Why am I gaining weight

[helpmemaintain]

I stopped 3 weeks ago, I was on about 1100 to loose, I am 5’5 and ended at 9st 9lbs, happy with that but then still counting and weighing everything and slowly have increased to 1260 a day, but I am now gaining since I stopped and every day weighing gradually more, today I am up to 9st 11lbs, my BMR is 1360 I think so haven’t even got that far yet, my body works against me and loves to hold weight. I am still doing low carb, high protein and low sugar, feeling really disappointed and not sure what to do. I was initially hoping it was water weight so slowly increased calories by 50 a day a week, but now this long on, I dont think it can be. I am going to drop to 1100 kcal today for a week, any other advice?

Are you accurately tracking your calories? Weighing absolutely everything? (Weighing milk for coffee, cooking oil, sauces etc. Things in packets, like slices of bread/bagels etc can vary quite a bit from what the packet says).

Most people don’t actually track accurately so think they are eating a lot less than they actually are.
Your calories are really low for maintenance so I’d say firstly honestly assess if this is what you are actually eating. It’s so easy to eat more without realising if your tracking is off.

Mounjaro works in many complicated ways inside your system. Reducing inflammation is one of them and this could well be an increase in inflammation in the body without the medication. My understanding is that, if this is the case, it will level off but is unlikely to revert with medication.

I am not a dr or scientist however so could be talking complete twaddle!

Oh and congrats on your loss and getting to a healthy weight!

2lbs is very much within the range of normal fluctuations for a healthy woman. Well done on what you have achieved. There is no possible way this is body fat you have gained, it will either be the food inside you still, a bit of water weight from increased carbs if you have had any (I know you are low carb but any change could make a difference), hormonal water weight, your glycogen stores in your muscles replenishing, any of lots of things. You will need to give things a bit of time to stabilise. But honestly this kind of movement on the scale is very normal, especially post dieting.

2lbs is normal fluctuation

I think it's what PP said about inflammation, mounjaro helps with that, I know it's difficult seeing the scales go up but I think it's normal after stopping. Try and keep doing what you're doing, perhaps focusing on anti inflammatory foods, it's why I'm going to go quite a bit past my goal weight to give me leeway when I stop.

I am weighing everything other than if I am out then I buy a packet and scan for the exact calories on my app, thanks for the reassurance too, thats reassuring to know it could be inflammation etc, I do agree too low for maintenance but don’t want to risk upping Until i stabilise on the scales again. Thank you everyone for your support

Are you weighing yourself every day at the same time every day?
Then taking an average for the week?

Weight does fluctuate so it may take a good few weeks to work out if you are actually gaining/maintaining/losing body fat.

Do you track your steps? If you’re moving more/less then that can make a difference too.

As long as you are tracking accurately, not skipping the odd day/evening at the weekend. I weigh 7.5 stone and can eat over 2000 calories for maintenance. I could lose on 1700/1800 to give you an idea.
Before I was tracking accurately, I genuinely thought I was eating a lot less calories than I was. It was only small things like not weighing oil for cooking and guessing, having the odd takeaway coffee and forgetting to track it, small piece of cake, little bit of the kids chocolate, etc. But it all adds up and I wasn’t actually tracking accurately.

Eating too low will make it really difficult to stick to, you get SO hungry and end up overeating. It’s not because of poor willpower, if you eat in too low a deficit, your body literally can’t help overeating. Personally, I’d up the calories a bit and make sure your tracking is 100% spot on, weigh yourself every day, get an average for the week then reassess after 3 weeks.

Also, are you eating enough protein and fibre? That makes maintenance easier to stick to.

Building muscle really helps too with upping the amount of calories you can eat😂again making it easier to maintain your weight long term.

2lbs is within normal fluctuation. I’ve been off the jabs for 5.5 months now and more than 8lbs lighter than my lowest weight on the Jab but my weight does fluctuate within 1 to 2 lbs across 2 weeks and then it goes down and settles again with no changes in behaviour or eating habits. Just carry on drinking lots of water as well doing what you’re already doing.

I am not cheating in any way even fruit and vegetables are weighed, no secret nibbles from my children’s plates, focus is protein and fibre, it is frustrating but perhaps normal but I want to not be past 9st 10lbs, definitely feel more bloated too. Will take a step back and see where I am in a few weeks as there really is no explanation to a gain other than how bad my body is with storing anything I eat. Thank you and I think next week I will try and up calories and work out my average instead which may make me feel happier

That’s really good you are accurately tracking. Are you tracking steps? How many average steps are you doing a week? Other exercise?
How much protein and fibre are you eating a day?

Working out your maintenance can take a little while, especially if you’ve been eating in a deficit for a while. Reverse dieting can help to avoid body fat gain.