Protien shakes and gaining weight????WTH!!!!
ninabaz
Posts: 75 Member
I've started useing meal replacement shakes...eas lean 15...and I've gained 3lbs in the last two days. Anyone else faced this problem? I am also having a hard time Going to the bathroom. Asking because I don't know if I should just give up using them or if I should plug along. I use them for breakfast and lunch and eat a healthy dinner. I also work third shift so should I have a shake at night at work instead of food or just make sure I am eating healthy? Starting to believe there is no hope in this weight loss I've been trying different things over the past year and have lost NOTHING!!!!! I want to give up!
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Replies
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A 3 pound gain can simply be water retention from sodium, extra workouts, or hormones.
If the shakes are making it hard for you to have a BM, it could be that as well.
Do you really feel you need these shakes? You could just eat food too.0 -
I've done clean eating I've done vegetarian. I've done no sugar no carbs no dairy....next step is NOTHING at all. So yes I've tried real food.0
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I agree with arditarose. Focus on eating whole sources of food. Drink plenty of h2o and work your butt off!!0
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I've done clean eating I've done vegetarian. I've done no sugar no carbs no dairy....next step is NOTHING at all. So yes I've tried real food.
I didn't ask if you tried real food. I asked if you feel you need the shakes.
Have you tried a calorie deficit? Weighing your "real food" on a food scale, logging everything you put in your mouth, and staying in a deficit for weeks and weeks at a time?
Anyway, I gave you my best answer to your question above. Also, if the shake is "backing you up", make sure you're getting enough fat in your diet to move things along.0 -
Are you eating less calories than your body uses during the day? If you only burn 1800 calories a day, you could eat nothing but 2500 calories of salad and you're not gonna lose weight.
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Yep, this^^^^I agree with arditarose. Focus on eating whole sources of food. Drink plenty of h2o and work your butt off!!
We really don't know what those supplement companies put in those potions they call "shakes".
When I see protein bars and powdered shakes, I see candy.
At least with whole foods I know just what I am getting, because I choose every single ingredient.
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Try adding a soluble fibre into your shake and also add in a bit extra water to the shake (so that it is still tasty and drinkable). Good for you doing another tough mudder that's excellent.
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She can drink the dang shakes if she wants. I'm just saying, 3 lbs is nothing to worry over unless she ate 10,500 calories over TDEE.0
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Completely irrelevant.I've done clean eating
Completely irrelevant.I've done vegetarian.
Completely irrelevant.I've done no sugar
Completely irrelevant.no carbs
Completely irrelevant.no dairyarditarose wrote: »I've done clean eating I've done vegetarian. I've done no sugar no carbs no dairy....next step is NOTHING at all. So yes I've tried real food.
Have you tried a calorie deficit? Weighing your "real food" on a food scale, logging everything you put in your mouth, and staying in a deficit for weeks and weeks at a time?
Completely relevant. No matter what else you do, you need to make sure you're in a Caloric deficit. Also, as has been mentioned, 3 lb could be any one (or more) of a great many things - especially water retention if you've begun or changed an exercise routine.
Protein shakes aren't some great "superfood" or anything. I'd think you'd probably do better with regular food, as that tends to be more filling. Shakes are fine, but they tend to not be particularly filling and/or high in Calories - especially considering what you may put in them and/or make them with.
eta: Those things above are completely irrelevant, provided no particular medical issues. And, if those are present, then you should be under the care of a doctor that can refer you to a dietician that has knowledge of the condition and can help.0 -
Well said!arditarose wrote: »She can drink the dang shakes if she wants. I'm just saying, 3 lbs is nothing to worry over unless she ate 10,500 calories over TDEE.
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I drink a protein shake for lunch but only because it helps me keep my calories in a deficit. I get ridiculously hungry at night, so I like to have my biggest meals and snacks then. If drinking them did not help me maintain a deficit, I would not use them because they'd be defeating the purpose of my drinking them.
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My typical day before I started the shakes was eggs in the am with a veggies. Usually asparagus or spinach. A salad for lunch and veggies and either chicken or fish for dinner. Snacks were plain organic Greek yogurt or low fat cottage cheese. I don't know what else to eliminate unless I do a meal replacement shake. So eating foods that are natural is something that just isn't working. So thought id try this. And working out a hour a day.0
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So by the sounds of it I'm screwed and fat and nasty for life.0
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Make sure you are eating at a deficit by weighing your foods. Eating "natural" foods or "clean" or whatever will do nothing for weight loss if you're eating too much of it.0
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My typical day before I started the shakes was eggs in the am with a veggies. Usually asparagus or spinach. A salad for lunch and veggies and either chicken or fish for dinner. Snacks were plain organic Greek yogurt or low fat cottage cheese. I don't know what else to eliminate unless I do a meal replacement shake. So eating foods that are natural is something that just isn't working. So thought id try this. And working out a hour a day.
It's not about eliminating specific foods. It's about eliminating calories. How many calories have you been consuming and how long have you been tracking? You're not going to lose 20-30lbs overnight.0 -
So by the sounds of it I'm screwed and fat and nasty for life.
I don't see anyone here saying that. What I do see are a lot of people trying to help you troubleshoot what might be happening even though you keep shutting them down.
It sounds like you've decided on the shakes and don't want to hear opinions or suggestions against them. That's fine, but you'll still have to pay attention to the same things the rest of us worry about. Constipation or being "backed up" means you need to watch your fiber, fat, and fluids to be sure you're getting plenty of each. 3pounds gained over a few days could be a very normal water weight fluctuation that will disappear as your body settles down.0 -
drwilseyjr wrote: »My typical day before I started the shakes was eggs in the am with a veggies. Usually asparagus or spinach. A salad for lunch and veggies and either chicken or fish for dinner. Snacks were plain organic Greek yogurt or low fat cottage cheese. I don't know what else to eliminate unless I do a meal replacement shake. So eating foods that are natural is something that just isn't working. So thought id try this. And working out a hour a day.
It's not about eliminating specific foods. It's about eliminating calories. How many calories have you been consuming and how long have you been tracking? You're not going to lose 20-30lbs overnight.
^^^^ Bingo!
In respect to weight loss it's not so much what you eat (I can easily find salads that are over 1,000 cal) but how much (your health calls for a well balanced nutritious diet but you can lose weight eating nothing but Twinkies.....)
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So by the sounds of it I'm screwed and fat and nasty for life.
No, just like the rest of us it's a matter of being disciplined the rest of your life. I know lots of people cringe at the prospect of tracking their food forever but some of us have to........it's so easy to put it on, taking it off and keeping it off is much harder. It all depends on how badly you want it......0 -
So by the sounds of it I'm screwed and fat and nasty for life.
Nope. Just have to stay in a calorie deficit like everyone else. You can do it with shakes, if you like. Though it might not be the best route as far as learning how to maintain your weight loss. Regardless, it's the same. Weight loss is about CICO0 -
So by the sounds of it I'm screwed and fat and nasty for life.
Well that's certainly a choice - not a very appealing choice though.
Many people here that are trying to help you have been fat and found ways to fix that.
Don't reject well meaning advice out of hand, take the emotion out of it and you may see something in one of the many replies that switches on a lightbulb for you.
A very common theme is eating the appropriate amount of calories though......
Losing weight is tough but being fat is also tough - that's a choice too.
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So by the sounds of it I'm screwed and fat and nasty for life.
With that attitude, you're not going to accomplish anything.
You have to be honest with yourself and your expectations. You're not going to find a magical solution. And it's not going to come easy. It takes work, discipline, and dedication. If you really want it, change your attitude and realize those facts.
If not, then no. You're not going to make any progress if you're waiting for any of us to tell you about a magical diet and you ignore the questions asking. People are here to help. Not work miracles.0 -
OP, read these threads because I don't think you've been able to fully grasp the concept of CICO, judging by your posts (I am assuming here):
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants/p1
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1235566/so-youre-new-here/p1
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1296011/calorie-counting-101/p1
1. You need to figure out your TDEE and eat at a calorie deficit of approx. 15-20% (or whatever suits you depending on how much weight you have to lose).
2. Accurately weigh, measure and log every little thing you put in your mouth by choosing the correct entries from the database (or creating your own).
3. Log consistently. Sometimes weight loss doesn't begin to show until a few weeks.
4. Eat back 25-50% of the calories you burn through exercise (cardio, HIIT etc.)
5. Apart from using the scale, take body measurements to track your success.
A 250 calorie deficit per day would mean you'll lose at a rate of 0.5 lbs/week, a 500 calorie deficit per day would imply a loss of 1 lb/week etc. Also, remember that your weight loss most likey won't be linear, and weight can fluctuate a lot due to water retention, glycogen stores etc. You may retain water due to sodium, DOMS, hormones etc. Try to eat nutrient-dense foods while also leaving room for treats. Don't demonize/eliminate entire food groups (unless you have a medical issue and are hence advised by a doctor to do so).0 -
Many may scoff, but I'd suggest throwing a few bucks at the 21 Day Fix. Read every word of the nutrition book about 5 times and use the containers as a portion control guide. If you eat the approved foods listed and log ALL of the food you put in your mouth, I can only imagine that you would see results and since you'll be eating 5 cups of fresh fruits and veggies everyday and plenty of fiber, I doubt you'll be constipated. Of course, this program is designed for bypassing nearly all pre-packaged food, so get ready to cook a little No, I'm not a Beachbody coach or trying to sell their products, I just know that it works for me. 0
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So by the sounds of it I'm screwed and fat and nasty for life.
Ouch!! "Fat" doesn't equate to "nasty." I'm sorry that you're feeling so frustrated. But if you're doing "tough mudders" regularly, you must be in pretty good shape, even if you would like to shed a few pounds. Try not to beat yourself up!
For me, what works is weighing and recording everything that goes into my mouth, to the point of obsession. I keep a mail scale on the kitchen counter. If I'm going to be working and unable to weigh lunch and snacks, I pack pre-weighed portions. If I don't record something immediately, I'll forget I ate it. If I try skipping the weighing, I'll get off track on portions. Usually it will take about 2 weeks to see any results, and when the results start, they are only a pound or two a week. I wear a fitness tracker that keeps me mindful. Understand that weight loss is basically a calories in < calories out equation, and disappointing though it is (to me) there is no instant magic way to do it.
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Many may scoff, but I'd suggest throwing a few bucks at the 21 Day Fix. Read every word of the nutrition book about 5 times and use the containers as a portion control guide. If you eat the approved foods listed and log ALL of the food you put in your mouth, I can only imagine that you would see results and since you'll be eating 5 cups of fresh fruits and veggies everyday and plenty of fiber, I doubt you'll be constipated. Of course, this program is designed for bypassing nearly all pre-packaged food, so get ready to cook a little No, I'm not a Beachbody coach or trying to sell their products, I just know that it works for me.
That's all well and good, and I don't doubt that it works, but I think OP needs to re-learn how to eat long-term. Like the name suggests, this is a short-term fix. And from the tone of her comments, it seemed to me that she is sick of restricting foods. Maybe the right step for her at this point would be to eat normally without any rules besides a calorie deficit, lest she give up altogether. Just my opinion.0 -
Many may scoff, but I'd suggest throwing a few bucks at the 21 Day Fix. Read every word of the nutrition book about 5 times and use the containers as a portion control guide. If you eat the approved foods listed and log ALL of the food you put in your mouth, I can only imagine that you would see results and since you'll be eating 5 cups of fresh fruits and veggies everyday and plenty of fiber, I doubt you'll be constipated. Of course, this program is designed for bypassing nearly all pre-packaged food, so get ready to cook a little No, I'm not a Beachbody coach or trying to sell their products, I just know that it works for me.
MFP is free and has no restrictions on food. That would seem better for the OP. From how she is talking, IMO, more limitations and restrictions wouldn't fix her issues.0 -
I notice your diary is empty. Try logging your food for a week. Eat however you want during this time, including the shakes if you like. Eating a specific way, e.g. whole foods only, won't guarantee weight loss if you are eating too much of it. Some whole foods are very calorie dense!! So, just try logging your food for a week and see how much you are eating. If it's over your TDEE (the amount of calories you burn in a day, not just from exercise, but also just the amount you use for maintaining bodily function), then you will gain weight. If it's under, you'll lose. You can eat anything you want and lose weight if you stay under this amount!0
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