Working Out and Gaining

[thall04 11]

Hello, everyone!! I need help! I had my surgery February of 2014. I originally lost 70 lbs! But now I've gained 20!!!!!!! It's been over the course of about 8 months, but I don't like where this is going!! I've been working out a lot, but I keep gaining!! I had a metabolic test done a lifetime fitness, and they said that I burn around 2150 calories just resting, and with activity, add 900 calories to that. My food choices aren't great, but I'm pretty sure there's a deficit! I don't get it!!! I'm getting very frustrated and discouraged!!! Please help meeeeee!!!!!!

[IncredibleShrinkingMan 437]

@@thall04

I would check your body fat percentage as I strongly suspect that those are muscle gains with the amount you are working out. That is much more likely to take 8 months to put on than fat, especially with our reduced calorie intakes.

[Bufflehead 6,358]

Those metabolic tests and the estimates for calorie burn are likely way off. If you are taking in 3,000 calories a day, or anywhere close to it, it doesn't surprise me that you are gaining weight. My advice would be to seriously reduce your calories and at least for a while, weigh or measure everything you eat and track it religiously on MyFitnessPal or a similar app (if you aren't already). Weigh yourself every day and compare it to your intake. That will give you a good idea of what your body is telling you it needs in terms of calories, rather than some machine that just estimates and doesn't understand how your specific body chemistry works. And if you are logging on MFP by the way, don't believe their estimates of how many calories exercise burns. Also don't believe the estimates on machines from the gym. Again, notoriously unreliable. Maybe give yourself credit for half the calories those sources tell you that you burned. Good luck!

[thall04 11]

Thanks, guys! I totally agree that those machines can be wrong, especially the treadmill count. But I'm not going off of what the treadmill says. I'm basing it off of my heart rate monitor, which is specifically tailored to me. And the tests done at lifetime are extremely scientific and also specifically tailored to me. The whole thing took two hours! Do you think it could still be off? I mean, right now, I'm working out harder than I ever have, and I have a personal trainer who is really good! They have a scale there that measures everything in your body. The percentage of body fat hovers at around 50%. Sometimes it's 48 or 49. I mean, in retrospect, I used to be 260, and now I'm 210, so I can't complain about that! And my diabetes is gone!! I'm absolutely thrilled about that!!!! ???? I guess I can't complain about that, but I want to get back in onederland!! Hahahahahaha! My autocorrect just changed that to obese eland!!!! ????

[Andrew0929 1,101]

For the reasons above, I continue to log every crumb I eat and log all exercise. I calculate my net calories, in my app, and can almost predict an upcoming gain or loss with this info.

Also, I measure my waist periodically and log it. I've gained 8 pounds over the summer but my waist is the same. I've increased my weight training so I know this is muscle.

Edited September 22, 2015 by Andrew0929

[Bufflehead 6,358]

I would say that the metabolic tests and even your HRM are probably wrong if you are certain about exactly what you are eating and yet you are still gaining weight. The scale isn't lying to you.

[Miss Mac 6,261]

Closing in on two years, and I am limited to 1000 just to maintain, and that is with exercise. Here is a scientific principle, "You cannot control that which you do not measure." I absolutely agree that taking the time to log your intake and activity will help. You said that you are not always making good choices, so clean up your diet. Here is a policy that helps me and keeps me within my guidelines - Do not eat anything made in a factory.

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

Are you still getting in all your Protein and Water? Have you talked to your NUT recently? I agree that just arbitrarily adding calories based on your estimated metabolic calorie burn rate isn't working. What does your NUT advise?

[Santiago Draco 73]

Thanks, guys! I totally agree that those machines can be wrong, especially the treadmill count. But I'm not going off of what the treadmill says. I'm basing it off of my heart rate monitor, which is specifically tailored to me. And the tests done at lifetime are extremely scientific and also specifically tailored to me. The whole thing took two hours! Do you think it could still be off? I mean, right now, I'm working out harder than I ever have, and I have a personal trainer who is really good! They have a scale there that measures everything in your body. The percentage of body fat hovers at around 50%. Sometimes it's 48 or 49. I mean, in retrospect, I used to be 260, and now I'm 210, so I can't complain about that! And my diabetes is gone!! I'm absolutely thrilled about that!!!! I guess I can't complain about that, but I want to get back in onederland!! Hahahahahaha! My autocorrect just changed that to obese eland!!!!

A couple of thoughts.

First, what are your measurements? Height? Waist? If you are "regaining weight" then your waistline should show it. If it's not then it's likely muscle mass. Are you stronger? Have you tracked your improvements in strength? Stamina? Speed? All of these things are indicators of increased muscle mass.

We all know muscle is denser than fat.

Lastly I went on a 2 hour hike up hills and with step climbs in places. I only burned about 1500 calories according to my best guess using various tools. How long are you working out? I doubt an hour in the gym will come close to that.

Also they are telling you you are "burning 2100 calories just resting". Hmm, I'd question a reliable source. Look into a sports doctor, someone who has the REAL tools to measure these things, not the marketing driven tool in a gym. No offense