Why am I gaining weight?

mebegreen
mebegreen Posts: 37
edited October 3 in Motivation and Support
I have been honestly tracking my food and exercise... and I have gained 2 pounds. I understand that maybe I am building muscle... but a whole 2 pounds?! I don't think that is right. Check out my diary and see if I am missing something here... Maybe I am going to the gym too much? Not eating enough? Thoughts anyone?

Thank you in advance!

Replies

  • Justjoshin
    Justjoshin Posts: 999 Member
    Your diary is private.
  • sixpacking
    sixpacking Posts: 148 Member
    Your diary is private, cannot see.
  • jrich1
    jrich1 Posts: 2,408 Member
    Probably water weight.. your body normally fluctuates 2-4lbs either way. Are you doing weights or a new workout? This might be the answer.
  • UsedToBeHusky
    UsedToBeHusky Posts: 15,228 Member
    Hard to check out your diary if you have it locked. If I were you, I would look into your sodium-potassium intake.
  • chevy88grl
    chevy88grl Posts: 3,937 Member
    Your diary is locked.


    Are you eating enough? Are you watching your sodium? How about water? Are you drinking enough of it?
  • divabucks81
    divabucks81 Posts: 1 Member
    HI...I am not a expert , but did you also take down your inches? alot of times , your weight may not go down or may go up but you are losing inches... I know alot of people who did a weight loss program and who were working out alot and they didnt lose anything, but lost 3 or 4 inches... just a suggestion.
  • mebegreen
    mebegreen Posts: 37
    How do I unlock it? Sorry I thought it was open!
  • dshalbert
    dshalbert Posts: 677 Member
    It could be a lot of things, but a lot of times it's water retention. If it's over a period of a week or so dont be suprised if it suddenly goes away.
  • debgcook
    debgcook Posts: 64
    Go to your setting and check out there to unlock it.
  • mebegreen
    mebegreen Posts: 37
    I do drink a lot of water throughout the day...

    I also forgot to mention I have a hypothyroid... maybe I need to go see a specialist about that. I don't feel like my general doctor really knows about it.

    Thank you everyone for the advice! I will start taking my actual measurements! I think that is a great idea :)
  • gsager
    gsager Posts: 977 Member
    I can't really tell some days you seem to eat plenty and others you don't and you are taking in very much protein so your not putting on muscle. Just stick with what your doing a while longer and try in increase your protein.
  • MelissaL582
    MelissaL582 Posts: 1,422 Member
    I would start watching your sodium. All that salt will hold onto that water weight and see the doctor about your hypothyroid.
  • aochoa123
    aochoa123 Posts: 299 Member
    How do I unlock it? Sorry I thought it was open!

    Setting then diary settings all the way to the bottom and you can change your diary setting.
  • My1985Freckles
    My1985Freckles Posts: 1,039 Member
    Start tracking your sodium. Make sure you keep it in check. Also, how do you determine your exercise calories? MFP and machines are usually WRONG. And often overestimate. So if you eat back your exercise calories, you are actually eating too much. Get a HRM with a chest strap to get your accurate calorie burn.
  • aochoa123
    aochoa123 Posts: 299 Member
    Start tracking your sodium. Make sure you keep it in check. Also, how do you determine your exercise calories? MFP and machines are usually WRONG. And often overestimate. So if you eat back your exercise calories, you are actually eating too much. Get a HRM with a chest strap to get your accurate calorie burn.

    This exactly. I would assume that you may be getting too much sodium and not enough water. Do you drink water? I didn't see where you track it.
  • rbryntes
    rbryntes Posts: 710 Member
    are you possibly overestimating your exercise calories?
  • Cruz2Fit
    Cruz2Fit Posts: 159 Member
    My husband literally just sent me this from his nursing class:
    "As muscle mass increases so does water percent to be able to support ur system. Weight loss diminished."

    I went through your SAME issue two weeks ago. It finally broke and I lost 4 lbs suddenly. Stop weighing often and measure yourself. I know.... it sucks, but trust me, roll with it. Keep up your good habits, increase your water and ROLL WITH IT!!!
  • mebegreen
    mebegreen Posts: 37
    Start tracking your sodium. Make sure you keep it in check. Also, how do you determine your exercise calories? MFP and machines are usually WRONG. And often overestimate. So if you eat back your exercise calories, you are actually eating too much. Get a HRM with a chest strap to get your accurate calorie burn.

    I will look into getting a HRM - thank you :)

    I take cardio classes and weight training classes at my gym and I have talked with the trainers about approximate calorie burn - so I track most of my cardio classes at 520ish calories and the weight training classes 300 or less.
  • SlimSadieG
    SlimSadieG Posts: 323 Member
    Maybe you could try adding the sugar "column" to your diary in your settings and see if you are going over on that by a bit too much?

    Disclaimer: I started typing this and then got a call at work, so apologies if this has already been said!
  • mebegreen
    mebegreen Posts: 37
    Start tracking your sodium. Make sure you keep it in check. Also, how do you determine your exercise calories? MFP and machines are usually WRONG. And often overestimate. So if you eat back your exercise calories, you are actually eating too much. Get a HRM with a chest strap to get your accurate calorie burn.

    This exactly. I would assume that you may be getting too much sodium and not enough water. Do you drink water? I didn't see where you track it.

    I drink about 5 12oz of hot herbal tea at work (caffein free) and then I drink water at the gym and at home I will drink more hot tea and more water at dinner... so i think I am ok in the water department. As far as sodium... I should start tracking that... never thought about that. Thanks!
  • mebegreen
    mebegreen Posts: 37
    My husband literally just sent me this from his nursing class:
    "As muscle mass increases so does water percent to be able to support ur system. Weight loss diminished."

    I went through your SAME issue two weeks ago. It finally broke and I lost 4 lbs suddenly. Stop weighing often and measure yourself. I know.... it sucks, but trust me, roll with it. Keep up your good habits, increase your water and ROLL WITH IT!!!

    Thanks!! That is great advice :) and that makes sense too. Definitely going to start measuring myself!
  • GalaxyDuck
    GalaxyDuck Posts: 406 Member
    I've taken a look through a few weeks of your food diary and it generally looks good. Doesn't seem like you're eating a lot of processed food. I agree with what others have said, you need to start tracking your sodium. I try to keep mine around 1500 mgs a day, the daily recommended amount for adults. You can adjust your sodium macro by editing your goals.

    The only other suggestion I have is in regards to your exercise calories. It seems like you typically burn between 400-600 calories through exercise and generally don't appear to be eating those back. My suggestions are to make sure you're being as accurate as possible with your calorie burns, underestimate rather than overestimate if you're just using the MFP database. And try eating 50-75% of those calories back.

    If you have any questions, feel free to msg/friend me. Good luck!
  • tomomatic
    tomomatic Posts: 1,794 Member
    (Congrats on what you've lost already. I think you're doing well!)

    are you on any kind of medication for Hypothyroid that will affect your weight or how much water you retain?

    How are you measuring your workout intensity? At some point, the routine that I was doing was no longer challenging my body. I wasn't even breaking 100bpm and I should've been trying to keep it around 120-140bpm. I cranked up the resistance and added light weights to my cardio routine.
  • runnerjenn0708
    runnerjenn0708 Posts: 400 Member
    Looked at your diary ... way to go!! Everyone is different, but I can tell you what has worked for me thus far.... I try and eat as much as my calories back ... at first I felt bad about this, but I have been on here for 60 days now, and have seen a tremendous difference!! Two suggestions perhaps that also worked for me.... eat smaller meals through out the day ... split ur salads into 2's or 3's. I changed my meal schedule to show .. early breakfast .. brunch.. late lunch.. dinner .. and snacks ... this helps me to remember when I have forgotten meals and to keep on track.... One last thing ... drink more water ... Im sure you have heard this a million times like I have ... but I promise, if you force your self to drink more, u'll find it helps by processing your foods internally, and it helps fill ya up :)

    I know this sometimes can be a struggle, but stick with it... you're doing fantastic :) It's a life changing thang that we ALL will over-come....

    Jennifer
  • TMcBooty
    TMcBooty Posts: 780 Member
    Sodium looks to be your problem. I am sodium sensitive. I had 2 pieces of pizza on Saturday. Sunday morning I was up 2lbs and Monday I drank an extra 2 cups (10 cups total) of water and this morning I was back down.. but if you are keeping your sodium high it doesn't have the chance to go back to the right weight. Less sodium and track your water.. at least 8 cups since IDK how much you drink.
  • mebegreen
    mebegreen Posts: 37
    (Congrats on what you've lost already. I think you're doing well!)

    are you on any kind of medication for Hypothyroid that will affect your weight or how much water you retain?

    How are you measuring your workout intensity? At some point, the routine that I was doing was no longer challenging my body. I wasn't even breaking 100bpm and I should've been trying to keep it around 120-140bpm. I cranked up the resistance and added light weights to my cardio routine.

    I do have a hypothyroid and I am taking levothyroxine... so I do know I have to work really really hard to loose the weight. Maybe I do have to step up the work outs... I have been going to the gym 4-6 times a week... maybe I should stick to 6 times and do different things... thanks!
  • UsedToBeHusky
    UsedToBeHusky Posts: 15,228 Member
    Sodium does seem to be a problem. Potassium cancels out sodium. If you get relatively close quantities in a day, you can usually prevent water retention. Also, (and this is just based on what I have perceived) but high fiber seems to also help with sodium when balanced appropriately with the right amount of water. I try to shoot for 30 to 35 g of fiber a day even though MFP only wants me to have 16 g per day. I drink lots and lots of water to keep it from binding me up. I find that if I get over 30 g of fiber and at least 64 oz of water in a day, I can go over in sodium and not retain water. However, there are limitations to how far over in sodium your body can tolerate so be careful. I just recommend the extra fiber if you happen to go over and don't have enough potassium. Kind of a counter measure, just in case.
  • devoralie
    devoralie Posts: 8
    You're amazing, darling! xoxoxo Just offering support here, not advice since these folks seem to know more than me :) Always feel free to call me when you are frustrated or upset <3
  • mebegreen
    mebegreen Posts: 37
    You're amazing, darling! xoxoxo Just offering support here, not advice since these folks seem to know more than me :) Always feel free to call me when you are frustrated or upset <3

    Love you!! Yer the best! Just had a little moment this morning... kind of a buzz kill, lol. But I shall carry on!

    Thanks darling!
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