Weight Gain Reassurance, please.

I am the typical teen girl that is a little self concious about her body image. Now, I would like some advice, or reassurance. I have started working at McDonalds, about two months ago. Everyone there teases the "Newbies" saying not to eat the food b/c you'll gain weight after working there so long. Which makes sense. However, they give you the discounts on food, so when you're on your break, there really isn't much option as to where to eat--very small town, only one fast food franchise. I try not to eat there too much, but I will admit that my McDonald's intake has increased from what it was. In the past two weeks I have gained 10 pounds. That worries me. However, it does not appear as though I have gained weight anywhere on my body. So I started thinking as to how this could be...and here's what I came up with: Along with being employed at MD's, there is physical labor involved. A lot of the food for stocking weighs over 15 pounds, and during closing there is a lot of lifting of chairs, and carrying full garbage bags. Is it possible that I have just began building up muscles? I really didn't do much physical labor before this, but have always been muscular. My questions to you are; 1) am I kidding myself by thinking I am building up muscle? 2) should i be concerned about this weight gain (which my mom says is no big deal) Thanks guys!!

dannah

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Here's the only thing: Although it may not SHOW, MD's is a pretty unhealthy face, so although you may not be gaining weight on the outside, never know what that grease is doing to the inside of you.


Not to worry you of course, I don't really know. Just a thought.

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Oh... wow then if you gained 10 pounds in 2 weeks with THAT then MD's is more unhealthy than I thought.


I guess I wouldn't worry about it as long as you eat healthy stuff too, and not too much MD's. Seems like you're getting excersize. But I'm not doctor or anything.

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I say pack a bag lunch

Muscle weighs more than fat! If you're doing a lot more lifting etc than usual you'll be working out... you wont work a macdonalds off easily though! Just watch how much maccys you eat and i don't see it being that much of a problem!

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Lol, I AM the one that salts the fries half of the time. I actually thought it was the coolest thing when I started that their salt dispenser, all you had to do was hold it upside down until the salt stopped pouring, and it dispensed the "perfect amount each time"...well, my my my...mind you, I stuck to my own idea of what the "perfect amount" was.

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I think its a combination of eating fast food a lot, the insane amounts of sodium, and maybe some muscle mass. If it was just muscle mass I think you would feel a difference though. Kinda like after you lift weights and your limbs feel harder and stronger.

I also suggest packing a lunch. I gained a few pounds my senior year in high school because I was allowed to go out to eat every day for almost and hour and a half and the only places we wound end up going were places like Taco Bell and Burger King. I haven't weighed myself in about a year (weight is just a number to me, I'm pretty muscular) but I noticed a difference in the way my pants were fitting so I knew I had to do something. I have since limited my fast food intake to once a week at the most (if at all) and I have kept up with exercise and I feel much stronger and less dependent on bad foods. I'm not saying cut it out all together, moderation is fine.

If you haven't watched Supersize Me, do it. It is really amazing.

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Winokur, if I were you I;d bring a bagged lunch. But I love the Fruit and Walnut salad passionately, so if you have to eat something there, grab one of those, it'll burn itself off while you work, and help you loose the "newbie 10" youve gained. I like the salads, sometimes. The only fattening part of it is the fried chicken (thats why I always opt for grilled chicken) and the cheese and dressing. The Newman's own dressing is what they were reffering to in Super Size me, I think (Gosh that was such a great movie). I never eat salad dressing anymore after that, it may taste good, but its pure fat. maybe, try a little olive or and vinegar for taste (mmm antipasto). Also, try not to drink so much of the soda, thats really fattening. MD's has one of my favorite kinds of waters (I cant remember if its Dasani or Aquafina.)
Just try that, and Im sure that youll take off those much hated extra pounds. And heres something to think about: Its the middle of summer, you can easily take those pounds off by the time school starts again. And Im sure you can. Good luck, and Im sorry about that one.

And supplement Super Size Me with Fast Food Nation. McD's gives me the heeby jeebies.

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Yeah you def should see Super Size, it was sooooo sooo great, i havent had anything but a fruit and walnut salad from mcds in like a year and a half, b/c you cant really make apples and grapes fattening

So, what I'm gathering is that I need to drink more water...and stop eating at McDonalds? I can stop eating at McDonalds, but I've never been so good at the water part. Am I the only one that thinks that my increased physical activity has anything to do w/ this? Or am I truly in denial about gaining weight?

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I heard 6 glasses of water is also sufficient.

Your weight is probably well spread around then, unless you are on steroids I doubt you can gain that much muscle so fast.

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