How have I gained weight?

mscc67

I started Atkins January 7th. I lost 8 pounds in the first 3 weeks. I had one cheat day, Sunday. I weighed Monday and had gained 4 pounds. I haven't cheated since and I've gone to the gym every day. I weighed today and I've gained 3 pounds. I am so frustrated. Has this happened to anyone else.

strawmama

Yup. I plan a cheat day at least once a month and for a week after that my scale gets all stupid. The day after a cheat is usually up 4-5 pounds and it takes almost a week to get it to normalize and start going back down. Don't worry, just stay on track and it will come back off.

sljohnson1207

I assume you mean you cheated with carbs. Along with carbs comes glycogen stores which can hold a fair amount of water. Cheating on LCHF diets isn't recommended at all, and even though I do planned splurges (on vacations and holiday), I have been doing this for a good while and have lost nearly all the extra weight.

Get back to your macros, and the extra glycogen and water will leave. Then decide if "cheating" is worth the ups and downs on the scale, because switching back and forth between carb burning and fat burning sounds like it is going to frustrate you.

CJ0821

I know it is hard to hear.... but... Don't cheat for a while. I, too, experienced this same situation over the holidays. I had to buckle down and decide not to have cheat days because watching the scale fluctuate so much was frustrating me! My ultimate goal is, get to my goal weight.... then when I am trying to maintain, maybe having a cheat day once a month. I understand people needing the cheat day, so if that is what works for you then go for it! Just avoid the scale for a week after lol...

Fat4Fuel2

Is there any way to make your idea of a cheat meal LCHF friendly? As an example, my birthday is coming up next week. I plan on having my cake and eating it too... a LCHF version of cake that is!

DAM5412

I am in the same boat. Went away with my girlfriends over the weekend, overindulged in food and alcohol so went up 6 lbs!! It's taken me several days to get back down, and I'm still 1lb over. I knew this was going to happen though and am now fighting my way back into Ketosis. It is just like sljohnson says, the carbs store in water. Keep in mind that on average your weight can fluctuate 3-5 lbs anyway AND us girls have the added bonus of the ToM/Hormone shifts, so your weight fluctuation is understandable.

Don't give up, stay on track. I find that after i work through a "cheat" weight loss starts again and is consistent as long as I am.