Eating healthy but gained a little...HELP!

phd2b44

I started using the MFP app about a month ago now and the first three weeks went extremely well. I lost close to 6 pounds. However, the first week in March when I weighed, I had gained a pound. That, of course, made me start obsessing over the scale and weighing myself every day which I know is a No No, but I couldn't help it! I am trying to remain patient and remember that it takes time, but could certainly use some encouragement right now. If you can feel me, please respond.

I have tried some of the great recipes on MVP and have really enjoyed them.

Signed,

Frustrated

earlnabby

The first few weeks you lose a lot of water as well as fat. Then the body goes "oopsie, I let too much water go away and I need some of that back" so you start to retain a little more water which is just the body regulating itself so it gets back to a proper amount of fluids. What this means is that many, if not most, people get a short stall or even a small gain, then you go into the mode where you lose a little more steadily. This initial cycle takes about 4-6 weeks so it sounds like you are almost at the end of it. Patience.

The good thing is that, assuming you have been accurate in your weighing, measuring, and logging so you are in a deficit, you have been losing fat even though the scale doesn't show it.

GoGoMary4

I'm no expert but one lb is not bad. It's hard to have a constant weight loss week after week. Just keep doing what you feel works for you. I weigh myself everyday and it moves a lot. I ate take out (within my calories) the other day and 'gained' 3lbs overnight. It was all the salt I ate. To help my not get obsessed over my daily weight I set myself benchmarks. So every few weeks I have a weight to reach. Keep going you can do it. Feel free to friend me if you want.

jennifershoo

Weight loss is not linear.

DaniCanadian

Are you in the pms Zone? I usually either have no Weightloss or a gain that week and after day 3ish of my periods it shows a loss again. Bloating and hormones (as well as bowel issues related to pms) can all effect the scale.
If that's not it, maybe check your logging accuracy and do you use a food scale?? I have lost 40 lbs and then basically stopped. I just opened my food scale this week and finally used it and was shocked how much I was underestimating my calories for solid foods! Ie: logging my morning peanut butter on toast as 1 tbsp when it was actually more like 2 and a half.

Holly_Roman_Empire

jennifershoo wrote: »

Weight loss is not linear.

This. Chill out. Keep on with the plan.

CrabNebula

jennifershoo wrote: »

Weight loss is not linear.

This should be in 100pt flashing font at the top of the main forum and each subforum.

As long as you have been honest with yourself, completely honest, about what you have ate, just stay the course and the weight will fall off.

I took up some harder hiking trails and rowing (erging, I guess, but I hate the word 'erg') a few weeks ago. My weight went all the way from 136 to 141 and then got stuck between 138-140 until Monday when it started falling off. I am 134 now. I just had to suck it up and stay the course. If I had jumped ship, I would have never known I was still losing weight, but it was masked by water gains from a new routine/hormones.

ncboiler89

phd2b44 wrote: »

I started using the MFP app about a month ago now and the first three weeks went extremely well. I lost close to 6 pounds. However, the first week in March when I weighed, I had gained a pound. That, of course, made me start obsessing over the scale and weighing myself every day which I know is a No No, but I couldn't help it! I am trying to remain patient and remember that it takes time, but could certainly use some encouragement right now. If you can feel me, please respond.

I have tried some of the great recipes on MVP and have really enjoyed them.

Signed,

Frustrated

Short term weight fluctuations mean nothing. I've never heard anyone say weighing everyday is a no no - probably because that doesn't make any sense.

Weigh yourself everyday track it and watch for long term trends. By long term I mean a month or more. Also by weighing everyday you get a good feel for the fluctuations.

Your weight could fluctuate +/- 3 pounds within it's 'real' number so even though the scale says you are a pound heavier what is that saying? It's not necessarily saying you gained a pound of fat.