u/ClassyMoonz

So, I gained 6lb in 1.5 weeks and I’m feeling disheartened. I started running 3 months ago, simply running some 5k’s. Now I’m training for a HM distance and averaging 25k a week. I combine my running with strength training 5x a week, daily cardio (30 minutes), 15k steps a day (including runs) and a job on my feet 35h a week. Since increasing my mileage last month, I lost weight quite rapidly, going from 120lbs to 113 lbs in less than a month. I was eating around 1900 calories. I felt sluggish, and I became quite underweight, so I decided to increase my calories to 2150-2200 while also running and walking just a little bit more. I only added a bowl of non fat yoghurt, yet I gained 6lbs in 1.5 weeks. I feel defeated, I have a history with disordered eating so this kind of rapid weight gain weighs very heavy on my mental health. I want to keep going, but I’m seeing my weight increase daily on the scale and I’m not feeling any better physically. I’m still sluggish, constant headaches and also constantly bloated and puffy right now. At least I wasn’t bloated and puffy before, I was lean with defined abs and felt confident in my body.

Am I really eating in that big of a surplus? I really thought this would be closer to maintenance with my current activity level.. for reference, I’m F20, currently 119lbs, 5’9. I even maintained my weight on more calories and less activity last year!

The only explanation I can think of is some extra water weight because of my sore legs from going harder in the gym this week. But surely that doesn’t account for a whopping 6lbs?

Since 3ish weeks I - 20F, 5’9, 116lb - realized I should fuel my workouts and runs better. I was consistently eating 1900 calories while working out 5x a week in the gym (U/L split) + daily 30 min cardio and running 3x on top of that (13 miles a week). I also work a job on my feet 35 hours a week and average 16k steps a day (including my runs). I never felt energized for my workouts and lost 2kg in a month.

I decided to slowly increase my calories to my estimated maintenance, which I expect to be 2200ish. I also increased my mileage to 16m a week as I’m trying to reach a HM distance.

However, I seem to gain weight, and I don’t understand why. Sure, it’s okay to gain some given my weight and height, but I just don’t understand why I’m already gaining on this amount. I also want to stay fit and slim for my running and want to keep my lean physique with abs showing through for aesthetic reasons. My abs are clearly less visible and I also seem to be more bloated.

I try to keep track of my ‘burned calories’ with my Apple Watch. I only track my runs, bike commutes, cardio and long walks with it. I don’t track my gym workouts, as I’ve found those to be notoriously inaccurate. My average resting calories are 1500ish and my average active calories are 700ish.

Small note: the 3000 calorie day was a Neapolitan pizza day, out in a restaurant. I ran 9 miles though, on top of 30min cardio and an hour walk commute, so my estimated burn for that day was 2900.

So, why am I gaining weight?

Weight gain while going from under fueling to eating more

Started fueling better, but gaining weight