Why did I gain weight?
BlackRose278
Posts: 37 Member
I actually just weighed myself today, and it says I gained 13 pounds. I honestly have no idea why, and I was hoping someone could help.
I exercise almost every day, I do weight training twice a week, I go to martial arts twice a week, and I've been counting my calories. I've lost more than 10% of my body fat (originally 33.8, now between 23 and 22), and I've lost quite a few inches on my hips and thighs.
Is it muscle, or something different? I'm very confused...
I exercise almost every day, I do weight training twice a week, I go to martial arts twice a week, and I've been counting my calories. I've lost more than 10% of my body fat (originally 33.8, now between 23 and 22), and I've lost quite a few inches on my hips and thighs.
Is it muscle, or something different? I'm very confused...
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Replies
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If you eat more calories than you burn, you'll gain weight, whether it's fat or muscle. Check your eating habits. It could also be water retention if you've had a lot of sodium3
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What was the time period you gained the 13 lbs in?3
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Gained 13 pounds - since when? Additionally, how are you measuring body fat percent?
My initial guess is that the batteries in your scale need to be replaced? Or they needed to be replaced before, and you did? Additionally, if measuring BF% via said scale (or some other BIA device), you can pretty much just ignore the number, as those are notoriously inaccurate.
eta: I just noticed this is in the GW/BB forum. Are you not trying to gain weight?0 -
You're eating more than you are burning or the is a new regimen and the body is adjusting0
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Sorry, I clicked on the wrong topic forum category, it was supposed to be in dieting tips. Sorry about that!
And I only weigh myself every so often, so the last time I weighed myself was a couple months ago. I use a calliper to measure BF, and the scale I use is mechanical. Every digital scale I got broke in the first few weeks or wouldn't weigh anything right, so I stay away from them.1 -
Different scale than last time? Did I read that right? Different scale = different weight. Always weigh on the same scale, same time of day, same personal state. I weigh first thing in the morning, after peeing, naked, on my bathroom scale.
In case I read your answer wrong...
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How accurate and consistent is your food logging?2
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Body fat down, exercising regularly, inches lost, plus modest weight gain. What part of that is a problem?
You are probably eating a little more than you think--or your scales are inaccurate--but it sounds like by all reasonable measures you are headed in the right direction. I sure wouldn't worry about what the scale says.1 -
If your losing bodyfat, I don't see the problem. Sorry.4
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quiksylver296 wrote: »Different scale than last time? Did I read that right? Different scale = different weight. Always weigh on the same scale, same time of day, same personal state. I weigh first thing in the morning, after peeing, naked, on my bathroom scale.
In case I read your answer wrong...
It's the same scale I've had for years. I tried some electronic ones while I've had this one, and they all just kept giving me different weights or would weigh anything I placed on it as me, and give my weight instead of what they were. So I'm back to my old scale, and have used it for over a year straight now.0 -
BlackRose278 wrote: »Sorry, I clicked on the wrong topic forum category, it was supposed to be in dieting tips. Sorry about that!
And I only weigh myself every so often, so the last time I weighed myself was a couple months ago. I use a calliper to measure BF, and the scale I use is mechanical. Every digital scale I got broke in the first few weeks or wouldn't weigh anything right, so I stay away from them.
If you are gaining you are not in a deficit. Do you weigh your food and use correct entries (no generics or homemade)? Do you log everything? When was the last time you changed your calorie goal? Doubtful it is all muscle since it sounds like you were trying to be in a deficit.2 -
Body fat down, exercising regularly, inches lost, plus modest weight gain. What part of that is a problem?
You are probably eating a little more than you think--or your scales are inaccurate--but it sounds like by all reasonable measures you are headed in the right direction. I sure wouldn't worry about what the scale says.
problem is those thing are not going to happen if OP really gained 13 pounds.2 -
BlackRose278 wrote: »quiksylver296 wrote: »Different scale than last time? Did I read that right? Different scale = different weight. Always weigh on the same scale, same time of day, same personal state. I weigh first thing in the morning, after peeing, naked, on my bathroom scale.
In case I read your answer wrong...
It's the same scale I've had for years. I tried some electronic ones while I've had this one, and they all just kept giving me different weights or would weigh anything I placed on it as me, and give my weight instead of what they were. So I'm back to my old scale, and have used it for over a year straight now.
OK. Mechanical scales - due to the fact that they are basically just a spring - wear out over time. It's possible this is your issue. It's also possible that - since you haven't weighed yourself in a couple of months - that you either are retaining water (for whatever reason, although I doubt it now - a week or two ago? sure. now? eh...) or really did overeat for 13 lb worth.
Can you: place an object of known weight (such as a 50 lb or higher dumbbell) on your scale to verify it's reasonably accurate (up to 50 lb or whatever you use)? Or, do you have a doctor's appointment sometime soon, where you can check your weight vs. his/her scale?1 -
BlackRose278 wrote: »I actually just weighed myself today, and it says I gained 13 pounds. I honestly have no idea why, and I was hoping someone could help.
I exercise almost every day, I do weight training twice a week, I go to martial arts twice a week, and I've been counting my calories. I've lost more than 10% of my body fat (originally 33.8, now between 23 and 22), and I've lost quite a few inches on my hips and thighs.
Is it muscle, or something different? I'm very confused...
By the sounds of things you are doing amazing! I put a lot more emphasis on decreased body fat and decreased inches over the scale any day of the week.
The scale can be quite misleading and really isn't a true gauge of your fitness alone.,.. its is one piece of the puzzle sure but not the be all.
So if your body fat is decreasing and you are losing inches then keep doing whatever it is you are doing! No one else in the world will see the scale you are standing on ... but the loss of fat and inches is visible to all and is of the greatest benefit to your health.
I wouldn't change a thing you are doing... keep up the great work.1 -
Thanks guys for the info! I'm going to go make an appointment for my doctor and ask what could be done. I am tracking my calories correctly, and I don't think I need to exercise more than I do now (it's about 5-6 times a week in total, for 40-60 minutes each time), so it might be something else. I'm glad I'm losing fat and inches, but I just want to make sure that everything is okay.0
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BlackRose278 wrote: »Thanks guys for the info! I'm going to go make an appointment for my doctor and ask what could be done. I am tracking my calories correctly, and I don't think I need to exercise more than I do now (it's about 5-6 times a week in total, for 40-60 minutes each time), so it might be something else. I'm glad I'm losing fat and inches, but I just want to make sure that everything is okay.
Just to help your doctor - bring in at least 1 week of your diet log make sure you have logged everything. When I see patients for weight issues this is a requirement so we can go over possible pitfalls as to why they aren't losing.2 -
I am curious by what process someone would gain 13 pounds and lose body fat? Absent, a scale that is just plain wrong....7
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When was your initial weigh in, that I'll assume was 13 pounds higher than today? Was it the same scale, the same time of day, the same level of clothing?
Edited to say from reading other comments/replies the scale itself could be bad. Though you may have gained weight in 2-3 months, 13 pounds if you are losing inches & fat is probably not right.BlackRose278 wrote: »I actually just weighed myself today, and it says I gained 13 pounds. I honestly have no idea why, and I was hoping someone could help.
I exercise almost every day, I do weight training twice a week, I go to martial arts twice a week, and I've been counting my calories. I've lost more than 10% of my body fat (originally 33.8, now between 23 and 22), and I've lost quite a few inches on my hips and thighs.
Is it muscle, or something different? I'm very confused...
0 -
BlackRose278 wrote: »quiksylver296 wrote: »Different scale than last time? Did I read that right? Different scale = different weight. Always weigh on the same scale, same time of day, same personal state. I weigh first thing in the morning, after peeing, naked, on my bathroom scale.
In case I read your answer wrong...
It's the same scale I've had for years. I tried some electronic ones while I've had this one, and they all just kept giving me different weights or would weigh anything I placed on it as me, and give my weight instead of what they were. So I'm back to my old scale, and have used it for over a year straight now.
OK. Mechanical scales - due to the fact that they are basically just a spring - wear out over time. It's possible this is your issue. It's also possible that - since you haven't weighed yourself in a couple of months - that you either are retaining water (for whatever reason, although I doubt it now - a week or two ago? sure. now? eh...) or really did overeat for 13 lb worth.
Can you: place an object of known weight (such as a 50 lb or higher dumbbell) on your scale to verify it's reasonably accurate (up to 50 lb or whatever you use)? Or, do you have a doctor's appointment sometime soon, where you can check your weight vs. his/her scale?
Related to possible scale issues:Do you keep your scale in the same place all the time, or do you pick it up to move it frequently/store in sideways? It should stay in the same place, flat on the floor ;-)
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OP, can you open your food diary, please?1
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A different scale would equal a different reading...
But you are losing inches which is great
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cerise_noir wrote: »OP, can you open your food diary, please?
It is open to the public, at least I think it is.0 -
StaciMarie1974 wrote: »When was your initial weigh in, that I'll assume was 13 pounds higher than today? Was it the same scale, the same time of day, the same level of clothing?
Edited to say from reading other comments/replies the scale itself could be bad. Though you may have gained weight in 2-3 months, 13 pounds if you are losing inches & fat is probably not right.BlackRose278 wrote: »I actually just weighed myself today, and it says I gained 13 pounds. I honestly have no idea why, and I was hoping someone could help.
I exercise almost every day, I do weight training twice a week, I go to martial arts twice a week, and I've been counting my calories. I've lost more than 10% of my body fat (originally 33.8, now between 23 and 22), and I've lost quite a few inches on my hips and thighs.
Is it muscle, or something different? I'm very confused...
My initial starting weight was 197lbs, and my lowest weight (after two grueling years) was 174.5lbs. It says that I went from that to 187lbs in the past few months. It's in the same area and I weigh myself at the same time with the same level of clothing. I've tried many electronic scales, and none of them worked or wore out in about a month.
Honestly, I think nothing just works for me. It's been like this most of my life, and the antidepressants I was on up until three years ago has ruined my body. I don't know what to do anymore. I exercise constantly, I try to eat 1000-1400 calories a day, and nothing has worked. I have lost a LOT of body fat, but I have not gotten thinner nor lost any weight.0 -
trigden1991 wrote: »
I don't actually know what that is.0 -
You're eating more than you think. Just looking at Friday's log, you have "1/2 of calzone", 3oz, 0.5c (half a cup I guess?), and the winner of all, 1 Slice-Cut 8.
I would suggest getting a food scale and weighing your food, and logging it accurately, and then seeing what happens.7 -
You should weigh at least weekly. It is easy to gain 13lbs in two months, but if you weigh regularly you will see it coming and be able to turn it around. I had a while when I measured body parts instead of weighing. I thought I was doing well but then I stepped on the scales and saw the second largest number I had ever seen.4
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There's your problem! You're not eating enough calories for the amount of exercise you're doing so your bodies storing calories rather than burning them. Track & weigh everything you eat and drink, go on Google and find a site where you can learn about and work out your BMR (basic metabolic rate) then work out how many calories based on that you should be eating and go from there.0
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There's your problem! You're not eating enough calories for the amount of exercise you're doing so your bodies storing calories rather than burning them. Track & weigh everything you eat and drink, go on Google and find a site where you can learn about and work out your BMR (basic metabolic rate) then work out how many calories based on that you should be eating and go from there.
Nope, that's not the problem at all. "Starvation mode" is a myth.17 -
BlackRose278 wrote: »cerise_noir wrote: »OP, can you open your food diary, please?
It is open to the public, at least I think it is.
Yep, your diary is open.
It is very clear to me that your problem is in your logging. It is unfortunately incredibly easy to consume far more calories than we realize. You are logging generic entries and not weighing your food, so your food diary is currently just a vague estimate of what you have been eating.
For example, you log "generic brushcetta" but the calories your actual brushcetta contains will vary wildly depending on how much oil is used to make it. Furthermore, you logged it as half a cup, which is not an accurate way to measure solid food.
I know it must feel frustrating to have put on weight, but the good news is that if you tighten up your food logging so that you are truly sticking to your calorie goals, then you will lose weight. All that is required to lose weight is to consume less calories than you burn, so it is definitely worthwhile to take the time to learn how to log your food properly.
Good luck with your weight loss goals, you can do this!
Edited to add: it looks like your goal has been set at 1000 calories. There is no need to set such a low goal. Instead, focus on accurately meeting a more reasonable goal, since you are almost certainly eating far, far more than 1000 calories.7
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