Feeling more than a little frustrated... advice?

blytheny
blytheny Posts: 63 Member
in Motivation and Support
So, my TOM was last week, and I gave myself the needed freedom.... ate a few things I knew I shouldn't, but still kept within my calorie goals for the most part. Still went to the gym, but understood that I was going to put on a lb or two d/t water retention, etc.

I didn't even weigh myself as often as I usually do. I knew the scale would tip a bit, and I didn't want to see it.

But now, I am 5 days past my TOM, I've been to the gym twice, eaten well - completely "back in the saddle". So I allowed myself to jump on the scale... and I gained 3 lbs!!

??? So frustrating... I've been losing about 1.6 - 2 lbs/week... to see almost 2 weeks worth of work killed b/c of TOM is so hard. I can't afford to re-gain half of what I lose every month, just d/t TOM issues.

(My measurements didn't change w/ the added weight... maybe by 1/8 of an inch, but I don't really count that, so I suppose I should be happy w/ that....)

What do you guys do to combat this?? The only significant change I can say during the week before and during is alcohol consumption... I hadn't had a drink in weeks, and we had a party with margaritas involved, and then went to our local Renaissance Festival, and I had mead. But I don't intend to spend my entire summer abstaining just to make the scale happy - I know we need to allow ourselves a little bit of fun now & then. (But the days I had alcohol were also days I exercised, so I knew I had "extra" calories to use - even though I also know alcohol is metabolized differently.)

It's also been hot and crazy humid here, so I'm sure I'm retaining water b/c of that...

So - again - any advice re: keeping water weight under control, or handling TOM issues?

Thanks!

Replies

  • ForMyAngelBaby
    ForMyAngelBaby Posts: 123 Member
    Don't use TOM as an excuse to slack off. Instead, push through and don't allow yourself to give in to the things your body thinks it wants. You're better than that.
  • glovepuppet
    glovepuppet Posts: 1,710 Member
    unless you ate your maintenance cals PLUS an extra 10500 cals, it's not fat.
  • glovepuppet
    glovepuppet Posts: 1,710 Member
    i'm not giving TOM advice because i'm perfectly happy to stuff my face on chocolate cake when i get the monthly cravings and no way am i working out when i'm in agony and bleeding like a stuck pig. some people here seem to think that's akin to murder.
  • blytheny
    blytheny Posts: 63 Member
    unless you ate your maintenance cals PLUS an extra 10500 cals, it's not fat.

    Very true, and a good reminder... thanks!! (and I, too, think we need to allow ourselves some cravings... otherwise, what fun is it taking care of yourself?? :) )

    And I by no means use TOM as a time to slack off... if anything, that is when I am MORE careful, b/c I know what my body does.... if you read my post, you would have seen that I said I stayed within my calorie goals and went to the gym... (4x, burning over 700 calories each trip) But I do allow myself the extra salt or chocolate if I am craving it.... I do think you need to listen to your body, within reason., and I do that because I DO believe I am good to myself.

    What I am questioning/frustrated with is the 3lb gain days AFTER TOM ended... but like the previous poster said, if I was within my calories, there's no way it's fat.... just a normal (but FRUSTRATING) fluctuation.

    Keep the comments coming, they're interesting and food for thought.....

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