Am I kidding myself about my weight problem?

[gainingweight]

I’m really not sure what to think about this

i started gaining weight out of nowhere despite no diet or health changes - I think it started around 9mo ago but I only noticed it around 5/6mo ago and have been trying to lose weight on and off since then

I don’t look noticeably heavier and I don’t have any obvious heavy lumps or areas that would account for the new weight. My thighs are slightly bigger but not hugely and I’m still wearing the same size of leggings albeit slightly tighter but they still fit. I’ve gained around 1.5-2 stone since this started 9 ish months ago.

I’m trying to lose weight and am eating healthily and am in a calorie deficit everyday (calculated by my BMR and BMI). I’m exercising everyday too. I’ve gained 3 lbs in the last week despite being in a 400 calorie deficit per day, even over Hogmanay and xmas. I’m measuring my weight at the same time each day, obviously it fluctuates throughout the day but my weight gain each day is consistent even between time fluctuations. I’m drinking the same amount of water each day (measured so I know the amount).

am I missing something in this dieting thing? Or am I making some mistake, or is there a reason I might be gaining weight like this? Just slightly frustrated and miserable about it all. I’m also not on any meds including contraception pills, I’m not near menopause or even peri menopause age, and I had a blood test 10 months ago but unrelated thing and everything was normal.

Have you checked that your scales (that you weigh yourself on) are in good working order, not running out of battery etc?

I honestly don’t know how to, I’ve got a PT (my friend) and run 10k, cycle, cardio, swim, I genuinely don’t know what else to do and don’t even think I’d have time to fit in extra 😞

If you add food/ calories in exchange for exercise then you will never lose weight. I have to stick to 1600 and do exercise to lose anything at all.

no I haven’t actually checked that but thanks for the idea! I’ll go and weigh some things and check the batteries. It would be amazing if that was the problem all along!

Exactly the same as me!!
Damn I miss my 20’s!
1200 is my weight loss mode too, maybe give that a go OP and see if it makes a difference. If I eat ‘right’ then those 1200 calories go a long way and fill me up. Depressing metabolism. I know I’d be gaining like a trooper if I was at 1600. I suppose you just need to find your numbers.

No I get that but I was still in calorie deficit even when I was adding in calories for exercise, like if I did absolutely nothing and ate 1400 for example (not exact numbers lol just picking off the top of my head quickly) and then upped it to 1800 for intense exercise days I’m still well under what I’m burning so I would have expected to at the very worst maintain weight and definitely not be gaining it 😞 I only ate 2000+ calories on days I was doing a LOT of exercise but I was always in calorie deficit IYSWIM

The occasional g and t is okay for me.Beer and wine go straight to my belly. I have reconciled myself to a life without them. Gin is a pleasant compromise as a treat

If you’re doing all this, can I ask if your clothes size has changed since you gained weight?

Just my friend and I are both 5’5. We both weigh 69kg. She’s 2-3 dress sizes smaller than me because she’s an absolute machine so must be made of bone and muscle, whereas I’m 69kg of cake flab! That’s why BMI is useless because it doesn’t account for anything. We have the same BMI but she’s heaps healthier than me!

Have you built muscle?

Feel your pain! I put on about 13 kilos in two years and I didn't feel like I was living like any bon viveur foodie.
I'm trying to lose it now but it's slow!
Depressing how little a five foot one 52 year old needs yo eat.

Perhaps incorporate a limited window time to eat. E.g . No food before 12pm or after 8pm.

Just want to second this.

Absolutely back to doctors. Unexplained weight gain after this type of issues may be sign of serious issue. Even I who is not keen on doctors would very much demand further tests and checks for tumours etc.

There’s some potentially risky advice here- you cannot be eating 1200 calories and running 10K. If you are still gaining weight and being honest to yourself about calorie intake and exercise amounts then you should go to the DR. Do not go down to 1200 calories if you are doing that much exercise, it could be dangerous.

It does for majority of people...
It needs the window for some helath issues.

Perhaps you are over estimating the amount you are burning off. I seem to remember that a Mars bar needs a 4 mile walk to get rid of the calories. Not suggesting that you eat Mars bars at all but calories are buggers to get rid of and if you only eat 200 more each day than your body needs your weight will still slowly creep up no matter how far you run. Not having a go ,just an idea.

No I’m still the same size which I found confusing. I honestly can’t see where the extra weight is, nobody else has noticed it. My muscle mass hasn’t increased and I’ve not got bigger abs, glutes or muscles either. If I’m being picky, I’ve probably got a little bit bigger in my thighs, but not to the point others have noticed. My leggings and jeans and still fit comfortably, they’re just very slightly tighter

Is your tummy rounder. Has your side profile change in the belly area.

No no I don’t think you’re having a go.

I know people don’t believe I’m genuinely doing that much exercise but I honestly am. I get up very early, run 10k+ on a regular bases on top of fitness, dog walking, cycling, treadmill, cardio, gym. I’ve had my exercise worked out PT and obviously it depends how much I do on a particular day but it’s not uncommon for me to burn 700+ in a day

If your logging your cals on something like MFP for example, when you sign up it gives you the option of your activity level.
That's the cals you should aim for. That takes into account your cal needs depending on how active you are.
Things like dog walking etc should not require extra as they are part of your normal routine.
I would pick the right activity level and stick to that rather than adding extra cals for exercise.
Sadly it's been shown that exercise has very little impact on weight loss. It's great for health but food intake is far more important in determining body fat.

No it hasn’t changed at all, it looks the exact same. My hips and waist are the exact same measurements.

I’ve also got a bridesmaids dress for an upcoming wedding which still fits perfectly and was checked by the alteration shop and they said there’s no change at all

the only thing that seems to be changing is the number on the scales

If nothing else is changing it could be lean
muscle mass? Am a bit confused as to why you are worried if your dress size is the same? Surely if you’re doing this much cardio you will be getting lean muscles?

Yeah I use MFP and other calorie and exercise loggers and PT, that’s how I worked out my calorie requirements etc and it was really useful

with dog walking I only really include that if it’s a strenuous dog walk, she’s a working dog so usually we go hiking or on country walks in rough terrain so it’s quite strenuous anyway but I only include that as exercise if It’s an intense walk IYSWIM, if it’s just normal walks I just count it as part of my everyday calorie total

i know people have said not to add extra calories for exercise and I’m taking it on board and I’ll try it, but I know I’ll really struggle eating less than 1600 calories and doing all this exercise aswell. I’m in calorie deficit as I am and can definitely feel it, cutting down the calories even more will be so tough but I’ll try it x

What is your weight OP? Are you healthy or over/under weight?

Thyroid?

I think I read somewhere that if you don't consume enough calories that you can screw your metabolism up and actually gain weight.

3lbs isn't a great deal. This fluctuation could be gained / lost in a week.

I found cutting carbs & walking (8K) had a drastic effect on my weight loss. I eat a lot of low cal green vegetables (string beans, sprouts, broccoli, etc) and protein (skinless chicken, fish, eggs, etc) & fruit & yogurt.

Every 10 years after age 20 you have to eat 100 less calories a day to stay the same weight as your metabolism goes down.

Weight loss calculators etc don't usually take this into account - but it's why people gain as they age despite not eating any more than when they were young.

Basically you need to slash your calories more. I'd do a week of 1,200 calories a day and see how much you lose

Nah that’s what I said, my muscle mass hasn’t changed or increased. I’m worried because I’m gaining weight and I don’t know why or where it is going! It’s not as much about how I look, I don’t care what my dress size is x