stalled...then gained.

[shininstr984]

sigh.
i didn't even want to post my frustrations, but here I am.

So last week, I was really concerned about stalling. Now I'm at the point where I'm freaking out..because I've gained 2 lbs in a couple of days.. I never really changed anything in my diet. Lately my menu is looking something like this:

breakfast:
1 cup coffee, 2 splenda.
3 eggs
bacon or ham

lunch:
2 cups salad w/ dressing and cheese
hamburger or chicken
cottage cheese

snack-
PB/celery or cheesestick

dinner:
salad or broccoli/squash
Some type of atkins-friendly casserole

LOTS OF WATER!

So I'm already predicting the responses I'm going to get..."drink more water, add more carbs, hide the scale, your weight fluctuates, water retention, exercise more"...I know all this...its just so frustrating to actually gain when you try so hard....i just wanted to vent, is all. and ill accept any advice


Also, when does PMS type water retention usually start? I still have a week and a half before it's due...I have the symptoms already though...

[Carb Addict]

Re: stalled...then gained.

I am not a pro but had to atleast offer support and understanding. To me, it sounds like your body needs to rejuggle your metabolism. Get it revved back up again-some people use green tea supplements and find that helps. Our bodies are really amazing things and adapt to survive. Whatever you do, make sure that it is healthy and has no long term affect. Take care of you!

[Porcelain]

Re: stalled...then gained.

I am not sure exactly when the water weight begins but I had something akin to PMS last week and got all bloated. I could tell the difference in my stomach the next day even! But I have yet to start may period. I don't know if it is due to the diet or what. I have been trying to correlate salt intake with weight fluctuations too. One girl on here had a graph that showed her sodium intake and her weight and every time her sodium intake went up, two days later her weight went up.

What rung are you on? Remember peanuts are legumes and not nuts. You might want to switch to almond butter or macadamia nut butter.

[Sherri]

Re: stalled...then gained.

Shinin, Shinin, Shinin!
Girl, that evil scale will drive you bonkers. Your menu looks great! Lose the splenda and caffeine. I did, It really made a difference in my weight loss!
Every women is different when awaiting TOMs visit. I don't reatain until the day he comes and then my water leaves a week after he's gone. I actually lose weight a week before he comes.
Vent away sweetie! Join me, and stay off the scale.
Love ya, Sherri

[Desertthorn]

Re: stalled...then gained.

I think you are just at that point where your body is really fighting you. It doesn't want to go where you want to go and it is quite happy right were it is. This really happens often when you get like 10 pounds to goal So what to do about it.
Keep on with what your doing as your food choices look good, although checking out your fitday journal would make it a little easier for the experts. You might want to try to get some more variety in your menus and more fiber
How much fat are you eating, it looks like enough from your menu, but you might be way up or way down. Its really had to tell.
How much exercise are you getting, I moved from 3 days a week to 5 and started losing again.
What are you drinking?
We can figure this out, just don't get frustrated yet... lets work on it.

[kate58]

Re: stalled...then gained.

I'm just recaping here. You started about 7 weeks ago wanting to lose less than 30lbs. You lost half of that weight in about 6 weeks. That is actually very fast weight loss. It may not seem so, but it's all about percentages in a way - it's a lot of weight lost in proportion to the amount you need to lose.

I think you are just seeing your body pause, readjust, take stock. It'll stay the same, maybe gain a bit, then move on when it's ready. You don't need to do anything much, just be patient and let it have a break and make the adjustments.

What you describe - a pause, a few pounds coming back - is not uncommon at any time and especially not after after a period of relatively fast loss. It's happend to me several times along the way.

Actually it's happening now - after a rush to the post on the new year challenge, I paused last week and am a couple of pounds up this week. How do I deal with it? What do I do? I do nothing different, I just accept that it is how it is, and keep on doing and eating what I know is right. If I do so I know that in the end the scale will move again. I'm not about to start punishing my body for not losing according to some arbitary schedule I decided to give it. It'll let the weight go when it's good and ready.

You really do have to keep in mind that weight loss is NOT linear, your weight will ALWAYS go up as well as down, no matter what you do. But as long as the overall trend (looked at over months, not weeks) is down then all is well.

[pamelainaustin]

Re: stalled...then gained.

I agree with what everyone else says. Also, for me, I completely refuse to get on the scale more than once a week. It would drive me crazy to psychologically deal with the daily ups and downs that happen for EVERYONE.

Some weeks I stay the same, some weeks I lose (or gain) .5 of a pound but I just accept it and keep going. It is just one way that I track my progress.

If I am feeling "poofy" I try on some clothes that fit me now that did not fit me 4 months ago. I reflect upon how happy and energetic I feel, how my lower back NEVER hurts anymore, how well I am sleeping and how happy I feel when someone I know comments on my weight loss. That is how I know that I am doing what is right for me. You seem to be doing everything right, so give yourself a big ole pat on the back and just keep going!!

Pam

[shininstr984]

Re: stalled...then gained.

Thanks everyone for being so encouraging!
It looks like I was to quick to vent...I am back down to 139.
I'm going to take your advice and only weigh once a week....thanks again!