Why am I gaining weight?

[Anonymous]

I started a new weight loss plan in January and by the end of the month cutting out junk food/soda entirely switching to veg, fruit, and protein, exercising 6 days per week, and just being more active in general, I lost 10 pounds. I was so excited, but now almost 2 weeks into February, I've gained 2 lbs. Like I KNOW this sounds and maybe is a total overreaction, but I'm not sure why I've gained. I've stuck to the same plan as January, this isn't bloating, not stress, and I'm pretty sure I'm too early in the game to have plateaued already especially considering when I started this month, I upped my intensity in exercise just a little bit (increased my walking distance, and upped the poundage of weights I lift).

Any suggestions of things I can do to get back on track or what I might be missing as the reason for the gains?

[ichot]

"I've gained 2 lbs"

water weight, don't mind 1~5lb variations. Those kinds of people ruin their mental healthy by obsessing over insignificant figures. Now if you are trying to get to a class of weight, okay worry. But I highly doubt you are entering in as a fighter.

I'm not going to agree with 2lb of muscle mass. Honestly, I just don't see most people putting out that much effort to build so much muscle quickly.

[ichot]

What is your goal anyways? What are your current stats. Weight and height.

[Asker]

I don't agree with muscle mass either. I know it's just too soon to be muscle gains. I'm only lifting 8-30 lbs 3x per week at this point. Yeah, maybe water weight.

[Asker]

I'm currently 212, 5ft 9. I'm trying to eventually be lean and fit. I have set a monthly goal of 8lbs, and a year long goal, by December of this year, to shed 80lbs.

[ichot]

"increased my walking distance"

No, your priority shouldn't be on distance but on pace. Increase your pace overtime until you can jog->run->sprint. Then as your pace increases, increase distance.

[ak666]

Might be muscle gain. Muscle weighs more than fat. It's more useful to measure progress in terms of body fat than weight.

[Asker]

I thought it takes at least some 8 weeks or so to see actual muscle gain?

[ak666]

I'm not sure exactly about the science between muscle gain periods, though apparently it's usually faster if you're at a beginner level, it becomes harder to put on mass as you get more fit. I would normally think water retention but that's the same as "bloating", yes?

[Asker]

basically yes.

[ak666]

Ah darn. I didn't know about this water retention stuff until I wore a wedding ring, then discovered those fluctuations in weight are coming from that (usually goes away in a day or two). But I'd say if you are doing all these things correctly with diet and exercise, you probably don't have much to worry about, whatever the cause (I really think rapid muscle mass gain from just starting to begin this very active lifestyle as the second most likely case).

[Asker]

thanks for the suggestions and help. Appreciate it

[obiwansmistress]

You probably just gained some muscle, it is a little too soon for you to plateau, but remember you do need to change up your routine about every 3 months at least.

[Asker]

I've only been at this since January of this year. I agree its too early for a plateau, but then should I be changing things more frequently then I already do?

[Cmasterson]

Muscle weighs more than fat, so perhaps you're adding muscle before you shed all the water weight and access.

[Cmasterson]

excess* Make sure you are drinking heaps of water so no food is clinging, or storing in the wrong places.

[Anonymous]

Sorry to be blunt as hell, but when's your period?

[Asker]

That's why I said, it's not bloating. I already am well aware exactly when I magically gain those dreaded 3-4 lbs, and this isn't the time. I don't even bother to weigh myself that week.

[Opinion Owner]

How long have you been up the 2 lbs?

My -strong- guess is it's water weight one way or another.

To give you an idea of what's possible, if i run a low carb diet, then eat carbs for one day, my weight will jump by 6-9 lbs for about 3 days. That's how much water can move around just from carb cycling.

[Asker]

I've been up about 2 weeks now. Ugh, this is all so confusing. I've been trying to read through all this jargon on weight loss on the web, and everything contradicts everything else. If you suggest this to be a water weight issue, then when would I ever be able to differentiate between actual pounds gained, and something that is just a normal body fluctuation. I drink soo much water in a day and I avoid salty foods, and I honestly don't eat that many carbs, so what and how is my body still holding on to water weight?

[Opinion Owner]

To a large extent, i would not try to 'overcorrect' now. Keep eating healthy, keep exercising. You're down 8 lbs in what, 6 weeks? That's great.

If you're still flat or up in two weeks, then we'll talk. Give it a little longer.

Only one thing i will ask, and you won't have an answer.

Check your body temperature when you wake up in the mornings. Let us know ;)

[Asker]

Thanks for the help. Hmm, my body temp? What would that tell me?

[Opinion Owner]

If it's running low, your metabolism could be slowing down a lot, that could be happening 6 weeks or so into a really tight diet. You may need to start throwing a weekly carb load in, or even mix in a one week diet break every 6 weeks.

[Asker]

That's interesting. I've never heard that before. I do have one cheat meal per week on the 7th day of my week already.

[Opinion Owner]

how low carb is the rest of your week?

[Asker]

I meal prep my lunches, so probably every other week there is a half cup of sweet potato in them all week. Other than that cereal sometimes for breakfast, 1/2 cup jasmine rice with dinner sometimes.

[Opinion Owner]

I'd probably give things another week or so, and if you're still flat, eat at maintenance (i. e. trying to neither gain nor lose weight) for a week then going back on.

[Asker]

Thanks so much for your help. I also just read this article in conjunction with yours and a few other comments, which I think has officially helped unjangle my nerves: www.livestrong.com/.../

[9mfeo]

You do know that muscle weighs more than fat, right?

[Asker]

but I seriously doubt that in one month, I gained that much muscle that it would show up significantly on a scale. I only lift 8-10lb weights and a 30lb barbell 2-3x a week, and I didn't even start that until 2 weeks into January.

[9mfeo]

Perhaps you aren't eating enough. Perhaps you need to drink more water. Perhaps you need to speak to a nutritionist.

[Polocrew]

How much cals you eating? It could be eigther your bod went in starvation mode or you gained some muscles while eating slightly above your cals required or its water weight

[Asker]

I'm eating 1500 calories a day. I'm 5'9, and weigh 212.. now.

[Polocrew]

Wait did you just started working out? If so, its your Noob gains, muscles. You can only cut and pack muscles when you just started or on roids so or if you working out from like more than 4 months now those 10 pounds you lost were mostly water weight so now weight you gained is water weight too.

[Asker]

I started in January. I'm not quite sure I've understood your comment, if you don't mind explaining it. You're saying I've lost 10lbs in my first month of only water weight and now I'm regaining water weight? why would I be packing on muscle b/c I'm new to this?

[Polocrew]

Ha its because you just started and is now making Noob gains since you upd the lifts too, You can only gain muscle when cutting when you are new to lifting and now your bod is adapting or are on roids. Yea if you lost 10 in one month, its mostly water weight and no you aren't regaining any of it. It's your Noob gains

[Asker]

so I guess, does this level off or something? It's like again, how can I tell the difference between water weight and real sustained weight. I can only tell the difference if it's that time of the month because I know from my life time, I gain, and then next week its all gone.

[Polocrew]

If you loose like 5 pounds in week, its prolly water weight