Lost weight despite surplus?

hoops1888
hoops1888 Posts: 95 Member
edited November 2024 in Food and Nutrition
Hi Guys

I do a monthly weigh-in and having had a big surplus of 5000 calories, I worked to cut calories through the month up to weigh-in, so I could lose my 4lb for the month.

I didn’t manage to get rid of it all before weighin- I was still around 2000 over. However, I had in fact lost 6lbs in the month.

Can someone explain how this happened? I thought I’d struggle to even get 4lbs but I managed 6! A bit confused.

Replies

  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    Your maintenance is higher than you thought?
  • CharlieBeansmomTracey
    CharlieBeansmomTracey Posts: 7,682 Member
    hoops1888 wrote: »
    Hi Guys

    I do a monthly weigh-in and having had a big surplus of 5000 calories, I worked to cut calories through the month up to weigh-in, so I could lose my 4lb for the month.

    I didn’t manage to get rid of it all before weighin- I was still around 2000 over. However, I had in fact lost 6lbs in the month.

    Can someone explain how this happened? I thought I’d struggle to even get 4lbs but I managed 6! A bit confused.

    how often is the 5000 calorie surplus? is it everyday or just once in awhile? how are you gauging the calories you ?are eating? are you using a food scale or over estimating and what is your age,height,weight and activity level
  • CharlieBeansmomTracey
    CharlieBeansmomTracey Posts: 7,682 Member
    TavistockToad wrote: »
    Your maintenance is higher than you thought?

    being female(profile states this) I dont think her maintenance is higher than 5000 calories do you?
  • __TMac__
    __TMac__ Posts: 1,669 Member
    I read it as having a 5K surplus over the first weeks of the month. And then taking on a massive deficit over the last week or so to make up for that 5K excess calories. Is that correct, hoops1888?
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    edited April 2018
    CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »
    TavistockToad wrote: »
    Your maintenance is higher than you thought?

    being female(profile states this) I dont think her maintenance is higher than 5000 calories do you?

    That isn't what OP is saying...

    She means over the month she has created a 5000 cal surplus, which she got down to 2000 cals surplus, but still lost 6lbs.

    The maths is off somewhere, probably starting with OPs estimated TDEE
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  • CharlieBeansmomTracey
    CharlieBeansmomTracey Posts: 7,682 Member
    TavistockToad wrote: »
    CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »
    TavistockToad wrote: »
    Your maintenance is higher than you thought?

    being female(profile states this) I dont think her maintenance is higher than 5000 calories do you?

    That isn't what OP is saying...

    She means over the month she has created a 5000 cal surplus, which she got down to 2000 cals surplus, but still lost 6lbs.

    The maths is off somewhere, probably starting with OPs estimated TDEE

    well maybe op can clear up what she means then to make sure. I took it as she was in a surpilus of calories but still losing weight as the post says "lost weight despite surplus". maybe shes confused too then
  • RoxieDawn
    RoxieDawn Posts: 15,488 Member
    Some clarification and additional info is needed.

    Did you weigh on the same scale, same time of day same conditions as before? If you are concerned that your deficit is too aggressive, start with making sure your deficit has been created off the right TDEE. You can also reassess your logging and exercise calories (if exercise, eat some of them back), etc.
  • rj0150684
    rj0150684 Posts: 227 Member
    In addition to the (very good) suggestions above, when you say you did a “weigh in”, is this as part of some kind of group or plan? If so, are you weighing in fully clothed in the middle of the day? If so, it could be different clothes, different hydration, different amount of food in your belly, etc. That said, I’d say it’s probably just as likely that you’re overestimating calories in or underestimating calories out.
  • hoops1888
    hoops1888 Posts: 95 Member
    Okay, using the word surplus hasn’t helped here but what Tavistock said is correct.

    I weigh 4 weeks to the day in the morning with no clothes, on the same scale. What is TDEE again? I use a Fitbit all the time and have it linked so maybe it’s underestimating calorie burn or maybe I’m just overestimating some calories. Was just a bit shocked to see the 6lbs. As much as I want to lose weight I’d rather lose it a little slower just so it’s sustainable.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    hoops1888 wrote: »
    Okay, using the word surplus hasn’t helped here but what Tavistock said is correct.

    I weigh 4 weeks to the day in the morning with no clothes, on the same scale. What is TDEE again? I use a Fitbit all the time and have it linked so maybe it’s underestimating calorie burn or maybe I’m just overestimating some calories. Was just a bit shocked to see the 6lbs. As much as I want to lose weight I’d rather lose it a little slower just so it’s sustainable.

    TDEE = Total Daily Energy Expenditure...your maintenance calories with all of your activity accounted for.

    How many calories per day on average are you eating?

    A 5,000 calorie surplus would mean you ate 5,000 calories over maintenance, in which case you wouldn't lose weight.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    Time of month at initial weigh in? That can add several pounds for many women.

    Overestimation of calories in of underestimation of calories out......it's water weight or math.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    hoops1888 wrote: »
    Okay, using the word surplus hasn’t helped here but what Tavistock said is correct.

    I weigh 4 weeks to the day in the morning with no clothes, on the same scale. What is TDEE again? I use a Fitbit all the time and have it linked so maybe it’s underestimating calorie burn or maybe I’m just overestimating some calories. Was just a bit shocked to see the 6lbs. As much as I want to lose weight I’d rather lose it a little slower just so it’s sustainable.

    So just eat a little more?
  • AliceDark
    AliceDark Posts: 3,886 Member
    And also...bodies are just weird sometimes. You can't really say anything for sure based on a single weigh-in. Maybe your body let go of more water weight than expected immediately before the weigh-in. Maybe you're burning more than you think, or not quite tracking as well as you think. Unless this shows a pattern across time, you might have no idea what really contributed to a single lower weigh-in.
  • hoops1888
    hoops1888 Posts: 95 Member
    Okay. I’m thinking I’ll see how next month weigh in goes, I’ll have a better idea. Thank you all for your input!
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,688 Member
    TeaBea wrote: »
    Time of month at initial weigh in? That can add several pounds for many women.

    Overestimation of calories in of underestimation of calories out......it's water weight or math.

    Or: Not everyone's TDEE or NEAT is exactly what the so-called "calculators" estimate. That estimate can be incorrect. It isn't common, but a very small fraction of people it can be incorrect by a surprising amount.
  • CharlieBeansmomTracey
    CharlieBeansmomTracey Posts: 7,682 Member
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    TeaBea wrote: »
    Time of month at initial weigh in? That can add several pounds for many women.

    Overestimation of calories in of underestimation of calories out......it's water weight or math.

    Or: Not everyone's TDEE or NEAT is exactly what the so-called "calculators" estimate. That estimate can be incorrect. It isn't common, but a very small fraction of people it can be incorrect by a surprising amount.

    yep mine is a lot lower than the calculators give me.
  • JaxxieKat
    JaxxieKat Posts: 427 Member
    That's why I used 4 different TDEE calculators be and took an average. Heck, the Bodybuilding forum.TDEE calculator has my maintenance calories at 1345, while IIFYM has them at over 2000.
  • Semele0
    Semele0 Posts: 114 Member
    1) I haven't quite understood the surplus thing. If you're in a 2000 surplus for the whole 4 weeks, well that's nothing, it's less then 100 cals a day. And you mean surplus compared to your maintenance goal or your cutting goal? If you just eat 100 cals a day more then your deficit, you're still in a deficit, so is norma to lose.
    2) May I ask why you weight yourself only every 4 weeks? Our weight fluctuates, so it may be that the day you weighted yourself you were on the lower parte of your range, and maybe if you weighted the day after that too you would have weghted more.
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