Ive been drastically gaining weight since I started working out

In 2016 I went from 250 to 180. Recently I gained up to 189 over the past 6 months. I have stopped working out and started eating crap again. I noticed it and decided to go back to my original routine to drop the weight I gained. I started working out more with 30 minutes of cardio and 30 minutes of strength. My diet has been a struggle but I gave up soda and cut out junk food and only been drinking water. My workouts are medium intensity, I have been hitting all my goals on my Fitbit including my step and calorie goal. On average I been burning about 2500 calories a day. I have been doing this for about 3 weeks and so far gained 4 lbs. I don't understand. I'm making little steps and I'm seeing a drastic weight gai. I don't think it's possible I ate more than 2500 calories each day especially when I cut out sugary drinks and junk food. What could be going on?
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Replies

  • jacki865
    jacki865 Posts: 122 Member
    Can water weight stick around for 3 weeks though? I was told after 2 it's should have shed off by now
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    jacki865 wrote: »
    Can water weight stick around for 3 weeks though? I was told after 2 it's should have shed off by now

    well unless you ate 14,000 cals over maintenance its likely its still water weight....
  • Joanna2012B
    Joanna2012B Posts: 1,448 Member
    I must have misunderstood, but her one comment was "On average I been burning about 2500 calories a day." I will just plead ignorance, I haven't taken the time to understand TDEE.
  • jacki865
    jacki865 Posts: 122 Member
    I set my burn goal to 2500 and I usually achieve it. I have a job that has me walking a lot
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    jacki865 wrote: »
    I set my burn goal to 2500 and I usually achieve it. I have a job that has me walking a lot

    2500 cals above what you burn just living?
  • jacki865
    jacki865 Posts: 122 Member
    No 2500 total. That includes maintenance. The daily calorie burn part of my Fitbit. I have the charge HR
  • ruqayyahsmum
    ruqayyahsmum Posts: 1,513 Member
    Are you weighing on a scale all solid foods and measuring all liquids containing calories
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    It’s water weight. Four or five pounds either way. I fluctuate that much through my ovulation cycle.
  • wizzybeth
    wizzybeth Posts: 3,578 Member
    What's your daily calorie intake as far as what you eat? You may be eating too many calories
  • ken_vane
    ken_vane Posts: 2 Member
    Here is what I would recommend: Weight everything using a gram scale. Check your food diary and see if the reference data is wrong. The food database has mistakes, so check. Are you getting at least 10 minutes of 80% your Max Heart rate during your workouts? What does your exercise routine add to your calories? How much water are you drinking? If you are eating food from a restaurant or cafeteria, stop and bring your own food. Many food places are as much as +30% off the actual calories on the plate. Check your Sodium intake.
  • stanmann571
    stanmann571 Posts: 5,727 Member
    Are you weighing on a scale all solid foods and measuring all liquids containing calories
    wizzybeth wrote: »
    What's your daily calorie intake as far as what you eat? You may be eating too many calories
    ken_vane wrote: »
    Here is what I would recommend: Weight everything using a gram scale.

    This.
  • Do you have any injuries? I have a bad knee and whenever I start a new exercise routine or change it up I gain weight from the inflammation.
  • collectingblues
    collectingblues Posts: 2,541 Member
    jacki865 wrote: »
    Can water weight stick around for 3 weeks though? I was told after 2 it's should have shed off by now

    You would be shocked at how long water weight can stick around. It's common for up to six weeks after drastically changing hydration or adding/changing a new workout routine.
  • 1houndgal
    1houndgal Posts: 558 Member
    jacki865 wrote: »
    Can water weight stick around for 3 weeks though? I was told after 2 it's should have shed off by now

    Have you been eating out more? Eating more sodium in your food choices? Are you measuring everything you eat?
  • whitpauly
    whitpauly Posts: 1,483 Member
    Have some patience if you're measuring right and being honest sticking to your calories for the day it'll happen :)
  • not_a_runner
    not_a_runner Posts: 1,343 Member
    jacki865 wrote: »
    Can water weight stick around for 3 weeks though? I was told after 2 it's should have shed off by now

    I seem to always hang on to a few pounds from training. If I deload/have a week off I will drop a few pounds which come back after my volume increases.

    Are you actually tracking your intake though? You mention your fitbit burn and say "I don't think it's possible I ate more than 2500 calories each day", but nothing about logging. The only way to know for sure is to log everything. And keep in mind that fitbits are not always accurate.
  • wizzybeth
    wizzybeth Posts: 3,578 Member
    jflongo wrote: »
    ken_vane wrote: »
    Here is what I would recommend: Weight everything using a gram scale. Check your food diary and see if the reference data is wrong. The food database has mistakes, so check. Are you getting at least 10 minutes of 80% your Max Heart rate during your workouts? What does your exercise routine add to your calories? How much water are you drinking? If you are eating food from a restaurant or cafeteria, stop and bring your own food. Many food places are as much as +30% off the actual calories on the plate. Check your Sodium intake.

    Sodium does NOT matter :-) That is a myth.

    Sodium does to matter... An increase in sodium can lead to water retention. That's basic info there
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    jflongo wrote: »
    wizzybeth wrote: »
    jflongo wrote: »
    ken_vane wrote: »
    Here is what I would recommend: Weight everything using a gram scale. Check your food diary and see if the reference data is wrong. The food database has mistakes, so check. Are you getting at least 10 minutes of 80% your Max Heart rate during your workouts? What does your exercise routine add to your calories? How much water are you drinking? If you are eating food from a restaurant or cafeteria, stop and bring your own food. Many food places are as much as +30% off the actual calories on the plate. Check your Sodium intake.

    Sodium does NOT matter :-) That is a myth.

    Sodium does to matter... An increase in sodium can lead to water retention. That's basic info there

    That is why you weigh yourself in the morning, after using the bathroom. Does more sodium get your drink more water yes, other than that, it does nothing.

    Sodium can lead to temporary water weight retention. This can be more pronounced in some people than others. Since it can hang around for a few days, weighing yourself in the morning won't keep those people from seeing a fluctuation in weight.
  • jacki865
    jacki865 Posts: 122 Member
    Sorry here is more detail. Total daily burn including maintenance and workouts according to fitbit is ~2500. I try to eat about 1500. I haven't been tracking or measuring my food since most of what I eat is packaged or soups I used to eat, I tend to eyeball it.. I go out during the weekends and eat a little more however Its only once that day and I know it doesn't go much over 2500 if at all and the rest of week I have been under.I dont drink any sugary drinks just water only. My workouts are usually running or elliptical for cardio and burns ~300 calories and then the weight training so a total workout would burn about 500~ calories. I also hike on the weekends for a couple of hours which burns ~500-1000 calories.

    The confusion im having is 6 months ago I lost my gym membership, started a new job and got in a relationship. As I was adjusting I fell off and started eating more and moving less. During this period the weight gain was 8lbs or so. I don't understand how 3 weeks of me being more mindful and getting back on my workout routine results in a 4lb gain when 6 months of me not caring resulted in an 8lb gain. That's what confuses me. I cant possibly be eating worse now than I did back then. Especially when I am working out 5 times a week and back then I didn't go to the gym.
  • collectingblues
    collectingblues Posts: 2,541 Member
    jacki865 wrote: »
    Sorry here is more detail. Total daily burn including maintenance and workouts according to fitbit is ~2500. I try to eat about 1500. I haven't been tracking or measuring my food since most of what I eat is packaged or soups I used to eat, I tend to eyeball it.. .

    yeah. Before starting in on water weight and other possibilities, stop eyeballing, and actually track or measure your food. I bet you're eating more than you think you are.

  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    edited February 2018
    Amateur. I gained 7 pounds when I started working out again :lol: Took a few weeks to come back off.

    Where are you in your menstrual cycle? Being premenstrual could mask some losses.
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