Not only not losing I'm gaining

[dragonspeak]

I began Fitbit in June. I had lost nearly 10 lbs. I was at 9 lbs and so close to that 10, I increased my steps and calorie deficit from 500 to 750 to make that last pound go down sooner. My calorie deficit on my fitbit said I had passed 6000 deficit calories and so I could hardly wait to weigh in.

Instead of losing the last .5 pound, I had gained two pounds. So I was more careful the next day, and was sure it was just water retention and I would drop back to having lost 10 lbs. I weighed the next day and I not only didn't drop two pounds, but I had gained an additional three. The next two days, I didn't weigh and while watching my deficits closely, I was certain I would have dropped more, but instead, when I weighed this morning, I had gained another five pounds. Therefore I am back to my June weight.

The math of this is crazy. At 3500 calories a pound, I would have had to have eaten 7000 calories over my 1773 for one day or nearly 9,000 calories in one day, The next day would mean 10,500 calories over or a total of nearly 12,000 calories in one day. Then 17,500 calories OVER my daily alottment or nearly 20,000 calories in one day!

I can't even figure out a way to achieve these ridiculous numbers and yet, the scale says I have gained all 10 lbs that I had lost back. 

I don't eat processed foods. For lunch and dinners, I have fish mostly, or steak or chicken breast with greens and potatoes. A protein shake in the morning with fruits (apples or frozen berries). I make salad dressings from scratch with quality olive oils. I eat carbs but not disproportionately and rarely pasta.  My meals are balanced and not unhealthy. I use butter, mustard, mayo and ketchup, but not 20,000 calories worth. I have a glass of Merlot at night.

I use MyFitnessPal to record my daily food and  write down every thing I eat, including chewing sugarless gum. I write down my recipes and include spices so that every calorie is registered. 

I measured my heart rate while exercising and for a 62 year old, 102 is a good exercise rate. 

What am I doing wrong? How is it possible? It makes no sense. 

Anyone had a similar experience and found a solution? 

Thanks for your ideas in advance..

Lynne

[JennyBell]

Counting calories does not work for multiple reasons.  Check out a quick article below, and then I would look further into Johnothan Bailor and the work he has done.  

http://fatlossmasterclass.com/lp/truth_about_calories/ 

[cotonpal]

I agree. Counting calories doesn't work the way we have been led to believe it works. Here's another website to check out:

http://www.dietdoctor.com/lchf

I lost over 100 pounds eating this way and I keep it off easily.

[Funfly]

Don't forget that although one should not be overweight (I am!) the important thing is to feel well and be happy. Worrying about weight can make you unhappy and often if you are unhappy you will gain weight. Be cool.

By the way, on not too serious a note, I recommend the 'C' diet. You can eat anything begining with a C. 

It doesn't get you any weight loss - but then does any diet? But it's a lot more fun. 😉

[dragonspeak]

Thanks, Jenny,

The video was interesting, and corroborated the kind of food I choose to eat.

I never eat the items they held up as bad. I don't like food bars. I don't eat out of boxes, with the except of the occasional bowl of Raisin Bran. 

My diet consists of most of his suggestions. I eat eggs or egg whites, nuts (raw) in small quantities. He held up the sardines--one of my faves--and it was the same brand I use. 

As a rule I don't care for sugary foods, so it is easy to avoid sugar. I drink tea or coffee without sugar. I don't drink soft drinks. I occasionally have a sparkling mineral water--that's about as much carbonation as I can stand. 

I drink 4 - 6 litres of water daily. I have my six bottles I fill up and consume and refill the next day, and so on.

My health tests come back normal--not diabetic, or off in thyroid, or high in cholesterol.  In fact, for an old girl, they look decent...except that I am obese. 

My back injury prevents me from doing many exercises, but I walk in place on a rebounder (low impact), so I can hold onto something to prevent falling.

Thanks for sharing about Bailor and Abel. Both insightful and interesting. I'll have to save up to get access to more of their insights. 

Lynne

[DeeMom]

We make things way more complicated than need be. Eat real foods and stay active. Keep it simple.

[dragonspeak]

Very interesting site. I glanced at it and will have to go back and study it more fully.

It is somewhat similar to the Six Week Body Makeover life style which I did successfully for a while. 

It requires more prep and a more restrictive food list.  

I've been disabled, unemployed and receiving food--so I can't 'choose' what I receive. 

Most, though must be made from scratch, so I can't think they are too terrible to eat. Rice and beans--a staple the world over, where people are not so fat. 

I'm working hard with what I have. 

I would love to be able to afford all the foods -- grass fed and organic -- but I live on a more restricted budget and can no longer afford those things. 

Thanks for sharing. I am going to study it more. 

Lynne

[dragonspeak]

Love the humor! 

Thanks. I needed a smile. 😄

Lynne

[dragonspeak]

Your response is no answer when I was keeping it simple, as I noted in the OP.

I was eating real unprocessed foods and being active, more active than I had been in years. 

After doing those two things, my body gained 10 unexplained pounds over four days. You telling me to repeat the very things I was doing, doesn't provide an answer.

I didn't make it complicated. My body did something that defied making sense. 

I am trying to find a real solution.

Giving me a simplistic answer stating the very things I already demonstrated did not work, neither 'answers the question' nor does it 'help in any real way.' 

[JohnMcK]

I am by no means an expert here, but is it possible that your weight gain is due to high sodium, hence water retention?

John

[dragonspeak]

Thanks, John, 

I haven't discounted it, but I 'sweat' a good deal and since I drink a lot of water, I elimnate a lot, too. 

Will give it a try to try less salt. I am open to any sensible alternative from what I've tried.

Mrs. Dash, here I come. 

Lynne

[Jaems]

How long did it take you to gain the weight you'd like to loose?  Sometimes the answer is measured in decades.

Even when dieting works, people tend to gain the weight back.  Short-term interventions are short-term.

Try loosing weight as slowly as possible.  Aim for a permanent change of lifestyle.  Success is measured in the number of years the weight stays off.

My weight varies by 5 pounds week-to-week for very little reason.  It isn't possible gain or loose a pound of body fat in a day.  When you check the scale and you've lost a couple pounds over a few days, it doesn't mean anything.  Same thing when you gain a couple pounds over a few days. 

Just keep doing the right things in a sustainable way, over a period of months and years, it will work.

[Trooper]

Check your digital scale, Sometimes when they are not on an even surface they can give you bad readings. Or if the battery is wearing out, it can also give you a bad read. I would weigh myself on a different scale. Or the scale might be getting too old!!!!

[Shinzer]

Hi, that is soo annoying, I think it is the fear we all share , 

Have you checked your Body fat metrics. They can be more helpful that weight alone 

[JennyBell]

Check out their websites, as they have free podcasts which will be your best educational source.  I have learned so much listening to over an hour of podcasts every day (30+ minutes to /from work).  I wouldn't sign up for their program.  Everything is free online.  Be sure you are including healthy fats in all your meals.  Low fat leads to a lot of problems (obviously, look at our society).  I wish you the best on your journey 🙂

[mysterious]

If you are getting more active, your muscle mass would be building up, therefore in the begining you may weigh more, but have you tried using a tape measure? You might be surprised that although you weigh more due to muscles toning.. that in fact you could be losing centimetres, at the same time. 

[iMike]

Have you considered/tried working with an actual licensed nutritionist?  From your post it sounds like you are very educated in what you should be eating and what you should be doing for exercise.  Perhaps just a visit to a nutritionist, who could do some bloodwork, could be helpful?

[Trooper]

That is actually happening to me right now. I have been doing a lot of excercising but my weight has not gone down in several days but my clothes are getting bigger. 

[Gadget2068]

Could be a allergy to food. I had a wheat allergy and the daft thing was I craved bread. Appaernttly you crave the food thats causing the problems. Cut out bread for a week or so and the weight dropped. Only problem is back on the bread as can't resist it. |But at least I know the problem

[dragonspeak]

@Trooper  I have an old scale. I haven't entered the digital age in scales. 

It ranges over a few pounds, but jumping 10# in a couple of days threw me for a loop. 

I may invest in a digital scale, though. It might be more accurate. Good idea about checking the batteries. 

I wouldn't have thought of it. Sort of like calling customer support and the techie asking 'Have you plugged the computer in?" LOL

Thanks for your idea.