Weighing all food and gaining weight
MelonColleyMom
Posts: 11 Member
I am so frustrated. I've been strictly weighing everything that goes in my mouth. I had a short plate, followed by a quick 3 lb loss. Since then, I've been steadily going up. I did have one day of over eating, but have had several days with a large calorie deficit. I've been going to the gym (for 2 hours the other day!) And not eating back calories. What the heck is going on? I am a very large person, 277-279 lbs this last week (drastic up and downs each day). I weight naked in the morning after using the bathroom . Help please!
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Replies
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What is your calorie goal? In general, the answer will be to eat less.0
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My goal is 1200. At least 4 days this week I was under 600. By the time I got home (ridiculously busy with kids and school etc) I was more tired than hungry and went to bed. It wasn't intentional. Plus exercise calories, which again I don't eat.0
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Can you share the time frame here (when you started, how long your plateau was, how long you've been gaining)? Can you share how much you've gained?
Also, is your exercise routine new or have you made it harder than normal? When you workout hard, your body will sometimes retain some temporary water weight to help your muscles repair.3 -
Started 60 days ago. Plateau was just over a week, then dropped suddenly. Then have been gaining about .4 to .8lbs a day, some days losing part of what I gained the day before. That's been going on for about a week. The scale read 279.8 this morning. I started working out a week ago, which is much more than I was doing before. I'm training for a 5k and then doing other cardio. Today I have my intro to the weight machines. My starting weight was 305.1
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If all those facts are correct, see a doctor.1
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MelonColleyMom wrote: »Started 60 days ago. Plateau was just over a week, then dropped suddenly. Then have been gaining about .4 to .8lbs a day, some days losing part of what I gained the day before. That's been going on for about a week. The scale read 279.8 this morning. I started working out a week ago, which is much more than I was doing before. I'm training for a 5k and then doing other cardio. Today I have my intro to the weight machines. My starting weight was 305.
So you've lost about 25 pounds in 60 days, started working out a week ago, and have been gaining a bit of weight each day this week?
I personally wouldn't worry about this, I think it's likely that it is related to your new exercise routine.
I would say, based on a quick look at your diary, you might have some opportunities to tighten your logging. If your weight gain continues, that would be what I would consider.11 -
What can I improve with my logging? I did have one day recently with a lot of eating out, so I tossed a big number in and called it a day. But aside from that I *think* I've been pretty on top of it. I would love to do better though if you wouldn't mind telling me how.1
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It's water weight from exercise and initial rapid weight loss.
You need to eat way more than 600 calories per day especially if you are exercising for two hours per day. Starving yourself and over exercising is a great way to destroy lean mass (including your internal organs). Not to mention there's no way your meeting your body's vitamin and mineral needs on 600 calories. Plus, if you don't get adequate dietary fat your hair will start falling out and your joints will start having problems. You'll also negatively impact your bone density.23 -
MelonColleyMom wrote: »What can I improve with my logging? I did have one day recently with a lot of eating out, so I tossed a big number in and called it a day. But aside from that I *think* I've been pretty on top of it. I would love to do better though if you wouldn't mind telling me how.
You can be patient and understand that weight loss is not linear. Your weight will fluctuate. I started my period today and my weight is up 7 pounds over just two days. In a week it will be back to normal or possibly lower.8 -
So- in terms of not having enough. I hear what you are saying, but doesn't that primarily matter for smaller people? When I go to bed sans enough calories, my thought is that I *was* going to have a gastric sleeve. If I had, my caloric intake would be what I've had some days or less. It isn't magically safer for someone with a sleeve, so I thought that because I'm morbidly obese it was okay?1
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You might be near your time of the month! The body retains water then. Or you might be over exercising. Our bodies are not machines. Take a break from dieting, eat at maintenance then gradually reduce calories. Don't eat 600 calories and expect your body to function properly. When you don't eat your metabolism shuts down. I'm not talking about one or two days of calorie restriction because people do the 5:2 diet and they're fine. Remember we have hormones too. Restricting your body too much can raise cortisol levels and drop leptin levels. Not good for weight loss. Have a look at this article https://www.muscleforlife.com/how-to-speed-up-metabolism/4
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Relevant sticky thread: community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/comment/38265371#Comment_382653710
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MelonColleyMom wrote: »So- in terms of not having enough. I hear what you are saying, but doesn't that primarily matter for smaller people? When I go to bed sans enough calories, my thought is that I *was* going to have a gastric sleeve. If I had, my caloric intake would be what I've had some days or less. It isn't magically safer for someone with a sleeve, so I thought that because I'm morbidly obese it was okay?
To be fair, people that have wls are taking supplements (beyond a daily multivitamin) to help with malnutrition, following a special diet, and under doctor supervision. And things like hair loss are still quite common from stress put on the body.9 -
MelonColleyMom wrote: »So- in terms of not having enough. I hear what you are saying, but doesn't that primarily matter for smaller people? When I go to bed sans enough calories, my thought is that I *was* going to have a gastric sleeve. If I had, my caloric intake would be what I've had some days or less. It isn't magically safer for someone with a sleeve, so I thought that because I'm morbidly obese it was okay?
People who have weight loss surgery are medically supervised and required to follow a special diet with specific supplements to reduce possible damage. A friend of mine just went through it and she still had negative side effects. Our body can only use a certain amount of calories per pound of body fat per day. The estimate is between 4 and 6 calories per pound of body fat (the estimate used to be 10). Everything else is going to come from lean mass. So let's say you have 200 pounds of body fat your ideal deficit is between 800 and 1200 calories below your maintenance calories.4 -
You're not eating enough and retaining water. You want this to be a lifestyle, so you should aim for a 1-2 pound weight loss per week. That's 350-700 calories per day, including exercise.
If you're hell bent on losing quickly, get WLS. Right now your body just thinks you're ill.0 -
A week?? You plateaued a WEEK!? Seriously.. come back in three if there is still no change. What you are experiencing is normal. Unless you are lying about the calories you are consuming.. But let's just go with "you're not." And eat 1200 MINIMUM. NOT 600.. NOT 900.. UNLESS you zig zag it. Like 3days 1200, 3 days 600, and 1 day 3000. Then that's OK.
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MelonColleyMom wrote: »What can I improve with my logging? I did have one day recently with a lot of eating out, so I tossed a big number in and called it a day. But aside from that I *think* I've been pretty on top of it. I would love to do better though if you wouldn't mind telling me how.
I saw a couple of quick adds (one of which you referenced), and it looks like you may not be weighing some pre-portioned/packaged products (things like hot dogs, string cheese, tortillas, etc) and some foods (.5 cup pineapple, for example).
I *don't* think this is the cause of your weight gain, but it's something to think about if you do stall in the future.1 -
MelonColleyMom wrote: »So- in terms of not having enough. I hear what you are saying, but doesn't that primarily matter for smaller people? When I go to bed sans enough calories, my thought is that I *was* going to have a gastric sleeve. If I had, my caloric intake would be what I've had some days or less. It isn't magically safer for someone with a sleeve, so I thought that because I'm morbidly obese it was okay?
People who have weight loss surgery are medically supervised and required to follow a special diet with specific supplements to reduce possible damage. A friend of mine just went through it and she still had negative side effects. Our body can only use a certain amount of calories per pound of body fat per day. The estimate is between 4 and 6 calories per pound of body fat (the estimate used to be 10). Everything else is going to come from lean mass. So let's say you have 200 pounds of body fat your ideal deficit is between 800 and 1200 calories below your maintenance calories.
Yep, my colleague who had gastric bypass lost the weight and most of her hair. Her doctor said that even with the supplements, most patients can't get enough nutrients absorbed. He said it will get better with time.
She said most of the women in her support group confirmed that.
OP, you are drastically under-eating. And by the time the effects are obvious, you will have done damage. If you're losing weight to be healthier, why would you do it in such a way that will yield the opposite effect?4 -
I'm really not intending to under eat. My go to food in the past has been fast food. I've done my best to eliminate that, but am not always able to replace it. I am a full time nursing student, part time teacher, mom and foster to puppies. I just bought an instant pot. I'm hoping that will help me get more quality calories in.1
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Please please don't continue eating and excersise the way you are.. very unhealthy for you to eat only 600 Calories and work out 2 hours! I don't know where you even find the energy. Please input stats into MFP and it will give you a much better plan. Good luck.0
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Fast food isn't evil, it's just calorie dense and easy to overeat. There are lower calorie options at most fast food places.8
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Nothing wrong with fast food - just make better choices. Hamburger instead of double bacon cheeseburger. Grilled chicken sandwich instead of fried chicken. Baked potato instead of large fries. Water instead of soda.5
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It's water weight from exercise and initial rapid weight loss.
You need to eat way more than 600 calories per day especially if you are exercising for two hours per day. Starving yourself and over exercising is a great way to destroy lean mass (including your internal organs). Not to mention there's no way your meeting your body's vitamin and mineral needs on 600 calories. Plus, if you don't get adequate dietary fat your hair will start falling out and your joints will start having problems. You'll also negatively impact your bone density.
This advice is spot on and should be given to everybody who comes on here and wants to do above and beyond the recommendations.
Some generic constants you should know about:
1. Faster is not better with respect to fat loss.
2. Weight and fat are not the same thing.
3. You are doing this to reduce fat and fat is one a several components to weight.
4. You are attempting to lose fat in order to be healthier, so trying to lose it faster than healthy merely creates other problems and does not give you the result you are looking for.
5. Fluids fluctuate at 2x-3x your weekly "weight" loss goal over the course of a single day. It has always done that and always will, regardless of what your trying to do with your weight. Learn to live with fluctuation. You can easily have lost 2 pounds of body fat in a given week and weigh 3-5 pounds more.
6. This will take time.
7. You cannot short cut #6 without creating other health problems.
8. If you exercise, eat the calories to support it.
@MelonColleyMom, at 278 pounds or so, you are doing yourself no favors if you truly are eating 1000 and as low as 600 calories per day.
Lastly - a week is not a plateau, fluid variation is totally normal, the process works for everyone who does it right, and time is your friend.7 -
Chances are really good that if you've significantly increased exercise you're retaining water as your body deals with the increased workload you've given it. BE PATIENT. Trust physics and biology. Eat at a reasonable deficit and keep exercising (again, reasonably). Effective loss takes time.2
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MelonColleyMom wrote: »My goal is 1200. At least 4 days this week I was under 600. By the time I got home (ridiculously busy with kids and school etc) I was more tired than hungry and went to bed. It wasn't intentional. Plus exercise calories, which again I don't eat.
So for 4 days you ate 600, and did exercise which you didn't eat back? So net 0 intake. Not good. You're retaining water.2 -
Basically not eating enough for your size. You have to eat enough or your metabolism will shutdown and in the long term you will gain weight. To get lean stay clean.
Complex carbs
Fresh veg
Fruits
Proteins
Plenty of water
Myself I tend to have my carbs in the fist two meals as it works for me. It's not a race you need to do this properly. Good luck10 -
You are eating 600-1200 calories and not eating back your exercise calories? That's not much for 279 lbs and unhealthy, in that it can lead to fatigue, hair loss, brittle nails, and a host of other health issues.
Starting a new exercise routine can lead to water retention because water is needed to repair the muscles. So this might account for a recent gain, as would TOM or ovulation.3 -
smellywelly1234 wrote: »Basically not eating enough for your size. You have to eat enough or your metabolism will shutdown and in the long term you will gain weight. To get lean stay clean.
Complex carbs
Fresh veg
Fruits
Proteins
Plenty of water
Myself I tend to have my carbs in the fist two meals as it works for me. It's not a race you need to do this properly. Good luck
No. Not eating enough will cause health problems and OP should focus on getting sufficient calories. But your metabolism cannot shut down (unless you die).5 -
OP this is good sound advice you're getting.1
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