I don't understand my weight gain!

[janiejoey]

I'm so frustrated and in such a mood. I gained 2 pounds overnight. Yesterday, I did over 50 min. of cardio, (half of Rhythmic Step and the rest on the treadmill) ate around 1200 calories, burned over 300 calories from the cardio I did. How could this be?

From now on I'm writing down my calories to make sure I'm doing everything right. I just can't believe how hard I worked and overnight I gained weight when I should have lost weight. Seems impossible to me. Jeesh!

I was wearing a headband during my workout and the band got so wet I could have wrung it out (literally).

I've been racking my brain to figure out how this could have happened. It takes a week or more for me to lose this kind of weight. Gosh darn it!

I'm so frustrated, I just want to cry. I don't understand.

This is what I ate the night before and drank water throughout the day:

Breakfast

1 calcium chew 25 calories

1 c. Shreded Wheat 136 calories
1/2 c. light soymilk 35 calories
2 c. black coffee 10 calories

Lunch

2 slices of sprouted bread 200 calories
4 egg whites 100 calories
2 c. pure barley tea 60

Dinner

5 large shrimps (6 or 8 oz.) 140 calories
1 c. lettuce 10 calories
2T. homemade avocado dressing 70 calories
1/4 c. pasta 70 calories
1/2 red pepper 13 calories

Snack

1 T. goat cheese 53 calories
1 apple 80 calories
1 calcium chew 25 calories

Total calories 1027 OOPS, not enough calories. Could that be why?

Janie

 

[JAFitMama]

Janie- I am no expert, but 1) Maybe it is a hormonal thing? Or 2) maybe your are retaining fluid? How much sodium is in those calcium chews? and in your salad dressing? and the cereal? and 3) Maybe you would do better with staggering calories? Your total did seem low to me, but if you only do this for a day it is different than if you try to survive like that longterm.

Stay away from that scale for a bit and rely on how your clothes fit, that way a one or two pound fluctuations will not ruin your day.



(HUGS)

 

[ellesan]

Janie, hang in there!! I have lost 100 pounds and there have been many ups and downs during that time. Our wonderful (female) bodies do some crazy messed up things sometimes.

It takes an excess of 3500 calories to gain a pound, right? You did NOT eat OVER your calories by 7000 calories, so it's impossible that this is "real" weight gain. In fact you had a deficit. Eating less calories one day does not = starvation mode or wieght gain. I'm sure it's hormonal/fluid or a combination.

I had something similar last week. I maintain at 123 lbs and last week I was eating good and exercising like normal but my hormones were going crazy. I was up to 127 and started freaking out. Even though I've been at maintenance for 9 months it still scared me. I'm back down to 124 today and feeling great. Unfortunately it's being patient with your body and working your plan. Remember the body stores water with strength training as well as an increase in carbs, so it could be a number of things. Stay strong and it will come off.

Sandra

I'm so frustrated and in such a mood. I gained 2 pounds overnight. Yesterday, I did over 50 min. of cardio, (half of Rhythmic Step and the rest on the treadmill) ate around 1200 calories, burned over 300 calories from the cardio I did. How could this be?

From now on I'm writing down my calories to make sure I'm doing everything right. I just can't believe how hard I worked and overnight I gained weight when I should have lost weight. Seems impossible to me. Jeesh!

I was wearing a headband during my workout and the band got so wet I could have wrung it out (literally).

I've been racking my brain to figure out how this could have happened. It takes a week or more for me to lose this kind of weight. Gosh darn it!

I'm so frustrated, I just want to cry. I don't understand.

Total calories 1027 OOPS, not enough calories. Could that be why?

Janie

 

[janiejoey]

Judy,

The calcium chews has 500 mg each. The average allowance I think is 1,000 mg. I don't use salt in anything I prepare. There is no sodium in Shredded Wheat.

Haven't been recording the calories for the last month, have only guessed. I thought I was eating around 1200 calories and when I figured last nights calories, it wasn't enough. I wonder now if I've been starving myself. I just hate watching calories so closely, but , I guess I'm going to have to continue to do it. I didn't realize how off I was on the count.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I really do appreciate that. I'll take your advice and not weigh myself everyday.

Thanks again,

Janie

 

[spyrosmom]

Don't panic!!! Its probably water/salt, undigested food (ew, I know), or hormones. I can swing 5lbs in a day. Grrrrr...... It can be frustrating. I weigh myself in the morning, and as long as that shows a consistent number, or an overall steady drop, I figure I'm doing ok. I only "count" my Sunday morning weight. Just yesterday, the scale read 5lbs more at the end of the day, than it did in the morning. The morning weight was more in line with where things have been lately. Frustrating, yes - very. My real weight - probably not. I grumbled about it to myself, of course. Today things seem back to normal. Wonderful being female, isn't it?

Nan

 

[janiejoey]

Sandra,

I saw your pictures and my oh my. You look fabulous! Congratulations on all the weight you've lost. I'm very impressed.

I will calm down. I know the female body is unique. I'll keep up with my calorie diary and things will be normal in no time. I'm working out faithfully doing the STS series, now I'm in the active week doing cardio and yoga before I start Meso 2. Your right, I'm not taking in enough calories to gain weight. I will fear not until I check out the scales next week. And faithfully record all I eat, so I won't be starving myself.

Thanks again for your input.

You look wonderful! What program were you on and did you track your calories?

Janie

 

[LaughingWater]

Don't panic!

I do this all the time. I bet you'd be hard-pressed to find a woman who doesn't. Like the girls said, it's not real weight ~ it's likely hormones.

I'm so in tune with my body now, I can tell when I'm carrying a little extra water. I don't even bother with the scale because I know it's going to be up. I usually only weigh myself when I notice I'm looking a little leaner than usual, and I'm curious as to how it's reflected in my numbers.

For me, I retain water when:

• My period is on the horizon (I'm bloated right now, in fact. Yay!)
• When I have moderate to severe DOMS
• When I start a rotation of heavy weight training after a break with lighter weights

It all disappears in a day or two.

 

[fit_fairy]

Maybe you are gaining muscle???

 

[horseshowmom]

I'm up 5 pounds since Friday...but....toured colleges and drove all day Saturday (5am until 8pm) with only one meal at Olive Garden...ate too much salad and bread, but took half my entree home and that was ALL I ate. But, no water, so bad for me!
Yesterday was a bad food day and lousy weather which I used as an excuse to not workout...so, no big surprise that I'm up so much.
I am trying not to go into full panic mode because I know it is humanly impossible to gain that much fat in 48-72 hours, plus I had a not so friendly visitor arrive today as well.
So, don't panic.....it was just a bad scale day! It'll probably be gone in the morning!
Good luck!
Becky

 

[Havingfun]

the scale

Hi all,

I was a slave to the scale for years. I can remember faithfully getting on the scale and then worrying myself to death over why I was up a pound or two from the day before.

I finally broke the habit and rely on the mirror, my clothes, plus a healthy dose of common sense. I can actually rationalize with myself that if I only ingested X number of calories and I worked out for an hour or more then there is no way I could realistically gain ACTUAL weight and that the poochy stomach is a function of water weight gain or hormones or carbs or whatever.... If it lasts for more than a few days, then I mentally review my food intake and make adjustments as necessary. More times than not, my food problem is undereating and not overeating. Undereating causes me to bloat.

I still watch everything I eat and unconsciously count calories, but I don't do the scale. It took me years to get here though.

And around 1000 calories is probably not enough food.

Tracy

 

[dawnmh22]

Hi Janie...I wouldnt worry about 2 pounds.... like the other girls said, your probably retaining water. Try not to focus on the scale and focus more on your Measurements! Your diet looks good and clean and make sure eating enough calories for your activity. Take Care!

 

[ellesan]

Hi Janie, Thank you!

You know I yoyo dieted for over 20 years and during that time did basically every diet known to woman. I studied a lot, educated myself on nutrition and exercise but I had a hard time putting it all together with the mental/emotional aspect of it. So...to answer your question, I used all my former knowledge and experience and created a plan on my own using moderation and no deprivation. I did utilize counting calories and/or macronutrient % and most importantly letting go of the "all or nothing" mentality and enjoying the process no matter how long it took. I focused on more whole foods and less (but still some) processed foods. (Ok, I love the 100 cal pack of chocolate covered pretzels!!) I focused on taking control of my life and making positive lifestyle changes. The "click" in my brain finally came when I decided I wanted this more than I wanted anything else.

Sandra

Sandra,

I saw your pictures and my oh my. You look fabulous! Congratulations on all the weight you've lost. I'm very impressed.

You look wonderful! What program were you on and did you track your calories?

Janie

 

[teddy16410]

Words of Wisdom

Hi all,

I was a slave to the scale for years. I can remember faithfully getting on the scale and then worrying myself to death over why I was up a pound or two from the day before.

I finally broke the habit and rely on the mirror, my clothes, plus a healthy dose of common sense. I can actually rationalize with myself that if I only ingested X number of calories and I worked out for an hour or more then there is no way I could realistically gain ACTUAL weight and that the poochy stomach is a function of water weight gain or hormones or carbs or whatever.... If it lasts for more than a few days, then I mentally review my food intake and make adjustments as necessary. More times than not, my food problem is undereating and not overeating. Undereating causes me to bloat.

I still watch everything I eat and unconsciously count calories, but I don't do the scale. It took me years to get here though.

And around 1000 calories is probably not enough food.

Tracy

Just saying THANK YOU for this post! When I read all the threads (yes, I'm guilty too!) about weight gain especially since starting STS, I get crazy! The fact is we all know about calories in & out- we all know it takes 3500 EXTRA cal. to create a true pound of weight. Why we do this to ourselves is a mystery.
I am putting my scale away until my monthly STS weigh in - I WILL get out my goal jeans that I was in last year and try those on weekly!

Thanks!!

 

[jansherman]

I had a mysterious gain in November, with no changes to diet or workout (well, I did start lifting a little heavier). I've had those 4 lbs. hanging around ever since. I've been steadily losing inches and bodyfat, but the scale didn't budge. This morning I got on, and the
4 lbs. were gone!!! I knew all along that it wasn't fat weight, but couldn't figure out what caused it. I guess my point is that sometimes weird things happen on the scale, and eventually it all evens out. I do think hormones play a huge role in what the scale says.