I don’t know what is happening, but I have been gaining a lot of weight lately. I don’t know what the problem is, I only eat about 2000 calories and still workout a lot. (I am training for IM Ariz) For some reason I can’t stop gaining weight. People keep telling me that I am not eating enough and my body is holding onto the fat it has already.
Yesterday I ate 2562 calories, all day. I rode for 3hrs (3,267 calories) and ran for an hour at an 8:05 pace (1752 calories) I had nothing but water on my ride an run. Doing the math I spent 5019 calories and only took in 2562 all day.
I woke up this morning and I was 2 lbs heavier than I was yesterday morning. I don’t understand it. Nov 1 I was 160, today I am 165 and can’t get back down to 160 to save my life. People tell me I have an eating disorder because I am starting to not eat anything anymore.
i am 5’6 - 165 with 8.2% bodyfat
I always thought that in order to lose weight yo needed to expend more than you take in. That isn’t working for me
Have a Corona and relax. See Triathlete Magazine December 2006 article on why it is not only ok but good to gain a few pounds in the off-season. Unless you have a serious medical issue.
First of all, your calorie estimates are most likely way off. Unless you averaged ~300 watts for your entire ride. That would be quite a ride for a person 5’6’’ 165. Also, no way you burned 1752 calories running just over 7 miles.
I’m going to guess you put on water weight. If you came into the day dehydrated, and you came out hydrated, then that would easily explain your weight fluctuation. I would suggest abandoning the scale for the next month or so. Eat healthy, stay fit, and you will certainly see changes in the mirror.
Keep in mind that caloric expenditure and intake is an estimate at best.
Unless you are precisely weighing every item of food that you consume, you could be taking in more calories than you think. I don’t think there is any need to be so obsessive. Use some common sense and eat healthy. Don’t worry about counting calories. If you are working out consistently, the weight loss should take care of itself.
I’d suggest losing the scale, or at least not weighing yourself every day. 8.2% BF sounds pretty lean to me to start with and you’re working hard. I also agree with getting your thyroid levels checked.
As an aside, I personally hate calorie counting because it makes me too obsessed with what I put in my mouth and I end up eating more because I’m thinking about food all of the time. Instead, I learned what real portions look like and I keep good food in my house. I eat when I’m hungry and stop before I’m full. I guess it is the eating version of JFT.
Bottom line, you’re really fit. You need to post what works for you in the end. Good luck!
Thanks for the tips. I think my run numbers were off a bit, I just checked and I don’t think i shut my watch off and it kept going for a while. The bike course I go on it very hilly with flat parts that get a lot of speed. It is a heart pumping ride that is for sure. I have the heart graph on my computer to show you what I am talking about.
That is interesting about “health” problems. I never thought about that. I guess, I didn’t want to think about that. I have become very obsessive on what things I am eating. I like the idea of hiding the scale.
This whole thing started when I switched coaches. My old coaches last comment was that I had a great season at 170lbs, imagine how good you could have been if you were 160. ever since then that has been all I have been thinking about
It actually depends on weight, there are plenty of online calculators out there. I burn about 130 calories per mile of running. BTW - it doesn’t matter of you walk a 20 minute mile or run a 6 minute mile you burn the same amount of calories. So try not to think of pace, but distance when trying to calculate calories.
I have it set at my V02 number (which was a tested number) and my height and weight. It is also calibrated for my bike. I run with a Garmin because I broke the footpad. I also ride with a Garmin because I have an older one that doesn’t give me a HR reading