What Chuck Does

What did you think was going to happen?

This is a rant to myself. Ever since coming back from the honeymoon, I’ve been less physically active. I’ve been to the gym 15 times in about 10 weeks. Over the last 12 weeks (including the 2 weeks of wedding/honeymoon) I’ve accumulated the following caloric surpluses 918, 2822, -395, 1627, 1316, 899, 1637, 1695, 2133, 992, 1168, 393; a surplus total of 15,135 calories. The damage in my results? How about less strength, more fat, less muscle, less body hydration %. While my weight has stayed relatively constant at about 145.5 lbs, my body fat has increased by my Tanita scale readings and also by how I feel (i.e. I can grab more flab around my midsection).

Based on my daily caloric log of taking in a surplus of 15,135 calories over 12 weeks, I essentially gained 4.32 lbs. of fat. How is that possible when my weight says I’m still 145.5 lbs? Well here are my speculations:

1. My body does not convert excess calories into fat at a 1:1 ratio
2. I lost muscle weight and gained fat therefore resulting in a 0 lbs. weight change
3. I underestimated my daily caloric expenditure
4. I overestimated my caloric intake

I believe there is a little truth to each factor. Genetically I’m less prone to storing fat so there is likely not a 1:1 conversion rate for each excess 3,500 calories become exactly 1 lbs. of fat. Secondly, I know for sure I’m physically weaker. I can’t do as many pull-ups nor can I bench press the same weight I used to 10 weeks ago. I also likely underestimate the caloric expenses of my physical activities as well as my baseline daily caloric need. Lastly, while I try to estimate as closely as possible my daily caloric intake, it’s likely I sometimes overestimate… sometimes I just get really lazy and don’t count the exact number of calories of each meal and go with a “rough number” of how many calories it felt like I consumed.

All in all these are reasons for why my weight hasn’t increased but I’m becoming increasingly flabby and less toned. Seriously. Eating 15,000+ calories extra in 10 weeks without adequate exercise. What DID I think was going to happen?