Always burn more than I eat, still gain weight

[Case13]

I've read a lot of forums across more than just the FitBit site that all say "it's as simple as burning more than you eat."  Well, I do.  I probably eat excessively one to two days per week but even then, I usually eat what I burn where all the other days I maintain a 100-700 calorie deficiency.  

In December, I had some medical issues in play where I couldn't eat enough to not lose weight.  Then suddenly, in the last week of January (so not over holidays or anything), my weight shot up by 16 pounds and has been moving up and down in an 8 pound range since then but never back down to where I was consistently from August to January.

You might think it is a new medicine I am on, but I have had this problem for years whenever I'm not on a medication that causes weight loss.  You might think it is a thyroid issues, but apparently my standard thyroid test comes out perfect (although that doesn't mean the more in-depth test would).

Any ideas?  It's incredibly depressing.

[cjsmom02]

You have to have a 500 calorie dedficit PER DAY (equal to 3,500 calories per week) in order to loose just 1 lb per week.  You can't save up and have a deficit of 1,500 one day but over eat the other 2.  

And as others have been saying, make sure you are weighing/measuring everything you eat.  I used to do Weight Watcher's and we had a saying "if you bite it, write it" and another favorite was "watch out for the BLT's (bites, licks, & tastes)"  they add to before you know it.

Best of luck on your continued weight loss journey.

Chris

[MaryBfromMD]

Have you had your RMR (Resting metabolic Rate) tested? All the fitbit calculations are based on a a BMR calculation using age, height and weight. According to fitbit my BMR is 1785, after having it professionally tested I found it was much much much lower (less than half that number). When I adjusted my height and weight to get the correct amount of calories being burned, I lost weight! After 56 years of dieting I have finally found the answer. If your BMR is not average, you will not lose weight according to the Fitbot calculations! I encourage anyone who is having difficulty to get your Metabolic Rate tested! If you aren't working with the right information to begin with, the numbers will never add up!

[SunsetRunner]

Maybe it's not you... and it's the weight scale. They do malfunction sometimes.

[LauraSB]

Have you looked at your test results yourself? My doctor, old doctor, use to tell me I was within range. Well she used the old range, I was actually hypo and found out later I had thyroid cancer.  So question your doctor and look at the test results.

[sladedhome]

Hi I am having the same problem. I burn 500 more tan I eat and I am gaining. Also I am on a treadmill for 30 min doesn't that count for step's?? So why when i add it to activities it say's I burned an extra 100 cal. When I logged 200

[Heybales]

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@sladedhome wrote:

Hi I am having the same problem. I burn 500 more tan I eat and I am gaining. Also I am on a treadmill for 30 min doesn't that count for step's?? So why when i add it to activities it say's I burned an extra 100 cal. When I logged 200

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Your comments on treadmill don't make sense.

Suggest you go to the Get Fit topics and enter in exactly what you are doing and what is not showing up.

Because of course steps on a treadmill count as steps, unless you have wrist unit and holding the railing.

And why would you add walking as activity when that's exactly what the Fitbit is great at seeing - steps.

[Aam202288]

I think I've felt and been in your shoes. I am a type one diabetic and I do t usually eat sugars, so I would consume those artificial sugars; I have to say I would constantly binge on all (muffin, cereal, chocolate, doughnuts, what ever!). I stopped or limited my artificial sugar intake. Now I don't get that binge craving and I am an avid exerciser, now slowly but surely I'll reach my goal; maybe you take those fake sugars. They suck it's like cocain so don't! Hope this helps you.

[Caramel27]

Well i just eat food and do not even look at the calories the fitbit helps   me to get exercize and loose weight Tthat is why i love fitbit even now they are coming out with the new apple watch i still will probally like the fitbit better thr apple watch it probaly will be hard to see the screen but anyways i like the fitbit way better.

[daggs]

I hear you!! I know exactly how this is! I am a nerd when it comes to the math. And I know it doesn't always add up. I have a scale, eat simple foods so its very easy to keep track of. I have done it for years and years...I should be negative weight by now 🙂 haha

I actually am only use a fitbit now to keep track of my heart rate and to make sure I am not over doing it, but monitoring my steps. I wasted a lot of time in my life trying to lose weight, when I was really fine the way I was. The numbers are sometimes not what they seem. And sometimes we are our own worst enemy. 

Its certainly not as simple as burning more than you eat...I think that may work for some people. but not all. 

after years of serious stress I developed a heart condition. Its a weird type I never knew existed. Always thought heart disease came from bad food, cholesterol etc. But nope! it can come from stress!! yay....just what you need. I have excellent stats for Cholestorel (68 total), same for all other things like triglycerides, "normal" thyroid, normal BP, but a heart rate thats too high and an enlarged heart that went into failure (level 3 that was serious) I was hospitalized about 5 months ago. This came after seriously increasing my activity, going to the gym a lot because i felt weak and sluggish....but it was my heart. All I did was make it worse.

Be sure to follow up with your cardioloigist since you said you have issues. I never had one until I was in the hospital. I had no reason to think I had heart issues because I am a healthy person, and it doesn't run in my family. I am doing better now. Level 1 heart failure, a miraculous recovery they say. But I ahve to weigh myself daily to check for fluid gains (which happens) my Dr. Reminded me, if youput on 5 lbs in a week, (or more)and you see it coming on daily, a little at time, 2 lbs at a time, its NOT FROM FOOD, Its fluid. It makes sense really, I would have to spend all day eating to be able to consume enough calories to gain weight like that (5lbs means you would have eaten  28,000 calories if your normal BMR is 2000 in 5 days say). Everyone is different but tht would be really hard to do.

Good luck, and check on your ticker! I know wonder how long I had this problem before it went critical. My Dr. says it could have been a long time.

[angelleeg]

Thank you. I do believe it’s water and I will

[Pixie333]

@Case13 Just curious did you ever solved your weight gain issue and did you check your cortisol levels or get a complete thyroid panel test?

[Dominique]

@Pixie333 : this topic was started five years ago, was last active more than one year ago and dozens of people took part in it. You should really tag the person you’re asking your question to, like I tagged you (this is done with the @ character).

[Pixie333]

@Dominique Thanks for the tip. It was intended to the person that started the post, I was not aware that when you hit reply it does not do it automatically. It was my first reply in a fitbit forum.

[Pixie333]

@jasminemi11er 

It seems to me your weight gain issue lies in an hormonal imbalance if it started right after trying a new birth control. 

[Dominique]

@Pixie333 : the topic was started by @Case13 . Although that was five years ago and she last posted in 2016, she did visit the community earlier this year. Hopefully, she’ll noticed she was tagged.

As to the newer posts you just responded to, they appear to be merely a pretext for posting a link to a bogus blog that actually promotes some "red tea detox" (the link will likely be removed by a moderator).

[Heybales]

Fat is not fast - either lost or gained.

Your hormonal change caused water weight gain.

Either you could have been artificially lower than what body wanted and meds caused it to come back up where it needed.

Or meds cause retaining more than needed.

Or combo of those 2 very possible.

Since it's water weight likely spread around the whole body (though some areas could have gotten more) - you merely hold to the pattern of reasonable rate of loss and meeting your reasonable goals (goals are to be hit, not missed).

You'll make progress despite the water weight, and likely visible progress.

As long as you don't carry signs around stating current weight and desired weight - people are likely not to notice.

Unless you are in habit of inviting people to come watch you weigh naked in the morning.

[daggs]

Calories are garbage!! 

In and out...is BS....there is no way of knowing for certain what your body is actually deciding to burn, and even what is actually in food. Those studies etc are old and things change. For some people it may work or seem to work...but the reality is (And this comes from science, and even doctors and nurses I have been working with most recently) Its hormones that control our weight. DNA decides this an dthat...and there is only so much we can do to "sculpt" or change our bodies.

Perhaps the MOST important thing is to love, respect and accept yourself. This also includes sleeping the full amount (for adults that is usually 7-8 hours), being sensible and putting nutrition in our bodies and not too much "garbage", and being sure to actually exercise. Which isn't housework or working at a job, or being active....because calories are garbage....but a repetitive motion to work your muscles and get in oxygen that happens more days than it doesn't.

Over and over I have heard people say it time and time again. They do the diet but it doesn't work. They blame themselves over and over and I think the whole concept of calories in and out is just flawed for many people. If it wasn't then most people wouldn't have an issue.Because one thing is for sure there are a lot of people trying, over and over and are not successful. Eventually this will become accepted, but for now companies like My fitness Pal, Fitbit etc and the whole diet industry has too much money to make off it...until they redirect themselves (I don't use fitbit for calories any more...just for the heart rate) And wow, I realized I am doing pretty well and am 100% happier for it

[Heybales]

@daggs  - In this topic have been references to studies showing CICO to be true.

Sadly the mere act of altering CI can alter CO as many studies show too - people don't account for this when doing foolish changes to CI.

And yes, it's because of hormone changes - which doesn't change what happens with the formula.

If it's an issue of accuracy in logging either side - that's not on the concept - that's an issue with logging accuracy.

So you have some study references showing CICO is false as you claim?

[ClaudiaCady]

Following, I'm in the exact same boat. Same time frame too. 

[------]

Not exactly.  I burn 1500+ calories per day beyond what I eat, and have gained 2 lbs. over the past week. .....never lost any weight at all.  I weigh myself, daily, on 2 different scales, just in case one might be off.  I can't figure out what's causing this frustrating issue.  If I don't lose any weight in the next week, I'll likely abort the grueling exercise routine.