is it possible to gain weight even though my calories are down

i seem to have gained weight. i don't understand why the site knows that i burn 2400 calories, it is recommended that i eat 2200 calories and i am only eating around 1800. will that slow my metabolism to the point of me gaining weight. please help i am so discouraged. i have been trying to do really good and i am only gaining weight. i have been at this two week and my weight has gone from 279 to 265 and then today i was 277. i just don't understand. any help would be great!!!!

Original Post by britt8smiles:

i seem to have gained weight. i don't understand why the site knows that i burn 2400 calories, it is recommended that i eat 2200 calories and i am only eating around 1800. will that slow my metabolism to the point of me gaining weight. please help i am so discouraged. i have been trying to do really good and i am only gaining weight. i have been at this two week and my weight has gone from 279 to 265 and then today i was 277. i just don't understand. any help would be great!!!!

Metabolism slows down the less you weigh.  Eating less, in itself,  won't have any noticeable effect, certainly not to the point where you would gain.  If you are gaining, then you simply are consuming more calories than you are burning.

Check your total burn is calculated correctly and make sure you've entered a reasonable average activity level.   Next step, make sure you're accurately counting the calories and keeping the food log.  Weigh and measure portions rather than guess, for example.  

The biggest cause of a temporary (large) weight-gain is fluid retention.  This is made worse by foods that are salty, sugary, contain a lot of preservatives, artificial flavourings, alcohol, caffeine....   It is made better by fresh wholefoods and lots of fluids.     If you go out to a restaurant for a meal, for example, and even though the food is within your calorie limit it contains a lot of salt and you wash it down with a few glasses of wine and finish with some coffee  you can be 7lbs heavier the next day quite easily.

Slowed metabolisms (or your body getting used to less food) usually only happens when people are eating very, very little (sub 1200 cals) or they've been on reduced calories for many weeks or months.   So don't worry, don't panic..... I'm sure things will even out by your next weekly weigh-in.

thank you so much. i really was panicing.

i was wondering if you have ever tried alli... well i bought some and got the free cleanser with it. i took the cleanser for 4 days and it is a seven day program well i got busy and quit taking it. would that put on the extra weight. by stopping taking the cleasner???

thank you i was panicing i thought i had reduced my metabolism to the point that i was gaining eating so little...lol...

thanks again

Original Post by gi-jane:

Slowed metabolisms (or your body getting used to less food) usually only happens when people are eating very, very little (sub 1200 cals) or they've been on reduced calories for many weeks or months.   So don't worry, don't panic..... I'm sure things will even out by your next weekly weigh-in.

I just want to add a note here.  Metabolism does indeed slow down, as you lose wieght. It's not really from eating less specifically, it's simply the fact that your body is carrying less fat and is not having to work as hard to perform the same functions.  I actually just read a study that was done on this. It's not a huge difference, but it does definitely slow down.  And it makes perfect sense that it does.