OK have at it

SparklesPlenty
SparklesPlenty Posts: 90 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I have opened my diary and am desperately seeking answers to why I am GAINING weight. I know you will all tell me to eat more, but if you look back several days you will see I vary my calories up and down and don't always under eat. SO take some time if you will and help me figure out this problem. Seriously I am GAINING weight. I thought it was just water but it is not going away and has been sticking around for weeks. I used to weigh 104 now I weigh 118. The only thing I have changed is I have started working out regularly since February 1. Which seems like it should be helping not hurting my weight loss efforts.

Be gentle, I am not usually the type to open up.

Edited to add: I weigh 118 I am 5'2" my Body fat is 18% and has not changed so I am not gaining muscle My BMR is 1174 TDEE is 1470

I do weights at the gym MWF and do the 30 day shred daily.
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Replies

  • lisa28115
    lisa28115 Posts: 17,271 Member
    are u doing any strength training or resistance work??

    u need to eat at least 1200 calories more on the days u work out:bigsmile:
  • losingitlittlebylittle
    losingitlittlebylittle Posts: 15
    At first glance, it looks like you're basically just eating 3 meals a day, and you don't have a great balance of carbs/fat/protein. I would also add in fruits and veggies, as I don't see too much of those in there. They will help to fill you up, as well as to keep things moving, if you know what I mean! Since I've started eating more frequent, smaller meals, it seems to have helped rev up my metabolism. I also make sure to have some kind of fruit and/or vegetable at every meal or snack - except for my protein shake. Just a quick observation! I definitely don't claim to be an expert... :)
  • apvalletta
    apvalletta Posts: 110 Member
    I wish I could help you but I am having the same problem. I'm up 5 lbs since starting & it is so frustrating. I increased my calories to 1800, which the fat2fit website said was better for my height (5'1") but don't always eat all of them or my exercise calories. I am curious as to the advice MFP people give... Best of luck to you.
    Andrea
  • jcgrant43
    jcgrant43 Posts: 64
    I don't really see a whole lot wrong with what you're doing. My personal experience when odd weight gain has happened is that it's related to sodium and water intake. Too much sodium, and not enough water through the day. I've personally had swings of up to 7lbs of gain with no change in BF%. Part of the reason I'm using MFP is because I can track sodium without having to build my own database. Again personal experience for me; when I can keep my water intake above 4litres (a gallon) a day the weight loss continues, and the gain stops.

    Nothing to lose by trying it.

    Yes, I'm one of those OCD types who weighs everyday at the same time and tests BF% every week!
  • melsinct
    melsinct Posts: 3,512 Member
    I know you will all tell me to eat more, but if you look back several days you will see I vary my calories up and down and don't always under eat.

    Nope, I looked through for a week and you definitely under-eat. You don't want to hear it, but cycling between 800 and 1100 calories is way too little fuel. You will likely try and look for every other answer under the sun because you don't like my opinion, but to me it is pretty obvious what the problem is.

    Also, your diary is very light on produce. Add some fruit and veg in there!
  • fatzombiegirl
    fatzombiegirl Posts: 29
    You may be taking in too much sodium with the processed meats. Try lean proteins like chicken, turkey and fresh fish or canned tuna. More fresh veggies too. Beans.
  • josephine_x
    josephine_x Posts: 90 Member
    There is NO WAY on this earth that your TDEE is 1470. I'm 5'3 and mine is 2400, and I don't work out! Walking is my excercise. Try running your TDEE and BMR numbers on a different site, also looked through your diary and it's my opinion too that you're not eating enough. I eat 1800-2000 each day. Good luck, I hope you get it sorted.
  • katcod1522
    katcod1522 Posts: 448 Member
    um..wheres your fruit? And you eat VERY limited veggies! And you are 118 and want to weigh 107? why? Im just curious.
  • beccarockslife
    beccarockslife Posts: 816 Member
    Have you tried tracking your salt intake? You eat a lot of processed food and not that much in the way of fruit and veg.
  • SparklesPlenty
    SparklesPlenty Posts: 90 Member
    You will likely try and look for every other answer under the sun because you don't like my opinion, but to me it is pretty obvious what the problem is.

    I value your opinion, which is why I asked for it. I would appreciate it if you wouldn't pigeonhole me into this persona of narrow mindedness.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,428 MFP Moderator
    Put away the scale, stop eating 800 -1100 calories a day start weight lifting and work on adding 10 lbs of muscle. This will get you where you want. You are probably gaining weight based on your body fighting for resources. There is a thread somewhere on here about eating 700 calories a day and gaining weight. i will see if I can dig it up.
  • SparklesPlenty
    SparklesPlenty Posts: 90 Member
    um..wheres your fruit? And you eat VERY limited veggies! And you are 118 and want to weigh 107? why? Im just curious.

    I used to weigh 107 all last year and I liked how I looked, how my clothes fit and how I felt.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,422 Member
    Your body fat is 18%. :noway: and you are trying to lose just a few pounds.......

    You need to be eating WAY more.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,428 MFP Moderator
    Any chance you have an ED or history of it?
  • tinana_RN
    tinana_RN Posts: 541 Member
    I'd say you might be taking in too much sodium... and definitely try adding some more fruits/veggies.
  • katcod1522
    katcod1522 Posts: 448 Member
    Any chance you have an ED or history of it?

    this. You need to take care of yourself. You look amazing..your numbers read "HEALTHY" all across the board. Eat more please...even just 1200 :)
  • grendel322
    grendel322 Posts: 105 Member
    OK, a quick peruse of your past week looks like you run under most days, you had one spike day, and when you exercise, you don't eat any extra calories. More water, more eating! :) I ran into a similar circumstance where I stepped up my workouts and my weight loss stopped. Upping my calories and trying to make sure I ate when I exercised seems to have turned the tide for me. I try to eat healthy to make up those exercise calories, but you need to put fuel in the tank. Our bodies are too efficient and will adjust to deficiencies, and not the way we want them to! :)
  • Sytera
    Sytera Posts: 75
    I entered your info on a TDEE calculator and I'd say it is closer to 1800, and that is with a sedentary lifestyle and little exercise ( http://calorieline.com/tools/tdee ). We weigh close to the same and I'm eating about 1,000 calories more than you and losing weekly. You should probably try eating more all around and give it a couple weeks to take effect. I think you will feel much better that way.
  • SparklesPlenty
    SparklesPlenty Posts: 90 Member
    Any chance you have an ED or history of it?

    No.
  • emily356
    emily356 Posts: 318 Member
    At looking at the past few days... not nearly enough calories, hardly no fruits or veggies, alcohol. You could totally revamp, try it for a few weeks to give it a real go, and just see how you feel then. Good luck!!
  • jamiesadler
    jamiesadler Posts: 634 Member
    Just a quick glance you are not eating enough calories or protein. I would suggest you add at least 600 calories and do some weight lifting. Good luck
  • boobee32
    boobee32 Posts: 450 Member
    At first thought....too much sodium. I figure this, because i keep track of mine, and you would be amazed at how much is in stuff.
    Secont thoguht - banana bread for dinner? come on!! Just because you stay under your calories does not mean you are eating healthy.
    Third thought - where are your fruit and vegtables?
    Fourth thought - Too many processed foods.
    Firth thought - you are not eating enough.

    Didnt think to look to see if you were drinking water?
  • grendel322
    grendel322 Posts: 105 Member
    By the way, congrats on your progress so far! Very impressive totals!
  • AlsDonkBoxSquat
    AlsDonkBoxSquat Posts: 6,128 Member
    You're exercising and under eating. According to your diary you have your net goal set for under 1200 calories per day, so nope even looking back I don't think that you're zigzagging properly. You want to lose weight, reset your net goal and then eat it. If you're going to zigzag keep a strict log excel spreadsheet week by week.
  • Jamiewoodle
    Jamiewoodle Posts: 100 Member
    Seems you already know what is wrong... TOO FEW CALORIES!!! A spike day once in awhile isn't making up for all those skimmpy days! Your body can't burn fat if it's using all the calories to just SURVIVE! I suggest not NETTING under that and if you are strength training, you need more fuel to build a toned physique.
  • SparklesPlenty
    SparklesPlenty Posts: 90 Member
    - banana bread for dinner? come on!!

    LOL that is just cause that is when I baked it. Had to give it a taste to make sure it wouldn't poison the kids :)
  • luv_lea
    luv_lea Posts: 1,094 Member
    Your body fat is 18%. :noway: and you are trying to lose just a few pounds.......

    You need to be eating WAY more.

    This. Need to be eating more.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,428 MFP Moderator
    What are you trying to accomplish? If you want to look better, than you should be aiming to gain muscle. But even if you are sedentary with NO exercise, your TDEE is around 1581. But if you are active with kids or you workout, your TDEE is higher and under eating is just killing your metabolism.
  • SparklesPlenty
    SparklesPlenty Posts: 90 Member
    What are you trying to accomplish? If you want to look better, than you should be aiming to gain muscle. But even if you are sedentary with NO exercise, your TDEE is around 1581. But if you are active with kids or you workout, your TDEE is higher and under eating is just killing your metabolism.

    I am trying to get back to where I was last year. Which was 10 pounds lighter, felt better, looked better, clothes fit better. People were complementing me. The most recent "complement" I have gotten was "oh your getting fatter!" Seriously. :grumble:
  • peachNpunkin
    peachNpunkin Posts: 1,010 Member
    If I were you, I would monitor how much sodium you are putting in. Too much will cause you to hold on to excess water. Also, I would add more fresh fruit and fresh and fozen veggies. If you are like me and dont really care for them, integrate them into your smoothies.

    Remember the old food pyramid? Exept for the grains part of the old food pyramid, follow that. It will help you keep up with the amount of fruit, veggies, nuts and legumes in your diet. Also, healthy fats are good.

    And last, talk to your doctor and get an idea of what a healthy wt would be for you. I know the shorter we are the less we weigh, so talk to him/her and get an idea of where you should be with your wt.

    Good luck to you, I hope you are able to meet your goals.

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