Fluctuations in weightloss

nojuliefx

I just wanted to share this in case it helps motivate anyone to push through the bad weeks (weightloss wise).

9 months ago I created a plan for myself that would allow me to lose 110 pounds in one year. I used the math - calories in/ calories out with a set of rules regarding both (how much to eat and work out each day). I am 9 months in now and only 0.2 pounds off from my original prediction! Not bad! (It's actually really great).

I have learned a lot over the past 9 months. One thing I wanted to share was how much the week-to-week weightloss fluctuates. Do not get discouraged when you have a bad week! Keep pushing and know a really killer weigh-in is in the near future. I'd sometimes go weeks having crap weigh-ins and then have a huge loss, even though my week to week habits don't really change. I attached a graph of my forecasted weightloss and actual weightloss. I'm at week 37. This graph shows short-term ups and downs happen, but the long-term trend is obvious.

I encourage you all to stick with it, even when the scale tells you it's not working.

rumijs

This is great to see! Thanks for posting. We all know that fluctuations happen, but when it happens to us it can be discouraging -- because WHAT IF it doesn't come back off!? If you're sticking to a plan, then it likely will.

losergood2011

I have learned not to pay to much attention to the scale - it has taken me a long time to do that! A few weeks ago I went up 10 lbs in one week! Impossible according to the math - the next day I was down 5! Again impossible then down 3 more the following. I am going to track it daily for a bit as I am curious what the trend line looks like then will go back to weekly. The most interesting thing I noticed is how I am merely curious when in the past I would have totally freaked!!

ruperthumphrey

That is great to see! I have just come through one of those where the weight just stopped coming off. I stuck with it. Today, I get on the scales and three pounds down. And it wasn't water weight! Thanks for sharing!

wishiwasarunner

I know some people say this is why you should not weigh daily - but this is exactly why I do. If my weight goes up 1-2 pounds in a day - well I know I was not 3500-7000 calories over, so I just watch it and expect it will come back down. I don't get excited about weight changes (up or down) until I see them stay there several days. I don't log weight everyday but I like to keep a trend graph in my head. Then when I see that I am consistently not above a certain weight - I log it. I am not sure what I will do when I hit maintenance. I did a 2 week maintenance break and my weight fluctuated much more during that time than it did while actively restricting. Regardless, a scale is just a tool and each person has to figure out how best to use that tool for them.