Why did I freakin GAIN weight?!?!

I think it is a big possibility that it is water weight. Give it a chance. Don't fret it. Can you ignore the scale for a week or 5? Just work, eat properly, and have faith? Measure yourself and forget the scale!

First off, congratulations on your amazing weight loss! As you probably know already, the closer you're getting to your goal, the harder it's going to be to take off the pounds. So try not to stress so much about the scale and try to concentrate more on how your clothes are fitting you or even take body measurements and pictures regularly. The scale becomes such an enemy, especially when you're working out hard. Yes, I do believe it's water retention from the increased activity.

Think of it like when you sprain your ankle - the injury brings on water retention (swelling) as part of the healing process. Your sore muscles are doing the same, it's just not as obvious because it's spread out over a larger area. Make sure you've also increased your water intake as this will help, but mostly it's going to take time for your body to adjust. Patience!

I'd also suggest adding sodium to your tracker - one or two high sodium meals can throw your weight off for up to a week.

You just went down a size a few days ago! Obviously you're losing inches everywhere.

You've also increased your exercise intensity, so I really wouldn't worry. Weight fluctuates... a lot, even if you do make sure to meet optimal weighing conditions.

Weight loss is never linear. There's weeks you go down and weeks you stay the same or even go up. It happens. To everyone. If you didn't eat about 4200 calories over maintenance, it's not fat.

You've been pushing harder during your workouts? Are you sore? I find that when I'm really sore after an intense workout, I gain. I'm pretty sure there is a scientific reason for this but I'm not a scientist so I can't explain it but that might be what is going on here.

Weight fluctuates. It is a lot easier to say that to others than accept it yourself. In the last 4 weeks I have not changed my exercise or food that much but have lost 7lb then 1lb then 8lb then 1lb.

I get freaked out about it as well, what keeps me going is.

The belief that I am doing the right thing,
Looking at my weight loss over a month
Not wanting to mess up my hard work done so far
The great weeks.

I just kinda glanced at your diary and I blame SALT!!! I love salty foods and chinese can be the worst (but oh so good) And remember that when you increase your workouts your muscles swell a little and retain more water. It is not noticeable on the outside for regular folks but is noticeable on the scale. Stick with what you are doing and you will see the benefits soon.

I think this actually has more to do with the fact that your average net kcal intake from last Saturday through yesterday is only 1048.57. I think that your body is storing more of what you eat because you're not giving it enough. The body responds quickly to changes in diet and physical activity, and when you don't give it enough energy it will begin to save whatever it can, and will also begin to slow various body systems. From now on make sure to recover most of the energy you use in exercise, and remember that your net kcal goal already has built into it the kcal deficit required for you to lose weight at your desired rate of loss. Adding to that deficit by not recovering after exercise can, and often does, inhibit weight loss. Good luck. :flowerforyou:

Everyone has a weight "range" No big deal. Unless you are saying you ate 5250 calories over your maintenance in the last day. Chill. Not a big deal.

I feel like effin crying right now. I have been working so hard to loose weight, and I've really stepped up my game this past week. But somehow between last Saturday and today I've managed to gain 1.5 pounds. Maybe to some of you this may not sound like much, but that's 2 weeks worth of hard work I've just put right back on. I don't freakin get it. I've been staying at or slightly under my calories and I've been eating healthy. I've pushed harder during my workouts and even added a second session in the evening of 30 minutes jogging/walking. I don't understand at all why I gained weight. Do you think it is in the realm of possibilities that it could be water retention/swelling from the additional workout? I'm at a loss right and and feeling really effin down.... (

Congratulations on your weight loss so far. Great job.

I see that you are getting close to your goal. The only thing I can say is be ready for many MANY ups and downs. It's part of the game now. You may want to search around the forums for advice about how many calories to consume the closer you are to goal....I'll leave it at that.

It's DEFINITELY not actual fat that you've gained. And it's definitely not 1.5 lbs of muscles either (before someone jumps in and says you've gained muscle this week).

Please don't panic though. No need.

1.5 pounds is nothing. I log my weight every day, and have seen it jump up by almost 5 pounds overnight, in some cases. Those short-term ups and downs are just water.

Check out the wacky fluctuations in my graph for the last 30 days. There's still overall progress, but if I let the increases stress me out, I'd be a mess:

In my experience, when I'm working out more and I have muscle soreness (from weight training) I DO NOT WEIGH myself. I read that when you're recovering your body will hold onto water to help the muscles repair themselves. I've "gained" upwards of 4-5 pounds some weeks. Totally disheartening, but I looked at your diary and you've been doing a FANTASTIC job! Don't sweat it! I would definitely assume it's water weight!

Yep...muscles need water to heal.

Every time I kick up my exercise for a few days..or a week, I lose nothing or gain a pound or two. I rest for two days and lose anything I gained, plus pretty much exactly what I should have lost based on calories alone.

I created a spreadsheet to track body bugg calories in vs fitness pal calories out...and over a period of 60 days, the calorie deficit is EXACTLY what I lost in pounds. Daily, weekly, not even close.

Hello, I have been doing the Ideal Protein diet for the last 4 months. I have lost 70 pounds and have figured out that in that time that if you work out really hard that sometimes your gain weight either by building muscle to replace the fat or you still have food in your digestive tract and your body hasn't used it up yet. I fluctuate between 1 to 3 pounds depending on my workout and what I eat. I have gone from 225 to 158. So good luck and I hope that I could help you out. See ya, Matt