What’s the lesson I should learn from this?

CeeBeeSlim

Hi. Long story short - lost about 30 pounds from 2/20-summer 2021 (142-112). Gained 15 back from fall to now - 127.8.

Over the last two weeks, I’ve regrouped, started exercising again, and my daily calories have been low (about 1000) daily - only to jump start a weight loss (I’m small framed, 57, 5’3). Don’t plan on continuing this - but go to 1200 daily. The scale has barely budged - 127.8, 128.2. 127.4. The same 3 numbers.

So, last night I figure enough of this, had a protein bar and a hot dog with bun loaded with ketchup and onions at about 10pm - ending the day with a lcloser to 1200 calories if not over.

When I stepped on the scale today, I was ready for a 129 at least - maybe even 130 - given the salt and late evening eating. Today’s weight - a pound less - 126.8.

What gives here? Coincidence? I know weight loss is not linear but is there any more lessons to be learned here?

Thanks for any help!

Lietchi

My lesson would be: a higher deficit stresses the body more, which leads to water retention (on top of water retention from exercise). And then indulging males the body 'de-stress' and drop water weight.
Just a hypothesis. I've seen it enough myself and read it enough from others, these occasions where indulgence leads to a lower weigh-in.

Or other possible lesson: weight fluctuations are normal and not always predictable, it's the trend over several weeks that you should look at.

gpanda103

It has only been 2 weeks, and exercise makes you hold on to water. Just be patient and trust the process

csplatt

Did eating more cause a larger / more complete bowel movement this morning? Just a thought.

CeeBeeSlim

@Lietchi Thank you. This makes sense.

@gpanda103 You’re right. I know I should be more patient - just angry at myself I let all that hard work go down the drain and gained.

@csplatt No, not in this case.

Anabirgite

I am your same age but 5'5"- when I started following MFP I was aggressive with my goals 1000-1200 calories a day- and not doing much losing...but upon reading and learning so much from the discussions, I started to weigh my food and accurately track. I discovered my protein intake- which I though would be high was only 45 grams a day. I increased my protein and increased my calories to over 1450 and eating more then half my exercise calories back- I do exercise everyday. And what is magical to me still - I started losing weight.I only needed to go from 125 to 118- but that last 10 is killer. I am back to lose that last 7-8# 's again. Good Luck.

CeeBeeSlim

@Anabirgite Thank you - very interesting. I haven’t - but probably should - pay more intention to my protein intake. It was all CICO for me. What was your protein intake daily?

1450?!?! That calorie intake scares me although I exercise daily. I can only dream. Funny - my original weight loss goal was 135 - a killer to get to 125 - but the drop to 112.4 wasn’t as bad as I thought only because it was around Lent - I swore off snacking/sweets for that period - no chips, cookies, ice cream.

Clearly something went awry - cuz here I am 15 pounds heavier. 🙄

Xellercin

The lesson is to not correlate the scale with what you've eaten recently except maybe in terms of water retention.

I lost weight steadily over years and the scale never, ever, ever dropped in any kind of linear or predictable fashion.

Do not base what you eat on how the scale is behaving in the short term. After weighing daily for a very long time, I actually noted that what happened on the scale mostly reflected the way I ate TWO WEEKS prior.

So if I over ate on a holiday, the scale wouldn't rise at all, maybe one pound or would maybe even drop and I would feel like I "got away with it."

Then I would be back on diet and the scale would creep up and two weeks later I would have gained exactly what I expected to from the holiday.

If I looked at it the way you are, I would think that the scale numbers were totally irrational, that it didn't matter what I did because I would over eat and not gain and then run a deficit and gain.

Really? It was just a lag.

The data from the scale are best interpreted over periods of 6 weeks. Then you can actually see what's happening beyond the "noise."

Basically, just so something sustainable and consistent for a good length of time and *then* determine if it's working for you.

CeeBeeSlim

@Xellercin Thank you. This makes a lot of sense. I went back and looked at my entries into Happy Scale and my entries into MFP and noticed exactly what you said. I started a serious fitness routine on March 1 2020. At the beginning of April - lost 1/4 pound. Beginning of May - lost a pound. At the beginning of June I was 4.5 pounds down. Sigh. Patience. Patience. Patience.