So, it comes down to this...(venting)

I weigh more now than I have in years....since I gave birth pretty much!  I just don't understand how I exercise more than I ever have in my life, I eat healthier than I ever have in my life, I count my calories very efficiently (been doing so for a little over a year), joined CC and search the forums religiously reading all the wonderful advice everyone has to offer, and somehow in the end...have gained 6lbs (In the last two months).  My goal is 143, when I started CC I was 148ish and now I weigh in at 154!!!  Oh, it probably won't stop there either...that bad boy will probably continue to climb!  GRRRRR!!!!  I just needed to vent, thanks for listening! :-) 

Hi :) Are you exercising??

Almost every day!  I'm addicted to my exercise :-)  20-30 min conditioning when I wake up; running/HIIT/weight training over my lunch (40min) 4x's a week. 9 mile jog on Saturday mornings, Sunday's I will do either 45min's of circuit's or take the day off.  I'm a pretty intense exerciser...but it really is getting me no where, except of course building my endurance.  If that were my goal, I would be extremely happy.  I'm really not sure how to turn all this exercise into someting that I can reach my goal of 143lbs with... 

Hiya,

Are you sure it isn't muscle? Have you gained any inches?  If you haven't gained any inches then I would think it was just fat being turned into muscle.

I know how you feel though - I've had plenty of moments where I think I've been doing great only to have the scale tell me the opposite! 

Please keep going though!

Donna

are you eating enough?

I feel like I've gained inches, my clothes feel a bit more snug around my waist.  Not enough to have to go up in size....yet :-P  I'm also pretty sure I eat enough, I calorie cycle, keeping my calories a bit on the higher end on the weekends.  I usually try to keep my daily deficit between 500-1000.  Usually is around 700, but then on the weekends I keep it at my maintaining level.  I'm wondering if either I underestimate how much I actually do in a day, besides my actual exercise or if the fact that my cardiologist took me off of my beta blockers about 2 months ago has anything to do with this.  Sometimes I feel like I really over analyze it all!  I just really don't know what direction I need to go in, but I'm almost certain it is too not cut back on my calories.  Hmmmmm, I just don't know!!!  Maybe cut back on exercising?

Are you possibly pregnant again?? Seems like a question worth asking!

 

I considered that option since I have not gotten my monthly visitor since January....but I have been tested....no babies for me :-P

You look awesome!! Maybe you body is just where it wants to be, even though you mind may want it smaller? Especially since you are so active. Being healthy and happy is a lot better than a number on a scale, least I think so.

You look very muscular/toned (not manly like). One thing I recently had to do was have my SO hide the scale. I started with a personal trainer two months ago and have not lost weight where I swore I should have. However, my clothes fit better, and when I look at pics I can see a majot difference. I had to kick the scale to the curb for awhile. It was doing me no good; only made me hateful and depressed...

Maybe you didn't want advice, so sorry if that's the case. I think you look amazing!

I concur--you look muscular. A friend of mine "outgrew" her dresses (especially in the shoulders) the more fit she became. She's got about 15% body fat at most, and she's only about 5ft5, but there's no way a size small would fit her. Her muscles are just too big! :o) You don't look as big as she does, which has me wondering how much she weighs. Probably a lot more than anyone would guess!

The BMI guidelines are NOT great for athletes. You seem to me to be quite athletic!

Maybe there is an issue with your thyroid?  If your thyroid is underactive it can result in weight gain. Then again, it could be muscle gain.  Or maybe even some medication you've recently been taking that maybe causing the gain.

You may not think so, but I think you look great.  You have these long elegant, limbs.  I envy you really. 

You look fabulous!  Very healthy, toned, and fit!  That is how I want to look (especially your arms... I always envy women with great toned arms.  They look so good in tank tops and halter dresses).  There isn't an ounce of fat in any of your pictures.  I really think the scale has gone up because of the increased muscle.  I don't think you should go by the scale because of how active you are.

You look great to me!  I'm 5'9" too and I've gained back some of the weight I lost after having number 3,  but my goal at the moment is 155!!!    I guess I have a higher goal because it know that if I tried to go down to 145 it would be work work work constantly and I just want a weight where I look good, feel toned and can easily maintain forever.

So maybe your body is just trying to find it's level - I agree with the others - stay off your scale!   

that is very frustrating.  you should check your thyroid.

How many calories per day are you eating, exactly?  You haven't had your period since January which could be indicative of low body fat, or heavy exercise, or low fat/calorie diet, or a combination of these factors.

You look very healthy in your photos and if you're at the stage where you're losing body fat and gaining muscle you will not necessarily lose weight, although your number gain does seem high even for that scenario. 

Well, first thing...thank you too all for your wonderful compliments, you all really know how to make a girl feel good!

I suppose I could get a thyroid test.  I have never had one before (that I am aware of).  Thanks for the suggestion. 

I suppose the more weight training I do, the more weight I will gain.  Apparently gaining muscle is not as hard as I thought...or people make it out to be.  I've read quite a few forums about how difficult it is for a woman to gain muscle.  I really only have been lifiting for a few months...and apparently I have gained...if it is ALL muscle, around 7lbs of it!  Could that be? 

It is true....being healthy and happy is WAY more important then a number on a scale.  I just wish I could get that through my thick skull! 

shandykat:  I did a calculation over the last 7 days my caloric intake is averaged out to be 2300 calories daily, most calories come from the weekend.  My average dialy burn from the last 7 days is 2430.  The 7 days before that my caloric intake has been 2100 and my average daily burn is 2430.  I really have a small deficit measured out over the course of 7 days, which is why I have a hard time trying to figure out why my scale is going up!??!  I also have a good diet full of fruits, veggies, whole grains, lean proteins, and tons of water, and my fiber intake is always above 40 grams!  I do indulge on the weekends with the occasional reduced fat ice cream cone and a few beers...once in a while.  But that is all balanced into the calorie allowance for the day.  In your opinion do you see anything different I should be doing?  Should I cut back on my exercise?  Eat less maybe?  If anything, I would at least like to go back to where I was when I first started CC....7-10lbs.  :-P

 

Is it possible you aren't drinking enough water, and are therefore just keeping it all in as water weight retention? You mentioned having your pants fit "snug", so maybe you've just been bloated for a little while. Try upping the water count, and maybe even putting a tad of lemon in there to help with the process. Hope all of us are somehow helping :)

Original Post by zaiitz3:

Is it possible you aren't drinking enough water, and are therefore just keeping it all in as water weight retention? You mentioned having your pants fit "snug", so maybe you've just been bloated for a little while. Try upping the water count, and maybe even putting a tad of lemon in there to help with the process. Hope all of us are somehow helping :)

Hmmmmm, I think I'm drinking enough water....I'm never thirsty.  My drink schedule is this: I have 10 ounce glass of crystal light when I first wake up.  I do a 20-30 minute toning workout, shower, then have my coffee.  I drink a big mug at home with a splenda in it and when I get to work I have another big mug with a splenda in it...probably about 25 ounces all together.  Then I have a cup of hot black tea (8 ounces).  After that through out my day I drink five-16.9 ounce bottles of water and water from the fountain at the gym.  In the evening I drink about 2 big glasses of crystal light about 20 ounces.  I eat jello at night too...probably about 3 cups worth :-P  I count that as my liquid too!  So all together I drink on average about 170 ounces....give or take depending on my workouts and if I eat foods that make me thirsty.  Also, I may have cereal with milk...I suppose that would count too.  I would say I'm pretty well hydrated :-P  Because I eat so much fiber, do you think I should drink more?  How much liquid does someone on a high fiber diet need to have? 

I think I may have mentioned that I'm an over-analyzer!

The way to tell if you are gaining muscle is to take measurements. 

Ditch your scale.  Grab your measuring tape.  Scales LIE!!!!!!!