Hello lovelies!
I usually lurk, but I think for this one I need a hive mind, and the support here is unbelievable. I'm at my wits' end!
TL;DR: How on earth am I GAINING weight?
High Level: About four months ago, a work rafting trip made me get my butt back into the gym. About six weeks ago, our company closed and I began a full-time job search, also giving me lots of time to work out. I was bouncing between 273 and 280 when I started, usually sitting at 276ish. I'm not new to fitness kicks -- I've been heavy my entire life, with periods of gym focus and not. However, I am diligent about monitoring what I eat regardless of exercise. Even if I'm not in tracking mode (I can get a little intense), I sit at around 1500-1550 a day (BLT inclusive). Workouts started at 2x weekly 50 minute kickboxing in May, went to 3x in June, and have been 3-4x since July. Now, the scale is bouncing between . . . 273 and 282! (I weigh daily, once in the morning.) My measurements have not changed.
Medium Level: I know that when I start tracking food I get super intense. I also know that historically I ONLY see weight loss when I'm below 1,000 calories a day. I didn't want to do that this time--it makes my entire life revolve around food and takes me to a crazy control place that can be mentally unhealthy. I DON'T eat back or log my calories burned. A series of foot and ankle injuries means that I can't do the jumping or running portion of kickboxing (have to kick from a planted foot, cannot do mountain climbers or bear crawls, etc), so my workout is LOT easier that most of my compadres. It's still intense, though--I come home from every workout completely soaked in sweat and 100% drained.
Granular Level: I feel stronger--I hit HARD and I like that--and the food I eat is both healthy and healthfully prepared. I eat pretty clean. My macros are solid; I hit my targets for protein and sugar, am most often over around 3-5g on fat and under 70-100g on carbs. My water intake is my biggest struggle. I don't drink soda, but unless I stay very water driven I'll be around 36-48 oz a day, and my goal is 150. My digestion isn't an issue.
I've incorporated some strength training since July--not as much as I'd like. Working on basic strengthing and mobility in my hip flexors, so mostly body weight and resistance band-type stuff, and a general upper body dumbbell routine with 5/8/12lb weights. Nothing fancy--two exercises per muscle group in the 3x15 or 3x20 range.
My first thought was to blame the stupid scale--a philosophy that I'm still willing to get behind. It WILL change if I weigh myself multiple times, but when I check it with known(ish) weights--my dumbbells, etc--it's accurate. My 12lb dumbbell came in at 12.1; both together came in at 24.3. Other reason for thinking it's the scale is that I visited my parents two weeks ago. Before I left I was consistently 273/274/272. Weighed in on Mom's scale on arriving: 272.9. Weighed in two weeks later, the morning I left: 272.9. Woke up at home the next morning: 280. Except for one 273 day, it's been 280/280.2/281/282 in the two weeks since.
I know the scale isn't everything, but if I've gained 10lbs without knowing, I'm doing something very wrong. My daily intake just doesn't have that kind of variance, and I don't think I'm slacking on my workouts, but years of doctor's visits and endocrine checks have told me that I'm not a unicorn--my chemicals test fine. (I'm dubious, but who isn't?) I had some lovely measurement changes from Week 1 to Week 2, but they've stayed the same since then.
The almighty internet search mostly yields weight swing advice from early in or if there's a major salt or dietary change. That's not really where I am. If I search "4 months" I get a lot of people who have lost 20 lbs.
Please let me know your thoughts! I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong or why I'm trying to break the laws of physics. At the very least, please tell me I'm not crazy.