Layer of belly/waist "skin/fat"

[Wattsup]

I have been out of my mind trying to figure out what is going on. I am SO happy with the rest of my body. My muscles are beautifully developing in my upper body (which i have NEVER had before) I have a butt (again...which used to be flat!) but I have noticed that the cleaner I have eaten, the less calories I have taken in, the harder I have worked out and more cardio I have implemented into my w/o plan (4-5 days training with 4-5 days of 45 mins cardio) I have developed a layer of fat around my stomach that I have NEVER had before!!! I can literally grab like an inch and it really saddens me, with how hard I am working.

I am thinking 2 things:

1. Could it be from my Nuva ring I have been on for a year and a half? It has slowly gotten worse over the year...
2. Could it be from not ENOUGH calories in my diet (1500 - 1800 ) I am 5'6" USED to be 125, I am now 130 UGH!!! Would LOVE to be back to 125 again. Or do I cut down to 1250? That seems so absurd!!! I am already going through the day pretty hungry!!! I am fine until about 9 at night, and then the hunger REALLY kicks in

HELP!!!!!

[DumbMick317]

I am the same way - The cleaner I eat, more ripped I get in other areas...the more fat i seem to be getting on my yummy. I've gained about 9 lbs of muscle and fat within the last 6 weeks.

Last week I upped my calories to 2000...from constantly lowering/highering them from between 1200-1800...i was trying to find a way to kick start something. originally, when I upped my calories to 2000-2200 I had a ton of energy, was getting a ton of muscle...and I thought I was losing fat. I even made a post about it, and must have cursed myself. I took my measurements and I am about 1.5 inches bigger around my tummy! I eat clean too, although I admit there was times I over did it with the peanut butter. But I am also constantly moving/exercising with maybe one day a week off, if that. I'm just a physical person with a really screwed up metabloism from dieting/not eating all those years. Anyway, I seem to be gaining weight on 2000-2200 calories....which is odd because like I said i work out so much and am so physical.

I'm really stumped myself, but am going to try not to worry to much about it and just continue to bust my dupa at the gym. Maybe something will balance out. Maybe I just need to give 2000-2200 more time? Although, it's been like 3-4 weeks and I have gained about 9-10 lbs of muscle and fat and 1.5 inches around my belly button.

[terracotta]

Do you take measurements? Are you certain you developed a layer of fat, and you aren't just more observant? Or perhaps you lost fat, which makes the fat that's currently there more jiggly and pinchable. Ie. prior to losing fat, the skin over the fat is tight, and the fat is harder to pinch.

I ask because it is hard to see how you would gain fat on those calories.

[terracotta]

I am the same way - The cleaner I eat, more ripped I get in other areas...the more fat i seem to be getting on my yummy. I've gained about 9 lbs of muscle and fat within the last 6 weeks.

Last week I upped my calories to 2000...from constantly lowering/highering them from between 1200-1800...i was trying to find a way to kick start something. originally, when I upped my calories to 2000-2200 I had a ton of energy, was getting a ton of muscle...and I thought I was losing fat. I even made a post about it, and must have cursed myself. I took my measurements and I am about 1.5 inches bigger around my tummy! I eat clean too, although I admit there was times I over did it with the peanut butter. But I am also constantly moving/exercising with maybe one day a week off, if that. I'm just a physical person with a really screwed up metabloism from dieting/not eating all those years. Anyway, I seem to be gaining weight on 2000-2200 calories....which is odd because like I said i work out so much and am so physical.

I'm really stumped myself, but am going to try not to worry to much about it and just continue to bust my dupa at the gym. Maybe something will balance out. Maybe I just need to give 2000-2200 more time? Although, it's been like 3-4 weeks and I have gained about 9-10 lbs of muscle and fat and 1.5 inches around my belly button.

Drop 300 calories, you should only gain 1-2 lbs per month.

[DumbMick317]

Thanks for your reply. I will do that. Problem is, I seem to gain no matter what I do. When I lowered cals to 1400, I gained. When they were at 1600-1700, i gained, etc. The only time I seemed to lose weight, was when I ran an hour a day, in addition to everything else I do. Now, I can't run until I get an x-ray on my foot and I weight train 5 days a week, go for 30 minute walks 4-5 days a week, and do the elliptical about 30-60 minutes 5-6 days a week. I'm still active, but if I don't eat like a bird and bust my ass, I gain gain gain. I think I have a thyroid problem, and that I've had one for years (last summer in one month of working out, but eating like your average american...I gained 15 lbs in one month). My doctor tested my thyroid, and said I was fine...but doesn't make sense to me how easily I gain.

My mom even had to stop breast feeding me/giving me milk as a baby/kid because I gained too easily. Then, after years of starving myself and binge eating and only eating once a day...I've completely screwed up my body/metabolism. Yes, i have lost over 80 lbs...but that is due to eating one 800 calories and doing cardio about 2-3hours a day, plus taking Hot Rox. It's funny that now I am doing things the right way, I can't get my body to catch on. LOL. i'm been "eating"/weight training/eating clean and doing what I am supposed to be doing since October 2007. I'm thinking that since I spent my whole life screwing up my body, that it's going to take more time for my metabloism/body to kick in and catch up. So I am trying to be patient and am starting to teach myself not to worry so much about any fat gain.

I was really excited a few weeks ago when i started eating 2000-2200 and I started toning up, even tho that was short lived.

it's hysterical and I am so disgustingly amazed at how easily I gain weight. Esp since I come from a family of high metabolims!

(Thanks for your advice...I'll cut 300 cal and see what happens).

[terracotta]

Thanks for your reply. I will do that. Problem is, I seem to gain no matter what I do. When I lowered cals to 1400, I gained. When they were at 1600-1700, i gained, etc. The only time I seemed to lose weight, was when I ran an hour a day, in addition to everything else I do. Now, I can't run until I get an x-ray on my foot and I weight train 5 days a week, go for 30 minute walks 4-5 days a week, and do the elliptical about 30-60 minutes 5-6 days a week. I'm still active, but if I don't eat like a bird and bust my ass, I gain gain gain. I think I have a thyroid problem, and that I've had one for years (last summer in one month of working out, but eating like your average american...I gained 15 lbs in one month). My doctor tested my thyroid, and said I was fine...but doesn't make sense to me how easily I gain.

My mom even had to stop breast feeding me/giving me milk as a baby/kid because I gained too easily. Then, after years of starving myself and binge eating and only eating once a day...I've completely screwed up my body/metabolism. Yes, i have lost over 80 lbs...but that is due to eating one 800 calories and doing cardio about 2-3hours a day, plus taking Hot Rox. It's funny that now I am doing things the right way, I can't get my body to catch on. LOL. i'm been "eating"/weight training/eating clean and doing what I am supposed to be doing since October 2007. I'm thinking that since I spent my whole life screwing up my body, that it's going to take more time for my metabloism/body to kick in and catch up. So I am trying to be patient and am starting to teach myself not to worry so much about any fat gain.

I was really excited a few weeks ago when i started eating 2000-2200 and I started toning up, even tho that was short lived.

it's hysterical and I am so disgustingly amazed at how easily I gain weight. Esp since I come from a family of high metabolims!

(Thanks for your advice...I'll cut 300 cal and see what happens).

Yes, try that. Also see if you can find a place that will test your resting metabolic rate (I know some gyms have this, one testing brand is bodygem).

[DumbMick317]

Interesting thought, I should get that tested. I wonder if Bally's Total Fitness will test this?

Great idea! Thanks.

[freebirdmac]

Thanks for your reply. I will do that. Problem is, I seem to gain no matter what I do. When I lowered cals to 1400, I gained. When they were at 1600-1700, i gained, etc. The only time I seemed to lose weight, was when I ran an hour a day, in addition to everything else I do. Now, I can't run until I get an x-ray on my foot and I weight train 5 days a week, go for 30 minute walks 4-5 days a week, and do the elliptical about 30-60 minutes 5-6 days a week. I'm still active, but if I don't eat like a bird and bust my ass, I gain gain gain. I think I have a thyroid problem, and that I've had one for years (last summer in one month of working out, but eating like your average american...I gained 15 lbs in one month). My doctor tested my thyroid, and said I was fine...but doesn't make sense to me how easily I gain.

My mom even had to stop breast feeding me/giving me milk as a baby/kid because I gained too easily. Then, after years of starving myself and binge eating and only eating once a day...I've completely screwed up my body/metabolism. Yes, i have lost over 80 lbs...but that is due to eating one 800 calories and doing cardio about 2-3hours a day, plus taking Hot Rox. It's funny that now I am doing things the right way, I can't get my body to catch on. LOL. i'm been "eating"/weight training/eating clean and doing what I am supposed to be doing since October 2007. I'm thinking that since I spent my whole life screwing up my body, that it's going to take more time for my metabloism/body to kick in and catch up. So I am trying to be patient and am starting to teach myself not to worry so much about any fat gain.

I was really excited a few weeks ago when i started eating 2000-2200 and I started toning up, even tho that was short lived.

it's hysterical and I am so disgustingly amazed at how easily I gain weight. Esp since I come from a family of high metabolims!

(Thanks for your advice...I'll cut 300 cal and see what happens).

I'd go up again, not down. You come from a family with high metabolisms, do a lot of workouts, and stalled out on toning at 2000-2200. It can be that you are still too low on the calories. The ironic thing about eating too little is that the body tends to gain weight.

[freebirdmac]

I have been out of my mind trying to figure out what is going on. I am SO happy with the rest of my body. My muscles are beautifully developing in my upper body (which i have NEVER had before) I have a butt (again...which used to be flat!) but I have noticed that the cleaner I have eaten, the less calories I have taken in, the harder I have worked out and more cardio I have implemented into my w/o plan (4-5 days training with 4-5 days of 45 mins cardio) I have developed a layer of fat around my stomach that I have NEVER had before!!! I can literally grab like an inch and it really saddens me, with how hard I am working.

I am thinking 2 things:

1. Could it be from my Nuva ring I have been on for a year and a half? It has slowly gotten worse over the year...
2. Could it be from not ENOUGH calories in my diet (1500 - 1800 ) I am 5'6" USED to be 125, I am now 130 UGH!!! Would LOVE to be back to 125 again. Or do I cut down to 1250? That seems so absurd!!! I am already going through the day pretty hungry!!! I am fine until about 9 at night, and then the hunger REALLY kicks in

HELP!!!!!

I'd also suspect that you too need to bump up the cals. As you get your metabolism thumping you need more calories. Hunger is a sign of that. As for the belly fat, two things come to mind. Muscle builds up and pushes fat around making it look like you have more, and as you lose fat in the areas around the belly, it makes that pooch look bigger.

Don't worry about the scale weight. Between water and muscle gains you can easily weight more and be thinner.

I just had to up my calories as just 15 minutes of cardio 3x a week boosted my metabolism. 100-150 extra cals a day and I'm still slowly losing. Hunger was the sign for me, plus a bit of a fat loss stall. I use the tape measure and the mirror for progress. The scale will only drive you crazy.

[terracotta]

I'd go up again, not down. You come from a family with high metabolisms, do a lot of workouts, and stalled out on toning at 2000-2200. It can be that you are still too low on the calories. The ironic thing about eating too little is that the body tends to gain weight.

Read her first post, she gained 10 lbs in 4 weeks.

[terracotta]

Interesting thought, I should get that tested. I wonder if Bally's Total Fitness will test this?

Great idea! Thanks.

You can ask them, or search google for
bodygem city name

[freebirdmac]

Read her first post, she gained 10 lbs in 4 weeks.

Yeah, I did see that. Problem is she has already tried lower cals and gained.

[freebirdmac]

Yeah, I did see that. Problem is she has already tried lower cals and gained.

I think one other thing she needs to do is look at her macros and types of food she is eating. It may be there is an issue with not being able to digest certain foods properly. There can either be a high carb sensitivity or a high fat sensitivity as well as a problem with milk and/or gluten.

[v4nity]

i didnt even read all of tihs thread, but i saw NUVARING.
thats it.
I am stopping that stupid plastic devil.

[precisou2004]

Do you take measurements? Are you certain you developed a layer of fat, and you aren't just more observant? Or perhaps you lost fat, which makes the fat that's currently there more jiggly and pinchable. Ie. prior to losing fat, the skin over the fat is tight, and the fat is harder to pinch.

I ask because it is hard to see how you would gain fat on those calories.

its nice that she eats the right amount of calories but what about her diet ? i didnt read all the messages but has she posted it ? if she "gained" fat, maybe she eats fatty foods ?

[Wattsup]

I RARELY...BEYOND RARELY...eat ANYTHING that I will feel guilty about. In fact, I JUST started adding "good" fats to my diet because I was trying to be TOO good. I am now adding 1 teaspoon of natty pb, olive oil, 1oz avocado OR 6-8 almonds with each meal.

My typical meals are as follows:
MEAL 1
1/2 cup oats with 1 t pb mixed in
1 cup egg beaters with 2 T salsa

MEAL 2
4 oz chk breast; some type of green veggie and either 1/3 c brown rice or slice WW toast and 1 t pb

MEAL 3
same as MEAL 2 but with tuna instead of chicken and NO carb; 1 serving fat

MEAL 4
usually 4 oz chicken or fish and greens; 6 almonds

MEAL 5
casein protein shake; almonds

[terracotta]

I think one other thing she needs to do is look at her macros and types of food she is eating. It may be there is an issue with not being able to digest certain foods properly. There can either be a high carb sensitivity or a high fat sensitivity as well as a problem with milk and/or gluten.

Yes, that's a possibility.

its nice that she eats the right amount of calories but what about her diet ? i didnt read all the messages but has she posted it ? if she "gained" fat, maybe she eats fatty foods ?

Unless someone has a digestion issue or sensitivity (as freebirdmac described above), the composition of the food does not actually matter as much as the total caloric amount provided you get enough protein and carbs.

I RARELY...BEYOND RARELY...eat ANYTHING that I will feel guilty about. In fact, I JUST started adding "good" fats to my diet because I was trying to be TOO good. I am now adding 1 teaspoon of natty pb, olive oil, 1oz avocado OR 6-8 almonds with each meal.

My typical meals are as follows:
MEAL 1
1/2 cup oats with 1 t pb mixed in
1 cup egg beaters with 2 T salsa

MEAL 2
4 oz chk breast; some type of green veggie and either 1/3 c brown rice or slice WW toast and 1 t pb

MEAL 3
same as MEAL 2 but with tuna instead of chicken and NO carb; 1 serving fat

MEAL 4
usually 4 oz chicken or fish and greens; 6 almonds

MEAL 5
casein protein shake; almonds

Do you count calories every day, weigh foods etc? Take measurements? Sometimes you can have a stellar diet, but without measuring foods, you can underestimate calories.

[freebirdmac]

Do you have the macro breakdown before you started adding good fats? It does look low carb and was both low carb/low fat before if that's an example excluding the new fats.

Have you considered having something other than casein for your last meal?

[Wattsup]

Do you have the macro breakdown before you started adding good fats? It does look low carb and was both low carb/low fat before if that's an example excluding the new fats.

Have you considered having something other than casein for your last meal?

I don't...I do know it didn't go above 1800, but was probably more in the 1600 range and was usually around 40/40/20. ALOT of my carbs came from fruit, which I have tried to now cut out. I had berries for b'fast with my oats, and a big apple with my lunch. That is now OUT.

What SHOULD it be??? This is where I get stuck. I kick butt in the gym, lift hard, do cardio on the ellip in fat burn mode with quicker bursts toward the end for fun and workout 6 days/week.

As of right now, after my 3rd meal, my macros are:
Calories Protein Fat Carbs Fiber Sodium
806.6 79.7 17.0 72.8 20.8 1,134.9
% of Calories: 42% 20% 38%

I will have 2 more meals. One at 6, and one at 9.

[terracotta]

freebirdmac will give you a detailed response, but I suspect you are actually not eating enough by your description above.

[freebirdmac]

I don't...I do know it didn't go above 1800, but was probably more in the 1600 range and was usually around 40/40/20. ALOT of my carbs came from fruit, which I have tried to now cut out. I had berries for b'fast with my oats, and a big apple with my lunch. That is now OUT.

What SHOULD it be??? This is where I get stuck. I kick butt in the gym, lift hard, do cardio on the ellip in fat burn mode with quicker bursts toward the end for fun and workout 6 days/week.

As of right now, after my 3rd meal, my macros are:
Calories Protein Fat Carbs Fiber Sodium
806.6 79.7 17.0 72.8 20.8 1,134.9
% of Calories: 42% 20% 38%

I will have 2 more meals. One at 6, and one at 9.

This is why tracking your diet faithfully (and sometimes painfully) can be so helpful. You think you know what you have been doing, but you don't have the entire picture.

Stay in the 1800 range but track your diet everyday. Weigh, at least, your meats and fish. Shoot for 40/40/20.

Fruit is great, but if you can get more of your carbs from oatmeal, brown rice, sweet potatoes, etc that would be better.

If you get hungry, eat! I really do believe you are stuck from not feeding your body. As for the layer of belly fat, have you measured your waist? For the last couple of months my waist was getting smaller but that belly pooch below the belly button looked bigger. It's just an area that for me lags behind the rest of my waist area. Kind of like the back of my thighs Once I added cardio, started getting hungry, and ate *more*, that area started coming in as well. I lift 4x a week and added just 15 minutes of cardio 3x a week after lifting. I upped my cals to around 1650 and I'm slowly losing again. I'm just a short, old, hyperthyroid woman