Lockdown + Furlough = Hello weight gain!

steph91mfp
steph91mfp Posts: 2 Member
in Introduce Yourself
Hello everyone! I’m just looking for a little advice before I literally turn into An emotional wreck! But firstly I’d thought I’d start by introducing myself. So, ever since the first lockdown and being put on furlough last March my weight has plummeted! I never suffered from anxiety before but when all this began I really did experience it, to the point where I was too worried to leave my flat so went months without exercising. This has caused me to gain over a stone in weight. Just before Christmas I was called back to work so had no choice but to leave the house, so once I got used to that idea I decided I needed to start getting out and about, so I began going for walks with my partner to get my confidence back otherwise I knew i would end up becoming heavier and heavier. Since then we have been going for hour walks each day and it wasn’t until after the new year we started eating healthy as well, as we both needed to lose some weight. I’m now onto my 3rd week. Last week I weighed myself and was thrilled to lose 4lbs, I was over the moon. However this morning is weigh day and I woke up and discovered Iv put back on that 4 lbs, plus another lb! So 5lbs more than I was last week! Iv been eating healthy just like I have been the other weeks, and if anything Iv been going on longer walks everyday apart from Fridays, and I even track the walks to see the steps and the calories burnt to give me more motivation. I literally feel like crying! Please someone advise on what/how this is happening? The only thing I can think of is the fact that this week all Iv been having for lunch is canned soups? I know they can contain a lot of sodium so wondering if it’s the salt intake, or water intake/muscle gain from the walks. I really don’t understand it !

Replies

  • tinkerbellang83
    tinkerbellang83 Posts: 9,152 Member
    edited February 2021
    It is definitely not muscle gain from walking whilst eating at a deficit.

    It could be one of a million things contributing to water weight fluctuations - sodium intake, carb intake, hormones, hydration level, increased or more intense exercise, medication and extreme weather are some of the most common. I gain/lose as much as 7lbs daily depending on what I am eating and where in my monthly cycle I am, but I use a trendweight app (Libra for Android/Happy Scale for iOS) that helps smooth out the data over a longer period.

    It takes approximately 3500 calories above maintenance to gain 1lb of Fat, if you're logging accurately and consistently sticking to your calorie goal, then you know you haven't done that - so trust the maths.

    Contrary to popular belief (and also compounded by the media/diet industry) weight loss is not linear, you are unlikely to see your expected rate of loss on the scale every week, because the scale doesn't just reflect fat in the body, it's your overall mass and the rate of loss is seen by trending your data over a much longer period of time than just week-to-week.

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    Edited to add - with just over a stone to lose, you shouldn't be expecting to lose more than 0.5lbs per week and you will be more likely to see weight loss masked by water fluctuations as you get closer to goal.
  • rethagos
    rethagos Posts: 4 Member
    Hey Steph!

    Weight fluctuations are completely normal, especially if you don't eat the same stuff every day.
    It's mostly water + stuff that's sitting in your stomach. It can weigh a lot, for me it can even be 5-6lbs.

    Carbs can make your body retain a lot of water.

    If you are consistently below the BMR, you shouldn't be gaining fat really. Just make sure that you are below the BMR and you should be good to go.

    If you're extra anxious, study the macronutrients of the stuff you eat, and make adjustments if you need.

    Good luck!
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    Hi Steph.
    And breathe.... :smiley:

    It's hard when you start something to immediately trust the process and look long term but that is what you need to do. Your weight fluctuations out of line with your calorie balance are going to be individual and you have to both learn them and importantly - accept them.

    I'm having a Thai meal tonight and fully expect that to result in a water weight bounce tomorrow morning but over an extended period of time it's completely irrelevant. Probably not as much of a bounce as a Chinese meal which can lead to an overnight 5lb bounce of water weight. It can be quite entertaining and amusing in a perverse way!

    Don't give your bathroom scales the power to derail you from the positive changes you are making in difficult times.
  • tinkerbellang83
    tinkerbellang83 Posts: 9,152 Member
    rethagos wrote: »
    Hey Steph!

    Weight fluctuations are completely normal, especially if you don't eat the same stuff every day.
    It's mostly water + stuff that's sitting in your stomach. It can weigh a lot, for me it can even be 5-6lbs.

    Carbs can make your body retain a lot of water.

    If you are consistently below the BMR, you shouldn't be gaining fat really. Just make sure that you are below the BMR and you should be good to go.

    If you're extra anxious, study the macronutrients of the stuff you eat, and make adjustments if you need.

    Good luck!

    You don't need to be below your BMR (Calorie burn when the body is at basic functioning) to lose fat, particularly with as little to lose as OP does, you just need to be below your TDEE (Calorie burn for all activity & any exercise).

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