totally disgusted

nikkileo6

I've been doing MFP for 23 days now. I have kept under my calorie goal everyday, eating healthier and exercising six days a week. I am limited on the exercise that I can do due to herniated dics in my back, so I have been riding a stationary bike, it's the only thing I can find that I can do without pain. Last week I lost 5 pounds and was very excited.....I get on the scale today and I gained 3!!! I really had high hopes when I started this program but feel so defeated!!!

meggonkgonk

Open your diary- you may be making inadvertant mistakes that an MFPer would catch beign able to see your diary.

nikkileo6

How do i open my diary? Is that so people can see what I'm eating etc?

SuperBowlVikings

Look for other positives, I didn't lose any weight for the first 7 weeks on this site but found myself more comfortable in clothing and feeling healthier. Weight loss WILL come eventually, it did for me :-) Stay positive.

DeeJayTJ

dont expect instant results. it will happen but its not a quick process. just keep at it and stay focused!

ewegner

Losing 5 lbs in one week is a big loss - so that may have contributed as to why you saw what you did on the scale. Your body has to get used to the changes you are making and unfortunately, it acts in mysterious ways sometimes. DO NOT FEEL DEFEATED. I did the same thing to myself this past week and I felt horrible - actually made myself sick to my stomach, didn't want to go to work -but then I realized that is not going to help me. I just need to press on and keep doing what I'm doing because no matter what I'm making myself healthier. It sucks to not see your progress on the scale - I've been doing this for 50+ days now and have been stuck at one number for 2 weeks. It blows, point blank, but I'm not giving up and neither should you!!!

ewegner

you go to settings and change it I believe.

nikkileo6

I was really trying to stay positive after last week....but was so disgusted this morning to see i gained 3 pounds

aroonie1

Check your fluid intake and also you may be trading fat pounds for muscle. Seems like I heard somewhere that muscle weighs more than fat. Also take your measurements, you can often see good results there when you don't on the scale.

AHealthierRhonda

5 lbs in a weeks ounds high to me. I lose about a pound a week, by keeping under my calorie count (about 1200 a day) and exercising 2-5 times a week depending on my schedule. Body weght fluctuates all day everyday for a number of reasons so don't get too stressed over the number on the scale. I recommend keeping track of inches lost as well. Losing high amounts of weight at once isn't the way to do it. Slow and steady wins the race. It's a life style change not a weight loss goal. You have to make your weeks something you can live with forever not just something to deal with until the weight is gone.
Also, women's bodies, hormones, PMS, all make weight a tricky thing to track. Choose healthy, exercise, maybe do some light weight lifting to build muscle. Muscle burns fat quicker so.......
Good luck in your journey!!!!

tdonlin

Also, did you weigh yourself at the same time of day? Most of us will do our official weigh in in the morning. I've noticed I will gain 3 pounds on the scale later that same evening.

cmusil

Have you been drinking enough water? This makes a huge difference day to day I found. If you don't drink enough you will retain water which you will see on the scale, it can be up to 5 pounds or more! During my TOM I gain at 4 pounds but it's just water weight.
If you watch your water and sodium intake you should see those pounds disappear!

Hope this helps!

strandedeyes

How do i open my diary? Is that so people can see what I'm eating etc?

under settings, then diary settings, you can make your diary public to all or friends only or keep it private. If you would like for people to help out with food intake, opening up your diary will be your best bet. Its hard for most of us to tell you how to change your habits... sometimes you may not realize how much processed foods you are actually eating or maybe you aren't watching your sodium intake and that is keeping you from losing weight. There are a lot of factors but realize that this is will take time and it will happen if you keep up with it. Good luck.

MrsPalek

I agree- we are here to help each other and give encouragement.

Dana
Dover, FL

angelascott919

The weight you gained could be water and waste. Drink some extra water to help flush the extra out and continue to eat healthy and give your body time to adjust to the new you. The extra weight will come off plus more as you keep on the right track. Good Luck!!

Leannek74

Try weighing on the same day and same time once a week, your body can change anywhere from 1-5 pounds in one day!!! Especially when you're dealing with pain and meds. And keep with it, the overall results are what counts.

You are doing great!!!!! My mom and my husband have had disc problems and they are not fun!!!!

nikkileo6

I am really do watch my sodium intake. I also take a prescription water pill for my blood pressure, so I dont think I'm retaining water. I don't know I'm trying to stay under my calorie intake everyday and exercise as much as possible. I haven't taken my measurements, I think because I dont want to even see then, it was hard enough to get on the scale when I started this program. I see that many of you have been losing weight and people say dont give up, its just hard.

webdiva1

I hear you, but don't give up. I'm on day 26 today. Like you, I lost a fair amount quickly -- 9 lbs. in my case -- then all of the sudden (and for no good reason whatsoever, considering what I was eating and how I was exercising), gained 3 of them back. "Annoyed" doesn't begin to cover how I was feeling (you you already know that).

I've no proof for why that happened, but here are my theories. Mom Nature stepped in with her regular visit (she is SO annoying!). Plus, I was eating a LOT of yogurt ... which I'm thinking futzed with my digestion quite a bit. My usual ... patterns ... weren't as usual as they were before, if you know what I mean. I stayed at the annoying higher weight for what seemed like forever, but was in reality about 8 days. Now I'm back to losing again regularly and am down 15 as of today.

Not sure how much you want to lose -- me, I need to lose a heck of a lot. So our situations may be quite different. What kept me going during those 8 days were two things: losing ANY pounds at all is a win, and losing 5 lbs. or more in one month is INSANELY GREAT.

So hang in there. Avoid the scales for a while (if you can) and focus on inches instead. Bet you'll be in a whole different place -- a lovely good place -- in another week or so. You can do it.

westcoastSW

Also, did you weigh yourself at the same time of day? Most of us will do our official weigh in in the morning. I've noticed I will gain 3 pounds on the scale later that same evening.

This was my first thought also. I've tried weighing myself (out of curiosity) throughout the day, and my weight fluctuates up to 5 pounds throughout the day, no joke. It's generally lowest in the morning. So make sure you weigh yourself at the same time of day, same clothes (or none), etc. Also, since mine consistently (but reliably!) varies by 5 pounds, I keep a target "weight range" in mind, rather than a specific weight as a goal. "My low weight is 155 and my high weight is 160" -- as long as I'm in there, and the range as a whole is decreasing, I call it success.

But bear in mind, weight loss is a long process and doesn't happen over night or in one month. Stick with it and always keep looking for ways you can improve your habits and better decisions you can make

nikkileo6

Thank you for the encouragement!! I't really makes me feel a lot better....I'm gonna keep doing what I'm doing and hopefully next week I'll see a difference

nikkileo6

I did weight myself first thing in the morning

ladybg81

I noticed that I was losing inches before I saw much on the scale. I am now fitting in clothes I have not worn since before I got pregnant and I've only lost about 6 pounds. YOu have to stay positive and know that this is a lifestyle change. The results will come. Everyone's body is different. But it will happen, I promise.

meggonkgonk

How do i open my diary? Is that so people can see what I'm eating etc?

Yes- seeing what you are eating is really important to knowing if you are inadvertantly making common mistakes. Typical ones I see are:

1) Eating to calories but eating junk- You will lose this way, but your weight will flucuate WILDLY because your body has a harder time processing junkier foods and the sodium levels are usually off the charts making water weight .

2) Not eating ENOUGH - It's a common misconception that MFP gives you X amount of calories a day and you should eat only that. In reality, you should be eating that goal in NET calories. There is an equation on your homepage that shows this. It looks like this:

GOAL FOOD - EXERCISE = NET

Your goal each day is to make your NET number match your GOAL number.

3) Not logging on the weekends- Just because you are "good" M-F doesnt mean that you can just chill for the weekends- you can still do serious damage then.

Other mistakes not found in the diary, but typical of new dieters:
- Thinking of weight as a constant thing- You have a weight RANGE, not a WEIGHT. From morning til night my weight can fluctuate 4 lbs or more and I'm pretty consistent in what I eat and when. Weigh in at the same time, on the same day of the week, wearing the same clothes- EVERY WEEK. Go to the bathroom first. Only compare weights week to week, not day to day. If you take your weight daily, only compare it to where you were at that time last week, not where you were the day before.

-Thinking that weight will come off consistently every day/week/month- Your body does what it wants, which includes losing a ton one week. Commit to living as healthy as you can for 1 week for every lb you want to lose- the scale will take care of itself

- Not realizing weight is a part of your body composition- when you lose 5 or 10 lbs your body needs to adjust to that change. Your organs, your internal make up - every part of you is affected by this change. Sometimes you won't lose just because your body can't handle it right that moment.

Ok sorry for the board lecture. Without your diary, these are the culprits I would guess you should be looking for.

AngelsKisses75

You have a lot of great advice here already.

I do want to tell you that you are not alone on this. If I had one thing to share with you it would be to grow your MFP Family. When I added people to MFP they quickly became family. When I am down they lift me up beyond words, and I like to think I do the same for them. So add people that can become your MFP Family. Not all personalities will mesh well, but you will never know until you try. :flowerforyou: