others, too:
Ozeri kitchen scale on Amazon0
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