I don't see how this is happening... Craziest metabolism ever.

[klax410]

So I was on a cut from January until mid-May. I lost about 20 pounds and ended up at 155 and lean, about 11-12% BF. I came off my cut and decided to bulk up through winter (for the next 7-8 months) and cut again next spring.

Throughout my cut, I was only eating about 1700 calories, sometimes 1500-1600.

I tried to reverse diet, but it didn't really work (my trying, that is). My lack of self-control got the best of me and I began eating about 3,000 calories/day. My weight shot up ten pounds (to 165), probably all water, and I've been lifting hard.

Today I decided to weigh myself, and after eating >3,000 calories/day for the past month and a half, I've only gained a pound. I weighed in at 156.

I track all my calories on MFP and have been since January. I thought I would have gained crazy amounts of fat or at least more weight in general by shooting my calories way up, but I guess I was wrong.

Sorry if this comes off as a blog post, as I don't really have a question. I'm just curious to hear what people think about this.

Cheers nutrition section!

[psychodiver9]

How is that crazy? Youdoubled your intake and weight shot up. Intake stablized and weight gain did. Perfectly logical. If you're not gaining enough increase intake

[klax410]

How is that crazy? Youdoubled your intake and weight shot up. Intake stablized and weight gain did. Perfectly logical. If you're not gaining enough increase intake

I just figured my metabolism wouldn't be able to handle 3,000 cals/day after eating 1700 calories or less for 4-5 months.

[RedeemerZG]

I began eating about 3,000 calories/day.
My weight shot up ten pounds (to 165),

.... and after eating >3,000 calories/day for the past month and a half, I've only gained a pound.
I weighed in at 156.

so you have actually lost 10 pounds and gained 1?

[klax410]

so you have actually lost 10 pounds and gained 1?

After my water levels stabilized, yes. I went from 80-100 grams of CHO/day to ~300/day

[lucidz]

What's the crazy part?

[Mdenatale]

What's the crazy part?

The crazy part is he lost 20 lbs in 4-5 months on 1700 calories, but is holding steady at >3000 calories. The math doesn't work out so well. His rate of loss puts his maintenance at around 2000 calories. So why isn't he gaining more at 3000?

[STC1188]

Lots of factors: water (and all things associated with it), level of muscle development (muscle weighing more than fat), poor measurement (not saying OP can/cannot measure properly, but it is a factor).

Not crazy--if something sounds improbable, it probably is

And OP: if you can eat more and not gain, great for you

feelsgoodman.jpeg

[EjnarKolinkar]

So

I tried to reverse diet, but it didn't really work (my trying, that is). My lack of self-control got the best of me and I began eating about 3,000 calories/day.

I don't think your alone there. That's the hardest thing for me, I can sit at low cals once I get acclimated for the most part, start to add back cals and wildhorses.jpg

Sounds like you are doing well, good to here. My activity level really rises on higher cals, activity level all day > cardio for burning calories by far. I would just comb MFP and check you don't have any bad entries, and go to 3200 for a month and see what gains are made. GL