doing exercise, eating my calories and under my gol but gain

I have been up and down too which is really frustrating as I can honestly say I have never put this much effort into losing weight before; however I can feel that I am stronger and my cardio endurance has increased, just wish that would be reflected on the scale!

I try to never eat my exercise calories. I try to underestimate calories burned as it's very ambiguous. It's my 'buffer' to allow me to have a deficit and lose weight. It's easy to overeat calories, that's why I'm here in the first place. I've been losing each week ...sometimes a very miniscule amount and sometimes a larger # of lbs. This works for me. Maybe it can help you...don't give up.

You are logging things as exercise that you shouldn't be.

Walking while carrying a child for 5 minutes?
Cooking Dinner?
Cleaning for 15 minutes?

These things are all daily activities.
Just because you cooked dinner, doesn't mean you get to eat more calories.


When you are walking/elliptical are you wearing a Heart rate Monitor or are you just guessing on calories?


Are you being honest on the quantity you are eating or just guessing?


I do not agree with the "eat more" comments. I think you're cheating on cals burned, and eating back too many calories (most days)

The scale is the least accurate measurement of true fat loss. That is why most suggest measuring yourself. Retaining water can mask small gains in weightloss. Any number of things can affect this, from how much sodium you eat/water you drink to the time of the month. Also when you first start working out, it isn't uncommon to gain a little weight as your muscles retain water as they heal.
I haven't seen much movement on the scale in the past couple of weeks but I am seeing a huge difference in my body. I also put on 3 lbs on the weekend from a cheat day. Most of that has to do with sodium causing water retention.

How long have you been at it?
Are you logging accurately? I mean measuring everything.
Are you logging everything, even the small additions?
What kind of exercise are you doing and how are you getting your calories burned (ie are you using a heartrate monitor)?
Is there a possible medical issue or medications that could be causing a problem?

Keep at it.

You are logging things as exercise that you shouldn't be.

Walking while carrying a child for 5 minutes?
Cooking Dinner?
Cleaning for 15 minutes?

These things are all daily activities.
Just because you cooked dinner, doesn't mean you get to eat more calories.


When you are walking/elliptical are you wearing a Heart rate Monitor or are you just guessing on calories?


Are you being honest on the quantity you are eating or just guessing?


I do not agree with the "eat more" comments. I think you're cheating on cals burned, and eating back too many calories (most days)

Ditto this - you are really overestimating the calories you burn each day, and then overcompensating - basically, you are eating too much. Also, unless you are taking steroids, you are not putting on that much muscle.

I just looked at your diet, even though you are eating below your calories you are eating a very poor diet. You never eat any protein are kind of high on the wrong kind of fats, and you eat too many simple carbs. You need to start eating some lean proteins, baked or grilled chicken, baked fish, turkey from the deli, eggs. Also I don't really see any fruits and vegetables in your diet. And you are eating pork which is high in fat and a major nono.... As I always tell people it isn't how many calories you eat, it is what you eat. If you eat the right foods you will lose the weight.

Is incredible, i have been doing every day under my goal calorie eating my exercise work and givin a extras exercise calorie and i gain a pound, should be lose a pound but i gain, how come? Feeling confused! Help!

I know someday a eat more but i burn this calories,... I m thinking going back to the couch feeling down!

Don't eat your exercise calories, everybody is different. it may not work for everybody. It doesn't work for me, but I do eat 1400 calories a day instead of 1200. You may want to increase your calorie intake to 1400 whether you workout that day or not.

Also, you may be WAY off on your calorie burning. Try not eating your exercise calories and increase calorie intake, see what happens.

When I did this the weight started falling off.. I was at a plateau for a very long time,,,, until I tried something different...

eggs are cheep, 100% wheat bread is cheep, big jars of peanut butter is cheep, tunafish is cheep, buy bags of frozen chicken or fish and then bake them... that is cheep, FIberone cereal, frozen vegetables, banannas, etc... all things you can get for cheep and eat healthy... Also it looked like you went out to eat some times, eating healthy at home is a lot cheeper

Ah man, you don't like veggies? Really? Sweet potatoes, potatoes, cucumbers, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, nothing? I like eating veggies because you get a big portion for very few calories, plus I put cheese on it to taste even better!!! Yummy! I put a teaspoon of brown sugar on my sweet potatoe. I usually cook it the night before work then have 1/2 for lunch one day, and the other 1/2 on another day. 2 days to get veggies in!

Even if you have a tight budget you can still eat healthy and low cal. I really wish people wouldn't use that as an excuse. You could buy Morning Star veggie Sausage, yes I know it's $4, but you can get quite a few breakfasts out of it. You can buy eggs and an egg white seperator ($2) to have just egg whites (if you wanted to save a few calories that way). Frozen store brand name veggies are an excellent way to save some cash AND they won't go bad. I also like Bumble Bee tuna packets with crackers.. they are aprox $1.50 and get a decent snack or lunch out of them. Bread is cheap and then buy some natural peanut butter (little more expensive, but not by much and last a very long time) and reduced sugar jelly. Drink tap water instead of orange juice or beer or wine or soda. Etc. Etc Etc.. I could go on and on, you just have to think outside the box. Stop using the excuse that you have a minnie income.. if you have a kitchen, you can still eat healthy on a very small income. But make sure it is food that you enjoy, or it will be a waste of money.