Impossible gain

[Horama]

Hey everyone! I want to preface this by saying I'm new, so I apologize if this is in the wrong category, but this was the closest I could find.

Some relevant background information:
I'm female, 19, and 5'5". I've been struggling with weight for a long time, but finally was able to maintain 114 for a little over a month, but that's where things get interesting.

The Problem:
I went back home for the summer, and ate a diet of 600 calories while running 6 miles a day. This, obviously, should have lead to a decrease in weight and gotten me to my goal of 112 pretty fast, but instead, I managed to defy all laws of conservation of mass and energy and gain 10 pounds in one week. I know that eating so little is likely to hamper my weight loss efforts, but I shouldn't be able to gain at such a deficit. Does anyone know how this is even possible?

 

[Trusylver]

Firstly you make no mention of of how your measuring your weight, is is pounds or kg ?

If it is pounds, your 114 lb and even more so your goal of 112 lb is bordering on under weight, at this point you body will be fighting hard against loosing more weight.

As you said your gain goes against the laws of mass and energy, assuming your data is correct. How did you measure the 600 calories ? did you weigh your food ? most people struggle to estimate portion sizes.

Exercise, is the running normal for you ? if so your body becomes more efficient in the use of energy over time so you may not be using as many calories as you think.

Different food selection while away from home: differences in food your eating while away from home can cause fluid retention and bloating, It is not unusual for bodyweight to fluctuate throughout a single day by several kg.

If the running is not a regular form of exercise, your muscle may also retain extra fluid as part of the recovery process.

Depending on your cycle, a weight gain is also not unusual before your period.

 

[Horama]

Firstly you make no mention of of how your measuring your weight, is is pounds or kg ?

If it is pounds, your 114 lb and even more so your goal of 112 lb is bordering on under weight, at this point you body will be fighting hard against loosing more weight.

As you said your gain goes against the laws of mass and energy, assuming your data is correct. How did you measure the 600 calories ? did you weigh your food ? most people struggle to estimate portion sizes.

Exercise, is the running normal for you ? if so your body becomes more efficient in the use of energy over time so you may not be using as many calories as you think.

Different food selection while away from home: differences in food your eating while away from home can cause fluid retention and bloating, It is not unusual for bodyweight to fluctuate throughout a single day by several kg.

If the running is not a regular form of exercise, your muscle may also retain extra fluid as part of the recovery process.

Depending on your cycle, a weight gain is also not unusual before your period.

Sorry, I'm using pounds. I also weight myself once weekly at the same time on the same day. For measuring, I use a set of measuring cups and spoons to portion out my food. I don't have a food scale, so I usually go by volume instead of weight. I do run regularly, so I could be seeing decreased burning from that.

You mentioned a change in diet. I have been consuming dairy at home which I try to avoid when away because I have had lactose intolerance problems in the past. I'm allergic to gluten and when I consume it, I'm pretty lactose intolerant for up to two weeks after so I usually just try to avoid dairy all together, but I've been eating some Greek yogurt at home to get enough protein. That could be a cause.

As for weight gain before my period, I started this gain not long before it, but continued to gain throughout it as well and it hasn't yet gone away.

Thank you for your help!

 

[overlandflyer]

time out... who on earth is telling you at 5' 5" that you are anywhere near overweight? if this is your true height and true weight at 114 you are on the edge on being at an unhealthy weight... a BMI of <19.0. ok, i am at a BMI of 24 right now and on good days i fall into the 23's... i must admit, i can see about 5 more lbs i could lose... mostly subcutaneous at this point... and a really small gut. but to get to a BMI of 19, i would have to drop another 30+ lbs... that's crazy. don't take this the wrong way, but you ought to consider that, too.