Weight gain…

Well, I see several options:
- since you're not good with recording your food intake, you might have increased your food intake (beyond the calories you burn through the exercise) without realising. Cardio can trigger hunger in some people.
- you're using muscles you're not used to exercising, which is most likely leading to water retention in the muscles for muscle repair, masking fat loss on the scale.

I'd give it a few more weeks, perhaps being mindful of your food intake. Perhaps also take some measurements or use some non stretchy clothes to assess your progress (making sure they're not getting tighter, except perhaps your thighs and calves with could be developing muscles.

amoangelus wrote: »

I’ve started cycling with my daughter alternating between scooting alongside me and sitting in the trailer. We do about 20 miles a day 2-3 times a week usually over flattish terrain but we also go up a mountain and over the hills if the mood strikes.

Since I started doing this my weight loss (53lb so far) has stalled and then I’ve gained a couple of pounds back.

So I’m wondering if this could be a temporary weight gain as I get fitter and gain muscle? I’m not really sure how it works and I’m terrible about recording my food intake, I keep forgetting, so I know it’s pure guesswork here but… any advice?

That could very well be a big part of it. When you were 53 Lbs heavier you had more wiggle room...with losing 53 Lbs your calorie needs have decreased. Exercise can also increase appetite and a lot of people subconsciously eat more when they start exercising. The human body strives for homeostasis. New exercise or increased intensity of exercise also causes water retention to aid in the repair of tissues that have been broken down. So really, it could be one or more of several different posibilities.