Losing a lot, then gaining a little?

LenGray

Hi! Here's a bit about me. I started here in September and have lost 32 lbs. I run 3x a week, do strength training 2x a week, and try to be as accurate as possible with my logging. I have my deficit set to 2 lbs/week and weigh 232 lbs. My activity level is set to lightly active and I eat back all of my exercise calories.

The question I have is referring the report graph. I was looking at it and realized that there's a pattern to my weight loss. Namely, I'll be accurate with my logging for a week, lose 3-4 lbs, eat over for a week (near maintenance or a little above) because I'm hungry, gain 1-2 lbs, and then repeat. Because of this, I'm averaging about 1 lb/loss a week.

Is this a 'good' way to lose weight? Is there anything that would make my loss more consistent or is that just the way my body works? I don't feel deprived or anything, so why does it do that?

It's kind of irrational, but I just hate seeing the scale go up that one week. I've tried eating closer to maintenance consistently, but I still end up feeling really hungry about every other week...

Francl27

You're a woman. You'll gain before your period. I only lose the week after my period, then gain/maintain for a couple weeks (I get hungrier too with ovulation/PMS), then lose again after my period.

kshama2001

My appetite and weight goes up when I ovulate and premenstrually. I eat at maintenance for a few days around my TOM.

If the overall trend is down, I'm happy.

Tacklewasher

My chart looks similar to the above, and I can't blame TOM as I'm a guy.

Just how it is.

But you might try eating a bit more on your good weeks to avoid overeating on the bad weeks. But you've lost 32 lbs, so it's not like what your are doing isn't working.

MelanieCN77

That's pretty much exactly how my loss went for the whole year it took. Down a pound, down another, up one or two, down a couple, way down, up one, over and over. I'd post my graph but it would be redundant, I think you'll find they all look like that one above.

lemonychild

If u eat near maintenance after eating in defict you'll see the weight gain in water weight, but that's about it. I do this all the time and it works for me... because the ongoing defict just isn't for me

RodaRose

Losing one pound a week means that you are doing well.

SuccessJMG

Everybody is different, but I have had the same pattern. I would be perfectly on plan, but I would gain a pound or two and get so discouraged. But then, if I stuck with it, I'd drop what I gained and then some - without changing a thing. That's why trends are more important than the fluctuations.