Yep, I can still get spooked!
LivingtheLeanDream
Posts: 13,342 Member
Hi folks,
Well I just wanted to share even though I have been maintaining my weight for almost 5 years there are occasions I feel spooked in regards to the scale and feel I'm not doing this right! and yes, I know, its daft that I could get thrown like this, but hey I'm human and not perfect (well, not all of the time LOL
)
I'm a daily weigher, I like trends and data... I am well used to fluctuations - I can bounce around my goal range by 1 to 2lbs easily in any given day or week but I always, always settle at my happy numbers of 125-126lbs. I go back to that within 2 days of seeing any spike.
Except this week....
This week its settling at 128-129 and it has been for 5 days. That in itself is rare and in fact downright strange.... (and yes, I even checked the batteries on my scale, just in case LOL)
So it got me thinking, what's different this week? well, not much actually! but then I thought, oh yeah, I have been doing extra walks because its been nice outdoors... plus I wore a pair of trainers the other day which after the 1st mile started cutting into my heels so I practically limped all the way home! The next day my both calves were aching badly (from hobbling on my tip toes for a mile I would guess!). Anyway, this is probably what's causing the spike in weight. I don't like it because it's not happened in an age, but its an explanation.
(I know for sure I haven't eaten over my TDEE, in fact I've been cutting because we have a break coming up and that's how I plan for extra eating whilst away. And of course like anyone else I'll see spikes after high sodium meals, higher carb days for around 2 days but this is the first time in probably a few years that I've seen 4lbs higher... (granted 4lbs is not much at all, I know that's what y'all will be saying, but I'm petite and if that were true gain then I would feel it in my clothes)
I am basically just having a wee rant here
And maybe my sharing my thoughts will help or ring true with someone else.
Happy Friday Eve everyone
Ruth
Well I just wanted to share even though I have been maintaining my weight for almost 5 years there are occasions I feel spooked in regards to the scale and feel I'm not doing this right! and yes, I know, its daft that I could get thrown like this, but hey I'm human and not perfect (well, not all of the time LOL
)I'm a daily weigher, I like trends and data... I am well used to fluctuations - I can bounce around my goal range by 1 to 2lbs easily in any given day or week but I always, always settle at my happy numbers of 125-126lbs. I go back to that within 2 days of seeing any spike.
Except this week....
This week its settling at 128-129 and it has been for 5 days. That in itself is rare and in fact downright strange.... (and yes, I even checked the batteries on my scale, just in case LOL)
So it got me thinking, what's different this week? well, not much actually! but then I thought, oh yeah, I have been doing extra walks because its been nice outdoors... plus I wore a pair of trainers the other day which after the 1st mile started cutting into my heels so I practically limped all the way home! The next day my both calves were aching badly (from hobbling on my tip toes for a mile I would guess!). Anyway, this is probably what's causing the spike in weight. I don't like it because it's not happened in an age, but its an explanation.
(I know for sure I haven't eaten over my TDEE, in fact I've been cutting because we have a break coming up and that's how I plan for extra eating whilst away. And of course like anyone else I'll see spikes after high sodium meals, higher carb days for around 2 days but this is the first time in probably a few years that I've seen 4lbs higher... (granted 4lbs is not much at all, I know that's what y'all will be saying, but I'm petite and if that were true gain then I would feel it in my clothes)
I am basically just having a wee rant here
And maybe my sharing my thoughts will help or ring true with someone else.Happy Friday Eve everyone
Ruth
34
Replies
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Hi, I feel your frustration. I also check in daily, but chart weekly. If there’s an unexplained spike it messes with your head, I have to trust the process and hope it will even out soon. I hope you legs feel better, wearing in new shoes is no fun2
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Thanks @Catho36 They aren't new shoes but its been a while since I wore them and they just are not comfortable so they will have to go 
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Hang tough Ruth! The scale is messing with you
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Aww thanks for that @Tiny_Dancer_in_Pink 2
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muscle soreness. Is your resting HR elevated? Could be your muscles retaining lactic acid. The lesson tho is that you are being vigilant! Let us know when your body returns to normal. 5
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Great post - even us seasoned veterans still have periods of scale anxiety - when it happens to me I review everything I preach on here about patience and perspective (oh and pee pee to get rid of the water weight).
Thanks for the pragmatic reminder and enjoy the impending woosh!9 -
SummerSkier wrote: »muscle soreness. Is your resting HR elevated? Could be your muscles retaining lactic acid. The lesson tho is that you are being vigilant! Let us know when your body returns to normal.
I don't track my HR, well occasionally I do during my bike rides with my phone app. But yeah, I'm guessing my muscles are retaining water.
I will keep you guys posted 1 -
WinoGelato wrote: »Great post - even us seasoned veterans still have periods of scale anxiety - when it happens to me I review everything I preach on here about patience and perspective (oh and pee pee to get rid of the water weight).
Thanks for the pragmatic reminder and enjoy the impending woosh!
Thanks @WinoGelato I didn't like that I woke up in the early hours (and that doesn't usually happen me either), and all I could think of was the next weigh in!! and I couldn't even get back to sleep I haven't been this spooked in yonks (aka ages and ages). But it feels good to share. 3 -
I can relate to this! The weather here has been really nice the past week or so and I've increased my daily walks to 8 miles instead of 7 but due to walking on a cement walking trail (instead of a cushioned high school track; it's track season and the track is in use during my walking time) my left knee and right heel are both hurting.
Scale has gone up a few pounds due to increased activity and now I'm worrying about how long it will take my knee and heel to recover a bit so I can get back to walking. But, I know I just have to relax and wait it out. Thanks for sharing - I needed this today!3 -
I can relate to this! The weather here has been really nice the past week or so and I've increased my daily walks to 8 miles instead of 7 but due to walking on a cement walking trail (instead of a cushioned high school track; it's track season and the track is in use during my walking time) my left knee and right heel are both hurting.
Scale has gone up a few pounds due to increased activity and now I'm worrying about how long it will take my knee and heel to recover a bit so I can get back to walking. But, I know I just have to relax and wait it out. Thanks for sharing - I needed this today!
Sorry to hear about your knee/heel - hope they recover soon. Its amazing how a different surface can affect the walking. It sounds like you're having same spike as me from the soreness and your body is holding on to water to heal/repair. Hang in there too, a whoosh will happen for both of us eventually 2 -
This sounds like a very reasonable response. You were worried that the scale was staying up, but then you reviewed the possible reasons and found the answer. I think that's a good example for the rest of us. And yes, I think you're right that the 4 pounds is water weight from your extra exercise--I've had up to an 8 lb. water weight gain before, after a race. I'm sure it will be gone soon.2
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I definitely feel your frustrations! Just before my race weekend I had experienced a "whoosh" and was feeling quite good. Then, race weekend hit, and between drinking a lot of my electrolyte mix and higher sodium meals in general, I was like a dead bloated animal by Monday morning.
It takes my body awhile to get rid of it all, too....usually pretty close to a week! I've seen the trend happen enough to know what's going on, but doesn't make it any less frustrating sometimes!3 -
@HoneyBadger155 thanks for sharing, it's good to get others experience and feedback a week! Wow! Our bodies really like to hold onto water! 3
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Worst case, if you did add a few tiny pounds of fat, you know how to reverse it straight away. My preferred method is to skip breakfast until I’m back in range, but any small cuts totaling -250 per day will do the trick.7
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Update 1 week on >>
Back to 125lbs (that just happened today)
That felt a longggg 12 days seeing that 3-5lbs spike and out of the norm for me. (the last time I had such a long spike was 3 years ago when I started a recomp, the spike then lasted 3 weeks). Most spikes now last 2 or 3 days and its the usual suspects, high sodium/carb days.
It was unsettling this time and I felt slightly stressed too (I know that's a bit silly/daft but I almost convinced myself I felt fatter!). Having the data/notes on my weight trend app now will remind me if/when it happens again to 'take it canny' (i.e not feel stressed, because it will pass).
PHEWWWWW lol
Thanks for all the replies, its nice to get feedback
Ruth 16 -
thanks for the update, as a newish maintainer it gives me more faith in trusting in the CICO process3
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Now you've reminded me to stay off the scale after all the cardio I've added this week and how sore I am. I wish I could weigh more often like you but it messes with my head. And my IBS creates scale issues.8
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Now you've reminded me to stay off the scale after all the cardio I've added this week and how sore I am. I wish I could weigh more often like you but it messes with my head. And my IBS creates scale issues.
I agree and disagree with you about the scale messing with our heads LOL, I prefer to have the data so I can look back on it and see trends.
I can understand if you have IBS issues, that probably would make for wild fluctuations.
And yep, if you're really sore then that will certainly affect the scales.2 -
It's probably just an increased salt intake. Or periods?0
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doctorfetch wrote: »It's probably just an increased salt intake. Or periods?
Thanks but it was actually down to the increased workouts - I've been at this long enough to realise it wasn't a sodium/carb or hormonal spike.0 -
LivingtheLeanDream wrote: »
No, it isn't strange at all; I am having the same questions despite being almost certain of what it will take because of loss rate over the last few weeks of losing it versus the calorie goals. I am getting in substantially more steps than I averaged while losing. It all makes sense; in fact I will probably slowly lose a little more with the first maintenance target. But if I see a bounce up, I freak out.3 -
CarvedTones wrote: »LivingtheLeanDream wrote: »
No, it isn't strange at all; I am having the same questions despite being almost certain of what it will take because of loss rate over the last few weeks of losing it versus the calorie goals. I am getting in substantially more steps than I averaged while losing. It all makes sense; in fact I will probably slowly lose a little more with the first maintenance target. But if I see a bounce up, I freak out.
We need to trust ourselves to maintain and not freak out - I thought I was well past any freak outs... but I will aim to learn from this 3 -
doctorfetch wrote: »It's probably just an increased salt intake. Or periods?
I would take that comment as a HUGE COMPLEMENT Livingthedream. ROTFLOL Like a few years back when I was getting prenatal vites and the checkout clerk asked me when I was due as I didn't look preggers... ROTFLO
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LivingtheLeanDream wrote: »CarvedTones wrote: »LivingtheLeanDream wrote: »
No, it isn't strange at all; I am having the same questions despite being almost certain of what it will take because of loss rate over the last few weeks of losing it versus the calorie goals. I am getting in substantially more steps than I averaged while losing. It all makes sense; in fact I will probably slowly lose a little more with the first maintenance target. But if I see a bounce up, I freak out.
We need to trust ourselves to maintain and not freak out - I thought I was well past any freak outs... but I will aim to learn from this
I have lost a lot before and then gained it back. I didn't make it quite this low and at my age (turn 60 late this year), I feel like this is my best and maybe last shot at being really healthy when I reach retirement. So I am being hypervigilant. After I maintain it a reasonable amount of time, I will probably get a little more relaxed about it, but I determined to to become lax and let it creep back up.5 -
@CarvedTones I know what you mean, I never want to regain either so it takes being vigilant the majority of the time.2
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I can relate. I am going through that right now. After 3 years of maintenance, I should know better than to let it mess with my head. But it always does. I am up 3 lbs. from goal, 1.5 from my scream weight. I am working out, I am not overeating cals, etc. I have recently returned from a trip, but the water weight from the plane should be off by now (it's been almost a week since my return), and everything else is back to normal. It just makes no sense, and yet, like Ruth, since I am petite, also, anything that is over my 2 lb. range for more than a few days freaks me out. And yet, I sometimes think that's a good thing for long-time maintainers. We should never get too cocky or too comfortable because that results denial and, eventually, in weight regain. Never going there again. Too many benefits from the loss and the maintenance.6
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I noticed that if I when I'm on the scale I stand on only one leg I weigh more. You're standing on both legs, yes?7
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LivingtheLeanDream wrote: »doctorfetch wrote: »It's probably just an increased salt intake. Or periods?
Thanks but it was actually down to the increased workouts - I've been at this long enough to realise it wasn't a sodium/carb or hormonal spike.
Ruth, this usually happens to me as well for a week or so after switching up my workout routine. I’ve become used to this now at 5 years of maintaining.0 -
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