Putting on weight in the beginning?

KirstenRLD
KirstenRLD Posts: 54
edited October 3 in Health and Weight Loss
Hey,
I hope this is the right place to post this.

I'm coming to the end of my first week here. I have been keeping within the calorie allowance and I've started working out. But when I came to weigh myself today I've put on 1 lb (I know it really isn't much but I was expecting a loss and I'm a little confused).

Just wondering if this has happened to anyone else or just me. I'm not too sure of any further changes I could make if I have done something wrong.

Replies

  • jemachharo
    jemachharo Posts: 144 Member
    If you make your food diary public we can see what you are eating to help make suggestions. I have found that it is important to eat the right food, not just less of what you've been eating.

    Stick with it. You'll do great!
  • sjtreely
    sjtreely Posts: 1,014 Member
    If you make your food diary public we can see what you are eating to help make suggestions. I have found that it is important to eat the right food, not just less of what you've been eating.

    Stick with it. You'll do great!

    Yup, ^^ this ^^. Adjust your food diary to show sodium, too. That way we can see you sodium and your water intake and other things that might jump out as possible reasons.
  • Candice83
    Candice83 Posts: 217 Member
    also make sure you weigh yourself first thing in the morning...
  • epoint
    epoint Posts: 88
    Have you just begun an exercise program too? I know that when I start anything new that I'm not used to, even walking further, or hiking in a more hilly terrain, I tend to weigh more for a couple of days. I've always assumed that it's water retention due to the healing process in my muscles.
  • KirstenRLD
    KirstenRLD Posts: 54
    okay diary is now public, didnt know you could do that :)
    its not the best in the world looking back, im sure theres changes i could make to it. im just a little clueless with things like this so any advice is most welcome.
    ive decided to weigh myself first thing every sunday morning.
    i suppose im just really impatient
  • KirstenRLD
    KirstenRLD Posts: 54
    yeah, ive only just begun working out. i have been doing yoga and using a treadmill
  • elmsallmissile
    elmsallmissile Posts: 86
    If you start using muscles they store Glycogen, to do this the glycogen needs 4 parts water with it, hence weight gain, but is insignificant.
  • KirstenRLD
    KirstenRLD Posts: 54
    If you start using muscles they store Glycogen, to do this the glycogen needs 4 parts water with it, hence weight gain, but is insignificant.

    so drinking more water would help with this?
    sorry if i sound stupid im just really new to this.
  • sjtreely
    sjtreely Posts: 1,014 Member
    I did a once over quick view and didn't see anything too striking as to why you'd have a gain. However, here are some things to keep in mind ...

    Be very truthful with yourself - both in entering your food and and calories burned. Research suggests even those who are watching their weight under estimate how much they eat and over estimate how many calories they burn. Weigh and measure everything. Write everything down.

    Also, it's been my experience that MFP is overly generous with the calories awarded for exercise. My HRM is ALWAYS lower - sometimes to the tune of 200-300 per exercise session. That's quite a bit. Be honest with yourself on how much you truly burn.

    Drink water. Drink water. Drink water. There were a couple days towards the end of the week you didn't drink any - or you may have forgotten to enter them. If you can, make water your drink of choice.

    Your sodium looks fine. Your calories look fine. Could your cycle be on its way?

    There are many reasons why weight gain for a week can happen. However, being persistent pays off. Let this weigh in go and focus on today. Most likely next week's weigh in will show your efforts. Also, as a PP said, weigh in in the mornings - or at minimum, weigh in at the same time every every week wearing (or not wearing) the same thing.
  • KirstenRLD
    KirstenRLD Posts: 54
    I did a once over quick view and didn't see anything too striking as to why you'd have a gain. However, here are some things to keep in mind ...

    Be very truthful with yourself - both in entering your food and and calories burned. Research suggests even those who are watching their weight under estimate how much they eat and over estimate how many calories they burn. Weigh and measure everything. Write everything down.

    Also, it's been my experience that MFP is overly generous with the calories awarded for exercise. My HRM is ALWAYS lower - sometimes to the tune of 200-300 per exercise session. That's quite a bit. Be honest with yourself on how much you truly burn.

    Drink water. Drink water. Drink water. There were a couple days towards the end of the week you didn't drink any - or you may have forgotten to enter them. If you can, make water your drink of choice.

    Your sodium looks fine. Your calories look fine. Could your cycle be on its way?

    There are many reasons why weight gain for a week can happen. However, being persistent pays off. Let this weigh in go and focus on today. Most likely next week's weigh in will show your efforts. Also, as a PP said, weigh in in the mornings - or at minimum, weigh in at the same time every every week wearing (or not wearing) the same thing.

    this is a big help, im very grateful :)
    thankyou for checking over my diary for me.
    i'll see how i do next week
  • elmsallmissile
    elmsallmissile Posts: 86
    You don't need to get as anal about fluid intake as most on here, if you are thirsty drink, if not don't bother.
  • 1grammie
    1grammie Posts: 163
    It can be really discouraging when you are trying to do everything right and the scales don't show results. I think that is why people give up early but the important thing is keep trying. It may take more than a week for your body to adjust and begin to show a loss. As you go along you can try new things and see what works for you. Hang in there and don't give up.
  • KirstenRLD
    KirstenRLD Posts: 54
    i'm gonna try even harder over the coming week. fingers crossed i will start seeing an improvement soon :)
  • sjtreely
    sjtreely Posts: 1,014 Member
    You don't need to get as anal about fluid intake as most on here, if you are thirsty drink, if not don't bother.

    I'm not sure exactly what "anal" would mean as it's a subjective term. However, I would encourage you to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. A glass is considered 8 oz. Many nutritionists, health care professionals, and personal trainers also recommend a minimum of 8 glasses - more if you're exercising.

    Many people become dehydrated without realizing it. Dehydration can cause headaches and be confused with hunger. You can judge your consumption by the color of your urine. If your urine is a very pale yellow to clear you may be drinking too much water. If it's a dark yellow - you're usually not drinking enough.

    Water is cheap. It's healthy and helps cleanse the body. And, unless consumed too excessively, it offers no ill side effects. I'd bump your intake up and see what happens.
  • kat_renee
    kat_renee Posts: 131 Member
    What type of workout are you doing? Muscle weighs more than fat so maybe your gaining muscle.
  • RobynC79
    RobynC79 Posts: 331 Member
    If you just started working out (treadmill suggests running?) and you are working some large muscle groups harder than they're used to, you are going to have some swelling associated with the micro-damage that comes from fatiguing muscles that are unaccustomed to it.
    Swelling requires fluid, so you can bet you've got a substantial amount of extra fluid being held in those muscles. Give it another week or two for your body to adjust. Drink plenty of water and try to keep a check on salt, and you will probably see several weeks of progress on the scale all at once.
  • KirstenRLD
    KirstenRLD Posts: 54
    If you just started working out (treadmill suggests running?) and you are working some large muscle groups harder than they're used to, you are going to have some swelling associated with the micro-damage that comes from fatiguing muscles that are unaccustomed to it.
    Swelling requires fluid, so you can bet you've got a substantial amount of extra fluid being held in those muscles. Give it another week or two for your body to adjust. Drink plenty of water and try to keep a check on salt, and you will probably see several weeks of progress on the scale all at once.

    thankyou, this sounds about right as i'm a total beginner to running.
  • KirstenRLD
    KirstenRLD Posts: 54
    What type of workout are you doing? Muscle weighs more than fat so maybe your gaining muscle.

    i've been running on the treadmill and doing yoga.
    i hadn't thought of gaining muscle, you've made a good point.
  • LauraHasABabyJack
    LauraHasABabyJack Posts: 629 Member
    I don't think its that odd to put on a little bit at the beginning. My brother is a trainer (he has a master's degree!) and he says no weight loss for up to a month after starting a new routine is very common and is typically the reason why most people give up so quickly- they aren't seeing immediate results. Keep at it and you will get there! :smile:
  • KirstenRLD
    KirstenRLD Posts: 54
    You don't need to get as anal about fluid intake as most on here, if you are thirsty drink, if not don't bother.

    I'm not sure exactly what "anal" would mean as it's a subjective term. However, I would encourage you to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. A glass is considered 8 oz. Many nutritionists, health care professionals, and personal trainers also recommend a minimum of 8 glasses - more if you're exercising.

    Many people become dehydrated without realizing it. Dehydration can cause headaches and be confused with hunger. You can judge your consumption by the color of your urine. If your urine is a very pale yellow to clear you may be drinking too much water. If it's a dark yellow - you're usually not drinking enough.

    Water is cheap. It's healthy and helps cleanse the body. And, unless consumed too excessively, it offers no ill side effects. I'd bump your intake up and see what happens.

    i'll definitely start drinking more water. seems to be something a lot of people are recommending.
    would i be right in saying it would help with puffiness around my ankles and knees? or is that a myth?
  • KirstenRLD
    KirstenRLD Posts: 54
    I don't think its that odd to put on a little bit at the beginning. My brother is a trainer (he has a master's degree!) and he says no weight loss for up to a month after starting a new routine is very common and is typically the reason why most people give up so quickly- they aren't seeing immediate results. Keep at it and you will get there! :smile:

    thanks for this :) i think im too impatient for my own good
  • LauraHasABabyJack
    LauraHasABabyJack Posts: 629 Member
    It took me a full month before I lost a single pound but I was expecting it. What I did to help keep myself motivated was to take a few measurement like arms, thighs, belly etc. and took them again once in a while. The scale wasn't moving but I was dropping inches and that was very reassuring.
  • withchaco
    withchaco Posts: 1,026 Member
    What type of workout are you doing? Muscle weighs more than fat so maybe your gaining muscle.

    i've been running on the treadmill and doing yoga.
    i hadn't thought of gaining muscle, you've made a good point.
    You're not gonna gain muscle that fast. Females can gain roughly half a pound of muscle per month IF they're training specifically to gain muscle.

    Muscles do retain extra water (in addition to glycogen) when you're working out, though. So yeah, mystery weight gains are usually water weight, and/or the weight of the food in your stomach.
  • Serialdieter
    Serialdieter Posts: 114
    This is now my 3rd week on MFP and on my first week I gained 2lbs at that point I wasnt logging my food on here I was just reading the boards and cutting down the 2nd week I logged everything I ate and put in my excercise daily and lo and behold I dropped 6 lbs in one week and 2lbs this week. I have started exercising something I never did and I havent gained anything yet due to that.

    Keep going and good luck x
  • Serialdieter
    Serialdieter Posts: 114
    Forgot to add make sure you take your measurements in the first week I gained 2lbs but lost 0.5 inch of my waist ,chest and neck. You may see a difference in inches rather than on the scales some weeks.
  • sarahsedai
    sarahsedai Posts: 273 Member
    You don't need to get as anal about fluid intake as most on here, if you are thirsty drink, if not don't bother.

    if you're thirsty, your cells are already dehydrated, so you definitely should bother.
  • p0stdramatic
    p0stdramatic Posts: 372
    You don't need to get as anal about fluid intake as most on here, if you are thirsty drink, if not don't bother.

    if you're thirsty, your cells are already dehydrated, so you definitely should bother.


    Definitely this ^
  • servilia
    servilia Posts: 3,452 Member
    I can put on a lb from drinking 2 cups of water - I don't mean it's fat, but making the point that a lot of factors are at play. There are tons of day to day (and hour to hour) fluctuations so if you're only weighing once a week you can get a totally irrelevant result.
  • Angellore
    Angellore Posts: 519 Member
    I agree with those that have said that you should get the water in. I drink mine with a sugar free kool aid type flavouring added to it, as otherwise I just don't drink enough as I don't like the taste of plain water. Personally, I feel that it makes a difference.
  • KirstenRLD
    KirstenRLD Posts: 54
    thanks a lot to everybody for the advice :)
    there were things people have mentioned that hadn't even crossed my mind.
    I've got a lot to take on board, and will hopefully be seeing a change soon
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