Why am I gaining?

This will probably end up a novel so just bare with me..

Middle of Feb. started getting serious about getting to the gym and watching what I eat (applying to law school took up all my time and brain power).  At his point I weighed about 138-140.  I'm 5'5, 23 yrs.  My goal is to eat approximately 1500-1800 cals/day depending on my activity.  I sit in an office all day, but do get up and move around quite a bit to the copier, restroom, other offices etc.. It also takes me about 14 minutes each day to walk to my office (round trip)  At home I generally do a lot of cleaning, cooking etc...  Estimates for my "light" days seem to have me burn anywhere from 1800-2000 cals/day.  I do a full body workout 3x/wk and usually burn 300-500 cals based on my heartrate monitor.  2x/wk I do a short 30 min cardio session. 1x/wk I horseback riding burning 700+ cals (HRM) and also try and play tennis when I can. 

After starting my weight routine I went up to 145 which I had expected due to any newbie muscle and mostly water.  I slowly started going back down from there and got back to 141 on 3/27.  That weekend I ate approximately 2000 cals (fri/sat/sun) But still played tennis and went to the gym sat and sunday.  On 3/30 I weighed at 146.2.  I didn't freak out because I figured it was just the actual food in my stomach, water in muscles etc..  I felt disgusthing that entire week, bloated and just all over icky.  That saturday 4/4, I weighed at 144.6 and then back to 147 on Monday.

I have been very carefully watching my cals so I know i have not over eaten enough to gain  6 pounds.  My measurements have not really changed since I was 141, my waist however has gone up less than 1/2 inch (hence the bloated feeling)  I'm just wondering where this actual weight is coming from and if I should change anything.  My diet is pretty good, 40-50% carbs, 30-35% protein and 20-25% fat. (chicken, whole wheat bread, oatmeal, eggs, protein shake, boca burgers, fruit and veggies take up most of my diet.)

Told you I would write a book...

I'm in the same boat as you. My latest journal entry is actually just about that. I have been working out since Feb 16 - I started out with low-intensity workouts and have upped the intensity for the past 3 weeks. The weight has been almost a roller-coaster ride, with 141 being my lowest, and going up as high as 146 (I started logging again at 144 - have been on this site since back when I was 156).

Don't get discouraged, it takes the body a while to get used to all these changes. I noticed that it takes my body 3 days to show any changes, both up and down. So if I eat a lot on weekends (which I do, always, they are my killers!), I don't see the gain on Monday or even Tuesday, rather on Wednesday. However, since I'm trying really hard to stick to working out and being active throughout the week, and generally tend to eat healthier during the work week, I see the drop by Friday or Saturday.

So, stick it out, it will take a while, but it will happen. For me, I've lost 2 inches from my bust and waist, and one inch around my hips. That's more important right now than weight, which keeps fluctuating based on what day of the week or time of the month it is.

Any chance that time of the month is coming up?

Yes coming up next week.  I would expect the jump in weight later this week but not last week.

This is just a shot in the dark, but what if you had a jump from the eating out (sodium, etc) but it never went back down because it transitioned into pre-period bloat?

Other than that - I think you are going to have to wait a little longer to see what it does, before you try to switch up your diet. Not a great answer, but I think the past two weeks isn't enough time to see what's going on.

Hi Liz, I think we have very similar body types so Im going to share my experience with you! Im 5' 5.5" (25yrs) and I currently weigh about 132lbs (which is my goal). I started dieting in January 2009 at about 148lbs. I had started hitting the gym hard in October 2008 at about 154lbs (heaviest and the beginning of my weight loss adventure), In January (at 148lbs) I knew that it was my eating habits that were kickign my a** and hindering my loss. So I started weight watchers which put me eating around 1250 calories a day and I lost very fast. It wasn't easy, I didnt have much energy, but the results were apparant within the first two weeks. (Before I ate just as much as my 6'2" fiance who weighs 217 lbs... yikes!! and had no control over my portions)

Now that I'm down to my goal Im eating roughly 1500 calories a day to maintain, I like you, have an office job and am quite active, so if I go to the gym I get to eat more :-) Over the next fews months I plan on increasing my calories but very slowly so I don't have a big gain.

Anyways, the reason I wanted to comment was that perhaps you current calories are maintaing your current weight as opposed to helping you lose. You may want to try going abit lower, just to see how your body reacts. Obviously not too low (Under 1200), but it may be a place to start! Just thought I would share my experience with you, Good luck!

Cheers, C.

Thank you for your comments.  I hope to god I am not maintaining on 1500.  I actually think I may be restricting myself too much (I tend to do that when I count cals)  a few months ago I was not counting at all and I maintained the entire time.  If I had to guess I was probably eating upwards of 1700 cals.

Original Post by lizshuler:

I hope to god I am not maintaining on 1500.

I was thinking the same thing too. Maybe just bump up the minimum of your intake range to 1600 or 1700.

I find that stressing over my calories, weight, etc.... put the pounds on! You need to relax, just continue what you have been doing and try not to let your weight lead your life.... Have you ever thought that perhaps you might be consuming too much salt... or it's that time of the month.... I have 2 weeks in the month that I am heavier than I really am... and it all has to do with WOMEN issues!!! Gotta love it... NOT! ha ha!