why do i gain so quick???

LauriesTrying2BeFit
LauriesTrying2BeFit Posts: 414 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
ok well since having kids i have struggled to keep weight off, i have managed to lose 63lbs now since my daughter was born last june,

well every now and again i decide to screw the diet and eat a normal diet same as my OH and when ever i do this i gain weight pretty much straight away and he gains nothing!

over the weekend i havent really logged food has i had a cheat weekend which included a take away and eating out twice for a party and sunday dinner and iv weighed myself today and iv gained 5lbs!!!!

does this seriously mean i will have to eat so little for rest of my life :grumble:
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Replies

  • Yanicka1
    Yanicka1 Posts: 4,564 Member
    Questions

    How many calories do you eat usually?
    What are you gaining weight or fat?
    What kind of exercise are you doing?
    How long have you been rectricting calories?
  • CherishQuick
    CherishQuick Posts: 145
    I am open to hearing what others have to say on this topic. I too am seriously struggling and often wonder "will I have to be so calorie restrictive forever?" Not seeing a lot of results right now....getting discouraged.
  • antihillmoby
    antihillmoby Posts: 131 Member
    This is exactly my problem too - interested to see some answers.
  • LauriesTrying2BeFit
    LauriesTrying2BeFit Posts: 414 Member
    Questions

    How many calories do you eat usually?
    What are you gaining weight or fat?
    What kind of exercise are you doing?
    How long have you been rectricting calories?

    iv been eating 1530 for ages then increased to 1650 but i usually burn say 300 a day and eat back at least half last few weeks iv been eating more tho.
    i only weigh on digital scales so i dunno if its weight or fat,
    i do alot of walking, zumba, exercise bike and exercise dvds for exercise has i cant get to a gym due to childcare
    iv been restricting cals for about 8months now
  • mrsdizzyd84
    mrsdizzyd84 Posts: 422 Member
    You have to eat 3500 calories over your maintenance calories to gain one pound of fat. So, unless you ate and additional 17,500 calories this weekend you haven't gained 5 pounds. It's water weight. it fluctuates according to a myriad of things including hormones, carb intake, sodium intake, etc. It will be gone very soon.
  • vakaranshah786
    vakaranshah786 Posts: 49 Member
    i have the same problem quick to gain and so hard to lose, interested in the answers u get
  • bluemorpho1247
    bluemorpho1247 Posts: 300 Member
    When u eat 'badly' the next few days will show an increase in weight as your water weight will be high! It will slowly go back down, but you need to be patient :)
  • mojomarie
    mojomarie Posts: 43 Member
    Awesome answer, Mrs. Dizzy!:)
  • _HeathBar_
    _HeathBar_ Posts: 902 Member
    You have to eat 3500 calories over your maintenance calories to gain one pound of fat. So, unless you ate and additional 17,500 calories this weekend you haven't gained 5 pounds. It's water weight. it fluctuates according to a myriad of things including hormones, carb intake, sodium intake, etc. It will be gone very soon.

    This is your answer.
  • MaryBeth321
    MaryBeth321 Posts: 16 Member
    I just wanted to say that your look awesome and BIG congrats for all the weight you've lost! I know what you mean about low cal eating, seems like you can't take an extra bite w/o it showing up on the scale. I've been a member since late February and have lost 13 pounds so far. I wouldn't want to lower my calorie intake any further for fear that I'd just give up. I am at 1430 cals per day and that seems achieveable most days, w/o too much struggle. Take care and Good Luck!!
  • Puddykat1026
    Puddykat1026 Posts: 164 Member
    I find that when I eat foods high in sodium (carbs, processed foods & sauces, etc) I gain weight the fastest. It's water weight. After that I drink 10-12 glasses a day for a couple days (along with my regular meals) and it goes away.
  • Crazy4Healthy
    Crazy4Healthy Posts: 626 Member
    You have to eat 3500 calories over your maintenance calories to gain one pound of fat. So, unless you ate and additional 17,500 calories this weekend you haven't gained 5 pounds. It's water weight. it fluctuates according to a myriad of things including hormones, carb intake, sodium intake, etc. It will be gone very soon.

    ^^ I agree with this. Everyone tends to fluctuate as frustrating as it is. It's most likely water from all the sodium in the food you had eating out. It does go down, but can take a bit longer than it did to acquire it. I know I chase the same lbs sometimes due to the same reasons. Stinks, but happens. Try not to fret too much about it and get back on track.
  • RVfrog
    RVfrog Posts: 213 Member
    well you said you didn't log and you ate out twice. That would be clue number one. Salt is another issue when eating out. If you didn't exercise.

    Our bodies goes up and down a few lbs one way or the other.

    But the first two things you said would be my clue to why you gained. Just my 2 cents worth.
  • MB_Positif
    MB_Positif Posts: 8,897 Member
    You have to eat 3500 calories over your maintenance calories to gain one pound of fat. So, unless you ate and additional 17,500 calories this weekend you haven't gained 5 pounds. It's water weight. it fluctuates according to a myriad of things including hormones, carb intake, sodium intake, etc. It will be gone very soon.

    This! Don't sweat it, this 5 pounds will be off in a day or two if you stick to your calorie goal and pound water!
  • JenAiMarres
    JenAiMarres Posts: 743 Member
    Grrrttt! Same boat as u! I seriously gain huge amounts of weight every weekend even if I'm good. Hate it!! I loose it during the week...but yes soooo frustrating!
  • RVfrog
    RVfrog Posts: 213 Member
    also if you don't eat enough your body will not burn fat. So each person is different. Hope you figure it out . You can do it.
  • kiminikimkim
    kiminikimkim Posts: 746 Member
    Your other half has a higher Basal Metabolic rate than you do (he is heavier and taller than you are?). You require less calories than he does. If you eat the same amount as he does, of course you'll gain weight.
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,329 Member
    You have to eat 3500 calories over your maintenance calories to gain one pound of fat. So, unless you ate and additional 17,500 calories this weekend you haven't gained 5 pounds. It's water weight. it fluctuates according to a myriad of things including hormones, carb intake, sodium intake, etc. It will be gone very soon.

    This is your answer.

    Yup, this is your answer. As to why, just the sort of physiology you have. Drink lots of water as that will help.

    No, this does not mean you will be eating at a deficit all your life, it does mean you will probably want to slowly move your way up to maintenance when you get where you want weight wise, and it does mean cheat days or meals will show more weight gain than others would experience, but it will be water weight and will come off much quicker than fat.
  • gemiwing
    gemiwing Posts: 1,525 Member
    Questions

    How many calories do you eat usually?
    What are you gaining weight or fat?
    What kind of exercise are you doing?
    How long have you been rectricting calories?

    iv been eating 1530 for ages then increased to 1650 but i usually burn say 300 a day and eat back at least half last few weeks iv been eating more tho.
    i only weigh on digital scales so i dunno if its weight or fat,
    i do alot of walking, zumba, exercise bike and exercise dvds for exercise has i cant get to a gym due to childcare
    iv been restricting cals for about 8months now

    Good news- it's fixable. Bad news- you're going to have to get a new mindset. :)

    When you lose weight without preserving lean muscle mass- your metabolism slows because muscle keeps your metabolism kicking in high gear. How to preserve lean mass? Weight lift, eat a modest deficit (15-20% reduction in TDEE) and protein. If you're slashing calories, doing nothing but cardio and never take a break (which you should every few months) then you're slowing your metabolism down over time.

    Thus, when you go off your diet - BAM- instant weight gain. Your metabolism simply isn't built to handle normal eating anymore.

    Solution?
    Metabolism reset. It'll take about a month to do- which in the grand scheme of things isn't long at all. Add weight lifting in place of some of your cardio; eat enough to fuel the workouts and your life.

    For more info come read the stickies-
    www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/3817-eat-more-to-weigh-less
  • AmyLRed
    AmyLRed Posts: 856 Member
    You have to eat 3500 calories over your maintenance calories to gain one pound of fat. So, unless you ate and additional 17,500 calories this weekend you haven't gained 5 pounds. It's water weight. it fluctuates according to a myriad of things including hormones, carb intake, sodium intake, etc. It will be gone very soon.

    This is your answer.

    Yes, this. And specifically, sodium is your likely culprit given that you said you ate out or had take out 2x over the weekend. Drink lots of water, weigh yourself at the end of the week and those 5lbs should be gone!
  • Hellbent_Heidi
    Hellbent_Heidi Posts: 3,669 Member
    Any take-out food is LOADED with sodium. If you ate that a couple of times over the weekend, its likely you're just retaining water from that change in your diet and its not a real gain and you'll back on track after a couple of normal days.

    Congrats on your success so far, and just learn to recognize (and not freak-out over) the fluctuations caused by sodium, etc....
  • LauriesTrying2BeFit
    LauriesTrying2BeFit Posts: 414 Member
    Your other half has a higher Basal Metabolic rate than you do (he is heavier and taller than you are?). You require less calories than he does. If you eat the same amount as he does, of course you'll gain weight.

    he is actually lighter than me, he only weighs 120lbs and its 5'11 so only abit taller.
  • patsyanne
    patsyanne Posts: 111
    I am open to hearing what others have to say on this topic. I too am seriously struggling and often wonder "will I have to be so calorie restrictive forever?" Not seeing a lot of results right now....getting discouraged.
    I feel the same way...why do I gain by having more than 1200 Cal for one day then take forever to take it off. Why???
  • Yanicka1
    Yanicka1 Posts: 4,564 Member
    Questions

    How many calories do you eat usually?
    What are you gaining weight or fat?
    What kind of exercise are you doing?
    How long have you been rectricting calories?

    iv been eating 1530 for ages then increased to 1650 but i usually burn say 300 a day and eat back at least half last few weeks iv been eating more tho.
    i only weigh on digital scales so i dunno if its weight or fat,
    i do alot of walking, zumba, exercise bike and exercise dvds for exercise has i cant get to a gym due to childcare
    iv been restricting cals for about 8months now

    Good news- it's fixable. Bad news- you're going to have to get a new mindset. :)

    When you lose weight without preserving lean muscle mass- your metabolism slows because muscle keeps your metabolism kicking in high gear. How to preserve lean mass? Weight lift, eat a modest deficit (15-20% reduction in TDEE) and protein. If you're slashing calories, doing nothing but cardio and never take a break (which you should every few months) then you're slowing your metabolism down over time.

    Thus, when you go off your diet - BAM- instant weight gain. Your metabolism simply isn't built to handle normal eating anymore.

    Solution?
    Metabolism reset. It'll take about a month to do- which in the grand scheme of things isn't long at all. Add weight lifting in place of some of your cardio; eat enough to fuel the workouts and your life.

    For more info come read the stickies-
    www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/3817-eat-more-to-weigh-less

    This. Thank you I didn't have to write it LOL
  • chrishgt4
    chrishgt4 Posts: 1,222 Member
    Your SO will most likely be able to eat significantly more than you without gaining because he is a man. Does he do sports etc? If so, then add even more on to what he can eat.

    There's no way you've gained 5lbs, but you might have gained something. Having a blowout every so often is ok, but you can't eat like he eats I'm afraid.
  • gemiwing
    gemiwing Posts: 1,525 Member

    This. Thank you I didn't have to write it LOL

    ;D I knew you were going there with me LOL
  • GreenTeaForDays
    GreenTeaForDays Posts: 166 Member
    if you're using an iPhone or other smartphone I recommend getting True Weight or True Weight Lite. The app tracks your weight using a moving average which smooths out the daily fluctuations in weight. You could do a similar thing using excel or by hand. Instead of looking at you current weight, take the average of the last few days. The app also provides an estimate of how many calories you've been over or under to cause the subsequent weight-gain or loss.

    http://www.madeupsoftware.com/trueweight/home.html
  • Cindym82
    Cindym82 Posts: 1,245 Member
    It's water weight from the sodium in the take out and junk you were eating all weekend. Drink a ton of water and eat some veggies and you'll be fine
  • Vixen0113
    Vixen0113 Posts: 78 Member
    I've had this problem for years..In fact i weighed in on a friday, by next saturday I gained 13 lbs..I didnt go off off my diet..but i ate more than my normal 1200 calories..its so easy for me to gain weight..but to lose one pound, it takes blood sweat and tears lol
  • Lolli1986
    Lolli1986 Posts: 500 Member
    Questions

    How many calories do you eat usually?
    What are you gaining weight or fat?
    What kind of exercise are you doing?
    How long have you been rectricting calories?

    iv been eating 1530 for ages then increased to 1650 but i usually burn say 300 a day and eat back at least half last few weeks iv been eating more tho.
    i only weigh on digital scales so i dunno if its weight or fat,
    i do alot of walking, zumba, exercise bike and exercise dvds for exercise has i cant get to a gym due to childcare
    iv been restricting cals for about 8months now

    Good news- it's fixable. Bad news- you're going to have to get a new mindset. :)

    When you lose weight without preserving lean muscle mass- your metabolism slows because muscle keeps your metabolism kicking in high gear. How to preserve lean mass? Weight lift, eat a modest deficit (15-20% reduction in TDEE) and protein. If you're slashing calories, doing nothing but cardio and never take a break (which you should every few months) then you're slowing your metabolism down over time.

    Thus, when you go off your diet - BAM- instant weight gain. Your metabolism simply isn't built to handle normal eating anymore.

    Solution?
    Metabolism reset. It'll take about a month to do- which in the grand scheme of things isn't long at all. Add weight lifting in place of some of your cardio; eat enough to fuel the workouts and your life.

    For more info come read the stickies-
    www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/3817-eat-more-to-weigh-less

    .... sort of, nearly, not quite... though the outcome is basically the same. i'll try a different explanation in case it helps.

    muscles require a lot of fuel, so the more muscle you have the more you can eat. that is all it really boils down to. the more you use your body, the more you have to eat. bigger, stronger muscles that are used a lot = eating lots.

    so it boosts the overall amount of potential energy metabolised, but shouldn't change per-cell/per-kg metabolic rate as such, not to my knowledge, at least (would be very interested to know if it does out of curiosity).

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