Gaining weight and working out

@leesmomx3 I could have written this post last Feb, you’re definitely not alone. After 3 months with a trainer, a goal to reduce inches and lose a small amount of weight, I ended up gaining something like 8lbs. To spend that much money, time, and energy and go the opposite direction was depressing. In fact, I justified the costs as it would also help me with my mental health, but unfortunately due to these unexpected changes it made it worse.

I canceled my personal trainer month 4 and felt really disappointed in myself but I didn’t want to continue down this slippery slope. Here’s what happened after.

I lost I think it was 2-3 lbs almost immediately from the water weight. But the hunger and always thinking about food part didn’t go away. That was rough. I hadn’t had such disordered thinking since I was in college so it was worrisome. So I jumped on MFP to get clear direct answers like the others here did for you. I knew I needed to track calories better even though I felt I was doing everything right but little mistakes and frequent ones unfortunately don’t lie on the scale.

I don’t feel like I got a handle on my hunger and weight loss again for a couple of months, but I didn’t give up. Finally, trying repeatedly, stuck and I started to find myself again and get my hunger under control. I’m just barely under where I started at the gym and that feels like a massive win. More so mentally than anything. I’m not hungry all the time, obsessing over food, I’m less irritated, and losing that heavy feeling.

What I’m doing instead? I’m learning golf and tennis. Turns out I really like tennis! Talk about a workout. I got a 2 person kayak so I’m excited to add that to my activity list. I’m also swimming regularly and tracking my calories and seeing results. My mental health has improved dramatically, doing something that’s both fun and challenging. And these activities don’t create that spike in hunger that I can’t satiate.

I really wanted to be someone that had a trainer and met all my goals, loved the gym, and had those amazing before and after photos that you see here. I never heard this side of the story about the gym and the hunger before. In fact I came here asking the same questions you did, why am I gaining after 3 months?? Never knew about the water weight, never knew how hungry I’d be, and certainly didn’t know how it would take up most of my thoughts. It’s like I couldn’t shut it off and just live my life because I was going the opposite direction of my goals. This really frustrated me.

Anyway, sorry for the rant. And I don’t know what will work best for you tbh. Maybe you’ll get a handle on your calories through tracking with a food scale. Or maybe you’ll be like me where I felt I needed more calories than I could have working out at the gym so needed to pivot. They’re both good options and can work. But you’re not alone and not a failure. And sometimes with weightlifting it’s not just about tracking your calories and you’ll be fine. It wasn’t for me. You have to decide how much you love it and are invested. If everything else is working out- great!, track your calories, change up your macros, and ask questions just like you’re doing. I really hope you nothing but the best!