Weight Gain Despite Hard Work

bodavian
bodavian Posts: 8 Member
edited November 12 in Health and Weight Loss
I'm having issues with not only not being able to lose weight, but even maintaining my weight. I have always been very active and have been working out harder than ever before over the past few months doing various cardio exercises mixed with light strength training. I eat every few hours, getting between 1300 and 1500 calories daily, sometimes more if I've been particularly active.

At first I thought I was initially gaining weight (about a pound per week) because I was gaining more muscle, but I'm now noticing the fat accumulating around my belly, thighs, and butt. I don't understand what I am doing wrong. I feel strong, but the scale and tape measure indicate that something is not right. I started at 120 pounds in December, and now I'm at 134. I don't know. I'm just befuddled.

Any advice?

Replies

  • rcramer7
    rcramer7 Posts: 138 Member
    I looked at your diary real quick.

    I didn't anal-lize what you eat but, I looked at how you eat.

    When you do cardio you burn calories. When you're done w/cardio you stop burning calories.

    When you lift weights you burn calories and tear muscle fiber. When you're done lifting weights your body needs to be re-fueled. ie;protien (whey shake, food), water. Then it starts to rebuild itself. this happens over days, unlike cardio so, you need to rest. Meaning not lift weights for 24-48 hours. This whole proccess burns fat and calories over and over.

    Judging by your eating habits you don't eat dinner. They say breakfast is the most important. They say that because over night your body is recruiting all the nutrients it can to repair what you did to that day. BUT, If you didn't feed it dinner before bed the little soldiers can't fight.

    Your body will take matters into its own hands and store food as fat for when it needs it.



    And you need more protien!
  • dinosnopro
    dinosnopro Posts: 2,177 Member
    If you are gaining a pound a week and you can see it also, you are missing something in your calorie counting. The only way to gain that much is to eat at a caloric surplus of 3,500 (3,500 calories = 1 lb) calories above your maintenance calories for that week. Either your settings are off or you are not logging everything.


    Try this site, plus look up some other TDEE calculators. Hope this helps.


    http://www.fitnessfrog.com/calculators/tdee-calculator.html
  • rcramer7
    rcramer7 Posts: 138 Member
    If you are gaining a pound a week and you can see it also, you are missing something in your calorie counting. The only way to gain that much is to eat at a caloric surplus of 3,500 (3,500 calories = 1 lb) calories above your maintenance calories for that week. Either your settings are off or you are not logging everything.


    Try this site, plus look up some other TDEE calculators. Hope this helps.


    http://www.fitnessfrog.com/calculators/tdee-calculator.html

    Great progress picture. That could be me in your before.
  • dinosnopro
    dinosnopro Posts: 2,177 Member
    If you are gaining a pound a week and you can see it also, you are missing something in your calorie counting. The only way to gain that much is to eat at a caloric surplus of 3,500 (3,500 calories = 1 lb) calories above your maintenance calories for that week. Either your settings are off or you are not logging everything.


    Try this site, plus look up some other TDEE calculators. Hope this helps.


    http://www.fitnessfrog.com/calculators/tdee-calculator.html

    Great progress picture. That could be me in your before.


    thanks
  • bodavian
    bodavian Posts: 8 Member
    .
  • kandrews24
    kandrews24 Posts: 610 Member
    Did you recently quite smoking or add/drop medication? Are you extremely stressed? What has changed in your life? This doesn't make any sense.

    It you know you are being truthful about your calorie intake (reading labels, measuring) and if you are being accurate about your exercise (using a heart rate monitor and not counting cleaning or cooking as exercise), then lots of things could explain a plateau or a small gain, but I can't think of anything that would explain the rate of gain you are describing.

    If I were in your shoes, I'd go see my doctor. Some folks have tumors that cause them to gain. Others are retaining water due to a heart conditions. I hope nothing is wrong with you, but it seems worth looking into this.
  • bodavian
    bodavian Posts: 8 Member
    Wow, I'm surprised people actually responded! Thanks all!
  • bodavian
    bodavian Posts: 8 Member
    I realize that's probably how it seems, but I am a label hound and monitor my eating habits relatively well. That is why I am a little alarmed by these results I'm getting.
    If you are gaining a pound a week and you can see it also, you are missing something in your calorie counting. The only way to gain that much is to eat at a caloric surplus of 3,500 (3,500 calories = 1 lb) calories above your maintenance calories for that week. Either your settings are off or you are not logging everything.


    Try this site, plus look up some other TDEE calculators. Hope this helps.


    http://www.fitnessfrog.com/calculators/tdee-calculator.html
  • bodavian
    bodavian Posts: 8 Member
    I suppose my food diary really isn't indicative of how I actually eat.... I group the food together, but really the food is dispersed throughout the day. And I don't log water intake because I don't need to worry about not hydrating. I never ever go to bed hungry! Protein is an obvious one though, I suppose. I'll work on that! Thanks. Do you have any recommendations for whey shake brands?
    I looked at your diary real quick.

    I didn't anal-lize what you eat but, I looked at how you eat.

    When you do cardio you burn calories. When you're done w/cardio you stop burning calories.

    When you lift weights you burn calories and tear muscle fiber. When you're done lifting weights your body needs to be re-fueled. ie;protien (whey shake, food), water. Then it starts to rebuild itself. this happens over days, unlike cardio so, you need to rest. Meaning not lift weights for 24-48 hours. This whole proccess burns fat and calories over and over.

    Judging by your eating habits you don't eat dinner. They say breakfast is the most important. They say that because over night your body is recruiting all the nutrients it can to repair what you did to that day. BUT, If you didn't feed it dinner before bed the little soldiers can't fight.

    Your body will take matters into its own hands and store food as fat for when it needs it.



    And you need more protien!
  • bodavian
    bodavian Posts: 8 Member
    Did you recently quite smoking or add/drop medication? Are you extremely stressed? What has changed in your life? This doesn't make any sense.

    It you know you are being truthful about your calorie intake (reading labels, measuring) and if you are being accurate about your exercise (using a heart rate monitor and not counting cleaning or cooking as exercise), then lots of things could explain a plateau or a small gain, but I can't think of anything that would explain the rate of gain you are describing.

    If I were in your shoes, I'd go see my doctor. Some folks have tumors that cause them to gain. Others are retaining water due to a heart conditions. I hope nothing is wrong with you, but it seems worth looking into this.

    I appreciate your concern. I actually have a doctor's appointment next week because there are a multitude of other symptoms involved. It just all seems too weird; I'm a bike commuter, so I ride my bike every day for at least forty minutes. I rock climb, swim, take classes at my gym, do yoga, and walk to my destinations whenever it's feasible. I tend to underestimate my exercise and overestimate my food intake, though I never let myself go hungry. I've never smoked, have a drink maybe once every few months, and I'm certainly no couch potato. I don't know. We shall see what happens.

    Thanks again.
  • rcramer7
    rcramer7 Posts: 138 Member
    I like "ON" optimum nutrition 100% whey gold standard. It's 89% protien by weight. Online or on sale at GNC it's $50 for 5lb jug.

    There are several good brands. The walmart whey( I think is body fortress) is good. I've used it and still would. It's like, $15-20 bucks for a 2lb jug.

    The flavor is what you like. However I mix it plain with water. I found that chocolate is the best. For me vanilla or strawberry kinda has an off milky smell/taste. I got a great deal on cookies and cream, it's sweeter tasting and in the vanilla area but, I'm not ashamed to bargain shop!
  • freezerburn2012
    freezerburn2012 Posts: 273 Member
    Are you pregnant?
  • rcramer7
    rcramer7 Posts: 138 Member
    Are you pregnant?

    No! What are you trying to say? HEEEMM!?
  • bodavian
    bodavian Posts: 8 Member
    Are you pregnant?

    No! What are you trying to say? HEEEMM!?

    Heehee, I believe she was talking to me. And while that is certainly a legitimate question, there is no possible way I'm pregnant.
  • rcramer7
    rcramer7 Posts: 138 Member
    Are you pregnant?

    No! What are you trying to say? HEEEMM!?

    Heehee, I believe she was talking to me. And while that is certainly a legitimate question, there is no possible way I'm pregnant.


    Well then, I guess I don't need this tester anymore!
  • gaia3rd
    gaia3rd Posts: 151

    I appreciate your concern. I actually have a doctor's appointment next week because there are a multitude of other symptoms involved. It just all seems too weird; I'm a bike commuter, so I ride my bike every day for at least forty minutes. I rock climb, swim, take classes at my gym, do yoga, and walk to my destinations whenever it's feasible. I tend to underestimate my exercise and overestimate my food intake, though I never let myself go hungry. I've never smoked, have a drink maybe once every few months, and I'm certainly no couch potato. I don't know. We shall see what happens.

    Thanks again.

    I'm glad you're going to see your doctor - an illness is the first thing to rule out. However, considering the amount of exercise you're logging, I really doubt that 1300-1500 calories a day is enough for you. Definitely do one of the BMR and TDEE calculations and see what it suggests.
  • freezerburn2012
    freezerburn2012 Posts: 273 Member
    Are you pregnant?

    No! What are you trying to say? HEEEMM!?

    Heehee, I believe she was talking to me. And while that is certainly a legitimate question, there is no possible way I'm pregnant.


    Well then, I guess I don't need this tester anymore!

    I red on Internets that man git pragnet and form babby. Frigt the babby alot.
  • rcramer7
    rcramer7 Posts: 138 Member
    Are you pregnant?

    No! What are you trying to say? HEEEMM!?

    Heehee, I believe she was talking to me. And while that is certainly a legitimate question, there is no possible way I'm pregnant.


    Well then, I guess I don't need this tester anymore!

    I red on Internets that man git pragnet and form babby. Frigt the babby alot.


    Maybe I DO need that test!
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