Confused and Maybe doing something wrong. Sad, helpless...

I'm just over 19 years old. I am just about 5'4" and was about a 165 until...this problem. I fit into a size 10.

For the first time in my life, I have tried the hardest ever to lose weight. I am the healthiest amongst my friends, and the healthiest in my family but i tip the scale than the lot of them. I'm a medium build and they're bodies rock mine.

My problem started about 4 weeks ago when i finally worked hard. I got a gym membership and I have missed a total of 3 days out of these weeks. I ALWAYS eat less than 1200 calories in a day but usu i keep to 1000--and that's cuz I found out when I was younger whenever I ate more than 1000-1200 i gain weight..yes I gain weight FAST.

I burn at LEAST 300 calories everday I go to the gym and usually burn more like 400-500. I'm not sedentary all day...

well i've been doing this..these 4 weeks and i tipped the scale today just over 170. I have no idea what the hell is going on...gaining 5 lbs when I've been working so hard. My family has a lot of theories. One viable theory is water weight. I've been retaining water and I can tell for two reasons:

I can't take off my rings often, and my mom gave me a water pill once and I urinated nearly 8lbs that next day. Weird.

I've been doing weight lifting, so maybe I'm gaining muscle faster than losing weight--

as far as looking smaller it's a yes/no answer because well 5 lbs doesn't make too much a difference in looks. I think i do but somtimes i think i don't.

but 170 is a LOT and I feel very very disheartened..

If i am retaining so much water, is that dangerous and should I have it checked?

My last menstruation was 18 days away and I average a 40 day cycle.....If anyone has any advice or even if you just have support...I'm so sad I'm working so hard everyday exercising and watching what I eat...and still I'm gaining weight. at this rate......ugh...it's just bad.

How much water do you drink in a day. Maybe if you're retaining a lot of water then you aren't getting enough. You need to consume around 2.5litres a day from drinknig water and from your food. Try uppng your intake and see if that helps. Cutting down on alcoholic, carbonated and caffeinated drinks will help as they are dehydrating.

I would say that you need more than 1000 cals as well. It sounds counterproductive but if you undereat your body uses everything you eat a lot more effeciently so you end up storing more fat. Try upping it to 1400 or 1500 for a week or so, coupled with consuming more water and see if that helps :)

hi

firstly, if you are excercising then you aren't eating enough calories, aim to eat 50 calories less than you burn a day. your body may be in starvation mode as you aren't eating enough and refusing to burn the calories as your body needs them

secondly, it's quite common to lose inches and not weight when beginning to excercise, the toning up and building of muscle does add weight to start with.

I advise to excercise for another month, eat more so your body doesn't think it's being starved, then see if you have lost inches and weight by then

all the best

x

sorry - in post above i meant to eat 500 less, not 50 less, bit of a typo there..

sorry - in post above i meant to eat 500 less, not 50 less, bit of a typo there..

Oh yeah i've been told I should drink more water so that is good advice, i drink usu 40oz i've been trying to drink at least 64 but someone told me to drink a gallon!!

I know about starvation mode but i just know if i eat more i'll gain weight so i'm very scared to do that..and being 170 already..*shudders*...it's great advice though so i'll try and do that first thank you so much!

http://www.bcm.edu/cnrc/bodycomp/bmiz2.html A person of your age with your stats, working out almost every day needs more like 2300-2700 cals a day to maintain their weight.

So something is wrong and I would suggest that your problem starts with your 1000-1200 cals a day starvation diet.  Bodies can get used to living on very tiny amounts of food ... there are people post gastric band surgery that not only stop losing weight on sub 1200 cals a day but then go on to start gaining weight.   It's colloquially known as 'starvation mode'.... and it makes it much easier for your body to gain than to lose weight.

Ordinarily, the remedy for this situation is to increase your intake to normal levels and let the body get used to better nourishment.  However, the swelling you describe is very concerning and you should probably see your doctor for a full physical check.   Keep a very accurate food/symptom/activity diary for the next few days and take it along so that they can see what you eat and what you do. 

Good luck

So i just calculated my BMR which is about 1600 a day, and another calculator that says I should eat at elast 1800 a day to maintain my weight..

so if i burn another 400 calories in a day let's say..i should then eat 1700??? calculted the 1800+what i burn - 500 right?

aslo..i used another calculator and calculated my bodyfat percentage and well technically i'm still in the "ok" zone lol..i have about 112 lbs of lean body mass...and according to that then 52 about lbs of fat...so I should lose 23 lbs of "fat" and not weight...should I abandon the scale altogether and just take inches then?

Ok thank you very much, I do keep a diary almost everyday..I even take a daily vitamin and i'm eating activia...

I don't have regular bowel movements...actually it's been tough to go recently and I thought maybe I could just be backed up, I forgot to mention this at the top so could I have weight gain that really is just..fecal matter? What do you suggest for this problem? Is this also bad?

Original Post by nevyfreak:

Ok thank you very much, I do keep a diary almost everyday..I even take a daily vitamin and i'm eating activia...

I don't have regular bowel movements...actually it's been tough to go recently and I thought maybe I could just be backed up, I forgot to mention this at the top so could I have weight gain that really is just..fecal matter? What do you suggest for this problem? Is this also bad?

Drinking more water, eating more espeically fresh fruit and vegetables will help this. There are fibre supplements you could take as well.

However, as GI Jane said, maybe you should go to the doctor and just ask for a check up

Original Post by nevyfreak:

So i just calculated my BMR which is about 1600 a day, and another calculator that says I should eat at elast 1800 a day to maintain my weight..

 The average, reasonably active, adult (over 21) female can maintain her weight on 2000 cals a day, give or take.  Because you're under 21 and you're much more active your energy needs are a lot higher.  http://www.bcm.edu/cnrc/bodycomp/bmiz2.html  This calculator is specifically calibrated for the under 21's and is therefore more appropriate for your needs. 

Make sure you get your 2300-2700 cals from plenty of fresh foods.  Too much salt, sugar and other preservatives in the diet can cause temporary fluid retention, swelling and bloating.  Insufficient vegetables, fruit and wholegrains can result in constipation.  Insufficient water can lead to both.... fluid retention and constipation.

Really, do go to see your doctor to see if there are any underlying medical issues.  Don't take diuretics unless they are prescribed.

I completely understand your frustrations. I am about 5'2 and 20 years old. I have always been athletic but always gained weight. I consume about the same amount of calories but have began to lose weight. Six months ago, I was 170 lbs. Now, I am 143 and here is what I do....

1. Do mostly cardio and when you do weights, stick to three lbs but a lot of reps (like 15 reps at 3 sets). If you do that, you will lose your bulk but get toned.

2. Becoming a vegetarian really helped me and eating a lot of fruit only in the morning (too much sugar for late afternoon and evening) and vegetables and protein (like yogurt, veggie burgers, cheese) in the afternoon and evening. Try to eat a lot of food for 1000-1200 calories.

3. Try Irwin Naturals. Get the green tea supplements. You can get them at Vitamin World. They are not really a dietary supplement but they help quicken your metabolism. Green tea naturally does that. Even drinking green tea at least once a day will help as well.

4. If you take any medication, sometimes they have steriods. I know that my asthma medication does. If that is the case, avoid circuit training and just do exercises with free weights, sit-ups, pilate moves, and things to stretch out your core. 

5. Depending on what you do, you can burn 400 calories in a half an hour. Make sure that you don't only stay at the gym for 30 minutes. Try to stay for at least an hour if not an hour and a half.

6. I retain water too but try to cut out salt from your diet. Salt makes you retain water.

Good luck!!

Caitlin

Hey!

Most people don't think to tell you this because a. its somewhat rare and b. because most people don't think it affects the younger age groups, but from experience your situation sounds like mine a few years ago. 

My advice: get a blood test, you may have a thyroid problem. Water retention is a good sign of it along with constipation... I was diagnosed with hypothyroid at 15 and just like you I was the healthiest person I knew and no matter how much i exercised or how healthy and low calorie my diet was, i GAINED weight.

What most people said is still valid, try more water and cut down on salt, but if you've tried everything and its still not working, get a full blood test and make sure your thyroid hormones are checked.

Original Post by crzwick:

 

1. Do mostly cardio and when you do weights, stick to three lbs but a lot of reps (like 15 reps at 3 sets). If you do that, you will lose your bulk but get toned. This is ridiculous. Doing lots of reps of 3 pound weights will do nothing for you. It will not "tone" you, and it will not get rid of "bulk". If you want the benifits of weight lifting you need to lift weights that are heavy and challenging for you. Do 2 to 3 sets of 8-10 reps, as heavy as you can go. If you can do more than 10 reps, up your weight.

2. Becoming a vegetarian really helped me and eating a lot of fruit only in the morning (too much sugar for late afternoon and evening) and vegetables and protein (like yogurt, veggie burgers, cheese) in the afternoon and evening. Try to eat a lot of food for 1000-1200 calories.

This is WAY TOO FEW calories! As long as you have a varied diet and get the nutrients you need vegetarian diets are fine, but listen to GI Jane about how many calories you should aim for.

5. Depending on what you do, you can burn 400 calories in a half an hour. Make sure that you don't only stay at the gym for 30 minutes. Try to stay for at least an hour if not an hour and a half.

It's not about how long you are at the gym, what matters is how you use your time. If you are doing a heavy lifting routine and using your time wisely, you can accomplish a lot in just 30 minutes. If you are doing HIIT, again, you can get a great workout in 30 minutes. There's no need to spend an hour and a half at the gym (and seriously, who has that much spare time?)

My niece who is a published MODEL and stunningly beautiful just squatted 225 lbs the other day.  She has the type of body most women would kill for - not bulky in the least.  And she EATS.

Feed your body and exercise it properly and you will have a good body.  Feed it barely enough to sustain itself and do 3000 reps of a 3lb dumbbell and you will see it go into starvation mode and HOARD all the fat it can get just to save itself.  Think about this logically, please.  I'm pretty sure that's not actually what you want.

If you really are wondering, go invest some money and buy a GoWear Fit.  It will tell you how much your true calorie burn is. 

Eat more and definitely drink more.  40oz, a day?!

Thank you everyone sooo much all of this really helps. I'm looking at the commonalities in all of your advice and I'm definitely going to try to change a few things and go see a doctor.

I don't think I have a thyroid problem, my mom does but I got a blood test and they said I was in normal range.

I really appreciate all of this and you are all wonderful. Thank you so much! I will not give up and one day I'll get to my goal. ^_^ Have a nice time everyone!

Original Post by bdasko:

My niece who is a published MODEL and stunningly beautiful just squatted 225 lbs the other day.  She has the type of body most women would kill for - not bulky in the least.  And she EATS.

Fricken awesome!