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Weight loss chat

A space to talk openly about weight loss journeys and challenges. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

Original poster

Why am I gaining weight?

37 replies

InTheEndgameNow · 29/05/2019 08:00

Started my fitness Pal about a month ago, I've used it before successfully.

Have stuck to it religiously, weighing everything.

Started at 10 stone 5, wanted to lose half a stone.

I also run 5-10k three times a week.

First two weeks I lost five pounds.

I've now started gaining it back and am back up to 10 stone 3. Why? I'm still calorie counting like mad. What's going on?

OP posts:
ooohhhhcrap · 29/05/2019 08:02

Carbs?

I used to use my fitness pal and run and normally get to week 3 where it would stop suddenly.

It's my week of re adjusting normally.
Once I te tweak a bit it seems to jog it back into the right direction.

Frustrating though isn't it.

magicBrenda · 29/05/2019 08:07

I just can’t get past the 10stone mark. I’m going to very low carb this week and aim for 800 cals as I have an impending holiday and don’t fit my holiday clothes Blush

Conks · 29/05/2019 08:15

Wish people would stop saying carbs make you fat, they don’t. Too much may make you fat just like everything else. Your body needs carbs. People eating low carb are eating unhealthy.

Original poster
InTheEndgameNow · 29/05/2019 08:28

It's very frustrating!

I haven't thought much about carbs. I've always considered weight loss to be a calories in Vs calories out thing.

I've mostly focused on removing all snacks and reducing portion sizes.

OP posts:
Ch3rryTree · 29/05/2019 08:34

How many calories are you eating daily?
How many should you be eating? - have you worked out 500 fewer per day than maintenance rate, in order to lose one lb a week?

magicBrenda · 29/05/2019 08:46

Ah but it really does depend on what food your eating. I can’t touch pasta or bread with out bloating so I’m going to cut startchy carbs out this week. It’s gotta come off!

How’s your water in take? I’m aiming for 2 litres a day.

Mondayblues7 · 29/05/2019 08:57

Up the water, ditch anything processed. I would be working out 5 times a week if I wanted to lose that amount of weight. Can you add some short HITT sessions in? Like the Body coach videos ?

Original poster
InTheEndgameNow · 29/05/2019 09:51

Thanks all, will try the suggestions you've given me.

OP posts:
piscis · 29/05/2019 13:01

Calorie counting doesn't work in the long term. If say, you reduce your calories 30%, your metabolism slows down 30%, so doesn't work unless you are willing to count calories forever and keep reducing and reducing...which is not sustainable.

dancemom · 29/05/2019 13:11

That's not true about metabolism

Calorie deficit. That's all.

If you're in calorie deficit and not losing its cos either you are measuring / recording your intake and / or exercise wrong or it's menstrual / hormonal stage of your cycle.

Teddybear45 · 29/05/2019 13:14

Carbs increases water weight by allowing your muscles to retain more water- cutting them out only works as a weight loss aid if you’re inactive as your muscles will eventually waste and become smaller and need less water. If you follow a properly calorie controlled diet with lots of protein, fats, and complex carbs while running your muscles will eventually get used to your new diet and not retain as much water. Takes a couple of months.

TheOnlyTruePirate · 29/05/2019 13:34

Is your period due? I'm often heavier around my period and lose more after...

TheOnlyTruePirate · 29/05/2019 13:38

Also, are you eating back exercise calories? If so maybe stop!

I've had great success with MFP in combination with 16:8. I love carbs :-) You don't have to cut carbs unless you want to!

When I stopped 16:8 for a week or so the loss stalled a bit but I had another good drop as soon as I started again. Works well for me as I'm never hungry first thing anyway. Worth a try maybe...

managedmis · 29/05/2019 19:20

What are you actually eating? Please give us a list

I know I don't lose on bread and pasta even if I'm at a deficit

ragingmentalist · 30/05/2019 09:17

The simple reason you are gaining weight is because you are consuming more than you need.

Eat less.

Original poster
InTheEndgameNow · 30/05/2019 14:27

Ok TDEE is 1850, Myfitnesspal has me on 1350 a day to lose weight.

Height is 5ft 4

Weight is 10 st 3

I run 5-10k 3 times a week and am also training for a big hike so currently walking around 20-30 miles a week.

Breakfast tends to be 40g fruit and fibre cereal with keffir for bowel reasons (IBS)

Lunch is soup and a bit of fruit.

Dinner is varied, last night it was home made fajitas, night before was spag bol.

No snacks, drink only water or decaff tea with a splash of milk.

Weighing and recording every morsel.

Starting to suspect something else might be going on as I was in excruciating pain last night with ovulation.

And thanks ragingmentalist for that wonderful insight. Though as a quick search of your posting history reveals that you find "fatties disgusting" I'm not sure you're really on this board to be that helpful.

OP posts:
managedmis · 30/05/2019 15:15

OK, definitely get your ovulation pain looked into.

But ' Dinner is varied, last night it was home made fajitas, night before was spag bol.'

Are you having a massive portion and with cheese, sour cream etc etc? If so that could be 1000 cals.

Also, do you have treats at weekend I. E. A huge takeaway? Cake?

Sounds odd though, as seen as you do all that exercise.

Original poster
InTheEndgameNow · 30/05/2019 15:32

No I weigh everything as I plate mine up so I know what I'm eating and then put the sour cream etc out for everyone else to help themselves.

No treats. It's been pretty miserable really!

OP posts:
ragingmentalist · 30/05/2019 15:53

Wonderful insight or not, it's simple physics. You eat more than you burn, you put weight on.

Therefore eat less.

My option of obese people is irrelevant. If you want to lose weight you have to do it via calorie deficit. Simples.

namechange0123 · 30/05/2019 15:59

It's not that simple. As a pp has pointed out, by reducing calories metabolism slows down. I'm also on week 3 and not losing (but today got my period and look like an inflated balloon).

I don't have the answer OP but I hope things will get going for us. I have eliminated all sugars besides not too sugary fruit (apples etc)

PrincessSarene · 30/05/2019 16:06

Quick question: if you’re eating a lot of soup, is it homemade or shop bought? Asking because a friend of mine was trying to lose weight and really struggling. She ended up basically just eating soup and still wasn’t losing any weight - it was because the shop bought soups were full of salt and salt makes her retain water. As soon as she cut out most salt then she lost a tonne of weight and felt amazing. Might be worth considering?

spugzbunny · 30/05/2019 16:09

Where are people getting the idea that reducing calories slows metabolism? Are there any scientific studies supporting that?

namechange0123 · 30/05/2019 16:21

A.G. Dulloo and J. Jacquet, Am.J.Clin.Nutr.1998

Rosenbaum, Hirsch, Gallagher and Leib, Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 2008

For example...

TeaLover2468 · 30/05/2019 16:26

I recently stopped using myfitness pal as I didnt think it worked for me. Your diet seems fine if your dinners aren't massive portions with lots of sauces etc. I'm no expert but I'm roughly your height and was stuck at 10st4 for a while. I weight train with my cardio and that's helped me lose a few pounds but has helped give me a much nicer shape which helped me fit back onto my size 10 jeans! But I have always been led to believe you should vary your workouts I dont know if you do this. For example instead of just running maybe one day do a hiit or kettlebells etc small changes should make a bug difference. Or at least they have for me!

spugzbunny · 30/05/2019 19:08

@namechange0123

Those seem to be the only 2 ever quoted. There's 10 years between them and 11 since the latest. The second had a sample size of only 21. I'd say the results are hardly definitive.