What is this weight gain?

Flissbo
Flissbo Posts: 302 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hey folks :-)

Just after a bit of advice please.

I upped my calories to maintainance or there abouts 2 or 3 months ago and have since gained 5 pounds. In that time I've also been working out more than usual (Jillian Michaels DVD's on top of my usual couple of swims a week)

I know you are supposed to wait a few weeks after making any changes to let you body settle down again but I think I've given it long enough now to start worrying! I have had a few piggy weekends where I've gone up to about 2500 cals a day but usually aim for around 1700/1800. I'm 5'7 and currently 128 pounds. (was 123 previous to upping cals)

I wish I knew what this weight gain was, muscle or fat? My clothes feel the same but I measured myself and am up maybe half an inch or so on my legs and belly. I didn't think I could put on muscle that quickly (though I am getting close to 100g of protein a day.) Also the BF% on the scale seems to be the same as before but I think I look a bit bigger than a few months ago.

I'm going to start NROLFW in the next few weeks. Should I just stick at the same calories for the time being or try and lower them by a hundred or so now in case I am eating over my maintainance?

Could it be that I've messed up my metabolism and it's taking a long time for my body to realise its ok to be eating more? I am scared I am going to keep gaining and undo all my hard work.

Any constructive thoughts most welcome :smile: Thank you
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Replies

  • CassieReannan
    CassieReannan Posts: 1,479 Member
    You are 120lb, I don't really understand how you are worried about 5lb of weight gain...
    You body flucuates a lot and its probably because of water, exercise and protein. If you are worried go back to your BMR calorie rate to work off the 5lb.
  • robin52077
    robin52077 Posts: 4,383 Member
    Is is entirely possible that what you have calculated as maintenance is off by a bit.

    Or it could be your muscles retaining water from doing Jillian.

    Add to that the "piggy weekends" as you called them, and that could be your gain.

    Maybe lower your goal by 100 between now and the time you start New Rules.
    Also, give yourself a few days of complete rest before starting it. Your muscles will release the excess water and you can get a more true starting weight.
    Just be aware that as soon as you start lifting heavy with New Rules the scale will go back up. A little bit of muscle gain but mostly muscles retaining water for repair. And at that time, if your plan IS to ADD muscle, you will want to raise your calories again.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,428 MFP Moderator
    More than likely its water weight. If you increased the intensity of your workout, you body will retain water. The only way to figure out if your metabolism is slower than the numbers that we estimate is to get metabolic testing. Also if you eat maintenance everyday and then increase on the weekends, then it could be fat. You would have to eat at a deficit during the week and the increase on weekend.
  • robin52077
    robin52077 Posts: 4,383 Member
    You are 120lb, I don't really understand how you are worried about 5lb of weight gain...
    You body flucuates a lot and its probably because of water, exercise and protein. If you are worried go back to your BMR calorie rate to work off the 5lb.

    I'm 120 and I worry about 2 pounds...
    Protein doesn't make your weight fluctuate, you must be thinking sodium and water retention.
    Eating at BMR is far too little for someone who lifts weights and swims.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,428 MFP Moderator
    Btw, do you know your body fat? Sometimes the harris benedict formula for bmr is off (the one i use to estimate calories ). The katch mcardle is more accurate but you need body fat readings. Btw the difference between the two for me is 200 calories.
  • Flissbo
    Flissbo Posts: 302 Member
    You are 120lb, I don't really understand how you are worried about 5lb of weight gain...
    You body flucuates a lot and its probably because of water, exercise and protein. If you are worried go back to your BMR calorie rate to work off the 5lb.

    Just don't want to undo all my hard work :-) I binned all my bigger clothes lol!
  • CassieReannan
    CassieReannan Posts: 1,479 Member
    You are 120lb, I don't really understand how you are worried about 5lb of weight gain...
    You body flucuates a lot and its probably because of water, exercise and protein. If you are worried go back to your BMR calorie rate to work off the 5lb.

    I'm 120 and I worry about 2 pounds...
    Protein doesn't make your weight fluctuate, you must be thinking sodium and water retention.
    Eating at BMR is far too little for someone who lifts weights and swims.

    I would kill to be 120lb, I am sitting here at 230lb and working my butt off to look like you. Its just silly freaking over weight like this. If shes lifting, shes gaining muscle.. eat 100 - 200 calories under maintenance a day. Problem solved.
  • Adsnwfld
    Adsnwfld Posts: 262 Member
    Keep an eye on it, Remember that the numbers suggested on this web site are just that suggestions. You may be off by a few that would lead to a weight gain over time. Also your sodium of carbs may have increased enough to cause a significant gain in water weight.
    As an example on Father's day I was over by about 700 calories. The next morning I was 4 lbs heavier on the scale... All water, 2 days later under the pre holiday weight.
    Try to get yourself back down to the previous weight (I'd try the 1/2 lb a week rate) and see what happens. A lot of things effect our weight. Hang in there and don't get too depressed about it.
  • robin52077
    robin52077 Posts: 4,383 Member
    Btw, do you know your body fat? Sometimes the harris benedict formula for bmr is off (the one i use to estimate calories ). The katch mcardle is more accurate but you need body fat readings. Btw the difference between the two for me is 200 calories.

    I agree.
    Both calculators can be found here:
    http://www.cordianet.com/calculator.htm
  • Flissbo
    Flissbo Posts: 302 Member
    Btw, do you know your body fat? Sometimes the harris benedict formula for bmr is off (the one i use to estimate calories ). The katch mcardle is more accurate but you need body fat readings. Btw the difference between the two for me is 200 calories.

    The scales I have (which I know should just be used as a guide) say I am anywhere between 20.1 and 20.9 % BF. When I am at the higher end it says my water is down to about 57%. If my water is good (59% usually) then the scales say my bf is towards 20%)

    Thanks guys for the replies so far :-)

    Was thinking of getting my metabolism tested but not sure where to go for this? Would they do it at the gym maybe?
  • robin52077
    robin52077 Posts: 4,383 Member
    You are 120lb, I don't really understand how you are worried about 5lb of weight gain...
    You body flucuates a lot and its probably because of water, exercise and protein. If you are worried go back to your BMR calorie rate to work off the 5lb.

    I'm 120 and I worry about 2 pounds...
    Protein doesn't make your weight fluctuate, you must be thinking sodium and water retention.
    Eating at BMR is far too little for someone who lifts weights and swims.

    I would kill to be 120lb, I am sitting here at 230lb and working my butt off to look like you. Its just silly freaking over weight like this. If shes lifting, shes gaining muscle.. eat 100 - 200 calories under maintenance a day. Problem solved.

    She's not "freaking out"...she gave it MONTHS. It's not like she woke up one morning bloated and panicked....

    I understand you are working hard to achieve what others already have, and that is GREAT. You WILL get there if you keep at it.
    But once you do get there, you will find out that it is a WHOLE different ball game. Losing the last ten or staying at maintenance is NOT simple. At that point it is NOT calories in vs calories out, or "just eat less". It is a tricky balance of numbers and tweaking macros and it is VERY frustrating.
  • BeautyFromPain
    BeautyFromPain Posts: 4,952 Member
    If shes lifting, shes gaining muscle.. eat 100 - 200 calories under maintenance a day. Problem solved.


    This is bs. It takes a girl around about a month to gain ONE pound of muscle (at the most!). This, combined with perfect nutrition. We don't have the testostorone to gain muscle like you think we do.
  • CassieReannan
    CassieReannan Posts: 1,479 Member
    You are 120lb, I don't really understand how you are worried about 5lb of weight gain...
    You body flucuates a lot and its probably because of water, exercise and protein. If you are worried go back to your BMR calorie rate to work off the 5lb.

    I'm 120 and I worry about 2 pounds...
    Protein doesn't make your weight fluctuate, you must be thinking sodium and water retention.
    Eating at BMR is far too little for someone who lifts weights and swims.

    I would kill to be 120lb, I am sitting here at 230lb and working my butt off to look like you. Its just silly freaking over weight like this. If shes lifting, shes gaining muscle.. eat 100 - 200 calories under maintenance a day. Problem solved.

    She's not "freaking out"...she gave it MONTHS. It's not like she woke up one morning bloated and panicked....

    I understand you are working hard to achieve what others already have, and that is GREAT. You WILL get there if you keep at it.
    But once you do get there, you will find out that it is a WHOLE different ball game. Losing the last ten or staying at maintenance is NOT simple. At that point it is NOT calories in vs calories out, or "just eat less". It is a tricky balance of numbers and tweaking macros and it is VERY frustrating.

    Well as I am not there yet and I am relatively new to all this, I cannot give a appropriate answer.
  • Flissbo
    Flissbo Posts: 302 Member
    You are 120lb, I don't really understand how you are worried about 5lb of weight gain...
    You body flucuates a lot and its probably because of water, exercise and protein. If you are worried go back to your BMR calorie rate to work off the 5lb.

    I'm 120 and I worry about 2 pounds...
    Protein doesn't make your weight fluctuate, you must be thinking sodium and water retention.
    Eating at BMR is far too little for someone who lifts weights and swims.

    I would kill to be 120lb, I am sitting here at 230lb and working my butt off to look like you. Its just silly freaking over weight like this. If shes lifting, shes gaining muscle.. eat 100 - 200 calories under maintenance a day. Problem solved.

    I think 120 would be too small on me (I'm 128 at the mo) I was 52 pounds heavier before so I think I'll always worry about it :sad: Would be nice to be able to relax one day. Sounds like you are doing great - keep up the good work :flowerforyou:
  • CassieReannan
    CassieReannan Posts: 1,479 Member

    This is bs. It takes a girl around about a month to gain ONE pound of muscle (at the most!). This, combined with perfect nutrition. We don't have the testostorone to gain muscle like you think we do.

    What? Testostorone? Where did you pluck that comment up from?
  • kpnuts23
    kpnuts23 Posts: 960 Member
    I would love to be around your weight.. Im also 5 7'... maybe reduce the cals by 100-200 for the day.. might help?
  • ElizabethRoad
    ElizabethRoad Posts: 5,138 Member
    Well as I am not there yet and I am relatively new to all this, I cannot give a appropriate answer.
    Not to be rude, but then maybe you should not try to answer. Telling someone that they shouldn't worry about gaining weight because they aren't as heavy as you is not helpful.
  • CassieReannan
    CassieReannan Posts: 1,479 Member
    You are 120lb, I don't really understand how you are worried about 5lb of weight gain...
    You body flucuates a lot and its probably because of water, exercise and protein. If you are worried go back to your BMR calorie rate to work off the 5lb.

    I'm 120 and I worry about 2 pounds...
    Protein doesn't make your weight fluctuate, you must be thinking sodium and water retention.
    Eating at BMR is far too little for someone who lifts weights and swims.

    I would kill to be 120lb, I am sitting here at 230lb and working my butt off to look like you. Its just silly freaking over weight like this. If shes lifting, shes gaining muscle.. eat 100 - 200 calories under maintenance a day. Problem solved.

    I think 120 would be too small on me (I'm 128 at the mo) I was 52 pounds heavier before so I think I'll always worry about it :sad: Would be nice to be able to relax one day. Sounds like you are doing great - keep up the good work :flowerforyou:

    Congrats on your big loss and maintaining, I wish you luck.
  • BeautyFromPain
    BeautyFromPain Posts: 4,952 Member

    This is bs. It takes a girl around about a month to gain ONE pound of muscle (at the most!). This, combined with perfect nutrition. We don't have the testostorone to gain muscle like you think we do.

    What? Testostorone? Where did you pluck that comment up from?

    Are you kidding me?
    let's see...
    #1. the truth, i've been lifting for over a year and you need testorone to bulk up and its VERY hard to build up muscle on a woman, as you can tell via me
    #2. my TEACHERS AT MY PERSONAL TRAINING SCHOOL?
  • CassieReannan
    CassieReannan Posts: 1,479 Member
    Well as I am not there yet and I am relatively new to all this, I cannot give a appropriate answer.
    Not to be rude, but then maybe you should not try to answer. Telling someone that they shouldn't worry about gaining weight because they aren't as heavy as you is not helpful.
    [/quote]

    Freedom of speech. Suggesting something to her at least, contributing my opinion. If she has been maintaining she would not have put on fat and the only answer is muscle or water, or the maintenance number is wrong.
  • CassieReannan
    CassieReannan Posts: 1,479 Member
    Are you kidding me?
    let's see...
    #1. the truth, i've been lifting for over a year and you need testorone to bulk up and its VERY hard to build up muscle on a woman, as you can tell via me
    #2. my TEACHERS AT MY PERSONAL TRAINING SCHOOL?

    Sorry I am not as knowledgable in PT as you and your trainer.
  • Swissmiss
    Swissmiss Posts: 8,754 Member
    I can understand your concern. If you are slowing re-gaining the weight, then you want to know early in order to reverse the trend. I would just cut a few calories for the next week. Drink more water. You know..do what you did to lose. You will be fine. You are staying aware and that is important.
  • SusanMcAvoy
    SusanMcAvoy Posts: 445 Member
    I read your post and totally understand. I was on maintenance and gained the same as you.... 5 pounds. Isn't it awful ???? I had a few weeks of eating extra food thinking I could. Just so tired of depriving myself. It was nice to enjoy something other than salad all the time. But.. the weight started to creep back on. This is a lifelong battle and very depressing. So I went back on my diet and lost 4 pounds. I am very frustrated. We have to be very careful. Our fat cells want the fat back on us. The fight continues on :frown: Hang in there, you are not alone. The good news is..... at least we caught it :wink: Be happy with your weight. You will succeed. We just have to watch very carefully for the rest of our lives. We do not want to put the weight back on. Not after all this. I wish you the best of luck. :flowerforyou:
  • BeautyFromPain
    BeautyFromPain Posts: 4,952 Member
    Are you kidding me?
    let's see...
    #1. the truth, i've been lifting for over a year and you need testorone to bulk up and its VERY hard to build up muscle on a woman, as you can tell via me
    #2. my TEACHERS AT MY PERSONAL TRAINING SCHOOL?
    #3. my textbooks

    Sorry I am not as knowledgable in PT as you and your trainer.

    Maybe you should stop saying that you are right and everyone else is wrong then until you gain knowledge in the subject... just something to take into consideration...

    ps I meant my teachers at my school, I'm training to become a Personal Trainer, just completed my cert 3.
  • BeautifulKristen
    BeautifulKristen Posts: 281
    Just gonna say this. I honestly HATE it when people complain when they are 120 pounds, lower or even higher then that upto 150.. . You gotta be thankful that you are that slim! It shouldn't matter if you gain weight or not. Come on.. You won't look it. Believe me.. And I don't care about the bashers but geeze! Live a little. You only live once!! For god sakes I am 281!! Try being that heavy!!!
  • daddymoofle
    daddymoofle Posts: 12 Member
    CassieReannan: Sorry I am not as knowledgable in PT as you and your trainer.

    Cassie, ma'am, you should probably stop commenting - since you've admittedly said twice now that you have no clue what you're talking about, and these forums are here to help people. :smile:
  • CassieReannan
    CassieReannan Posts: 1,479 Member

    Maybe you should stop saying that you are right and everyone else is wrong then until you gain knowledge in the subject... just something to take into consideration...

    ps I meant my teachers at my school, I'm training to become a Personal Trainer, just completed my cert 3.

    Did I say I was right? No. Did I not just post I am not really that knowledgable in lifting ect? She asked WHY is she getting this weight gain and I reply its possibly water or muscle. Since you have explained why it cannot be muscle I have posted it may be water weight or wrong TDEE.
  • CassieReannan
    CassieReannan Posts: 1,479 Member
    Just gonna say this. I honestly HATE it when people complain when they are 120 pounds, lower or even higher then that upto 150.. . You gotta be thankful that you are that slim! It shouldn't matter if you gain weight or not. Come on.. You won't look it. Believe me.. And I don't care about the bashers but geeze! Live a little. You only live once!! For god sakes I am 281!! Try being that heavy!!!

    Agreed, but I guess people do have issues with their body no matter what size. Even when the weights off too.
  • Flissbo
    Flissbo Posts: 302 Member
    I read your post and totally understand. I was on maintenance and gained the same as you.... 5 pounds. Isn't it awful ???? I had a few weeks of eating extra food thinking I could. Just so tired of depriving myself. It was nice to enjoy something other than salad all the time. But.. the weight started to creep back on. This is a lifelong battle and very depressing. So I went back on my diet and lost 4 pounds. I am very frustrated. We have to be very careful. Our fat cells want the fat back on us. The fight continues on :frown: Hang in there, you are not alone. The good news is..... at least we caught it :wink: Be happy with your weight. You will succeed. We just have to watch very carefully for the rest of our lives. We do not want to put the weight back on. Not after all this. I wish you the best of luck. :flowerforyou:

    Love this! Good to know I'm not alone in worrying about this! "Our fat cells want the fat back on"! hahaha brilliant!!

    Grrr it's so fustrating - I am gunna do as you say and be extra careful for a few weeks and see what happens
  • daddymoofle
    daddymoofle Posts: 12 Member
    BeautifulKris: Just gonna say this. I honestly HATE it when people complain when they are 120 pounds, lower or even higher then that upto 150.. . You gotta be thankful that you are that slim! It shouldn't matter if you gain weight or not. Come on.. You won't look it. Believe me.. And I don't care about the bashers but geeze! Live a little. You only live once!! For god sakes I am 281!! Try being that heavy!!!

    You're mad that people are complaining about meeting their goals and then going off-track?

    Forget the NUMBER, it's irrelevant - she came here asking for help, not *****ing because she's 120 lbs. You've lost 55 lbs. so far - that's awesome. How would you feel if someone that was 300+ came in here and complained because you just *****ed about being 281?

    She worked hard, got down to where she wanted to be, and then gained weight and couldn't figure out why. The point to this thread wasn't "oh noes, I'm 120 lbs., feel bad for me". :sad:

    Read first.

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