What do you do when you gain back a few pounds?

krysydawn

Ok here is the deal. My body is lame.

A few months ago, I went threw a huge plateau that about killed me. For 9 weeks I yo-yo'd between 247 and 258... FOR NINE WEEKS! ugh.. Anyway, I sort of fear that the plateau yo-yo may be creeping back in. (TMI for some) Before my period this month, I weighed in at 235.4..(235 was a major goal for me.. thats the weight I was 7yrs ago before getting preg!). after my period... 241. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Now... this isn't the first time this has happened. But I am curious as to what all of you do? I normally end up not updating my weight again until after I am back down to that weight or below. But right now I am just frustrated. To me, I have still lost 44lbs... What do you guys think? What do you guys do?

Side note: I have been using Sparkpeople for 4yrs... My cals range between 1350 and 1700 and I never ate my exercise cals unless I had to. Even when following Weight Watchers (Old and New) I rarely ate my activity points. I recently joined MFP and am wondering if maybe the program has launched me off course. I am not used to the "exercise cals" being added back in. It can be a lot to get used to. I just yesterday changed my MFP calorie goal from 1260 to 1350 because I felt it would be easier for me to do. Yes an extra 90 cals can make me or break me some days. I hope it helps me...

Anyway, what are your thoughts?

becalee26

I am no help, my scale went up 3lbs this week. Scales are very very evil!

krysydawn

Oh no! They are evil! I agree.

kgs0201

For me, the make or break on whether I lose weight is if I am exercising. And I'm not talking about just a short walk or a few jumping jacks in my living room. I have to actually commit to a workout plan and push myself to the point that I am dripping in sweat. My answer to this has been Jillian Michael's workout videos. Even the short 25 minute workouts get me huffing, puffing and sweaty. I would suggest if you aren't already doing intense workouts to try to push yourself. The more muscle you develop the better your body will be able to sustain your weight loss.

As far as logging gains, I haven't had to do it so far but my rule has always been if I'm not back within 1 lb by my next weigh in that I have to log the gain. I have seen my weight go up during my period but not by that much. Are you eating a lot of sodium? Drinking a lot of water? Water does wonders.

I think if what you are doing now isn't working, you need to try to change it up. As long as you stay focused and committed you will reach your goal and you've already lost 44 lbs so you are obviously committed!

wickedcricket

what do I do? I cuss, I take all the party food in my house to work & give it to my co workers, drink water until I 'slosh' when I walk and start over fresh. s'all you can do

melaniecheeks

You don't HAVE to eat your exercise calories - if you've been doing that, try not eating them for a week or 2.

stc74

My scale has just tossed the same 3 pounds at me for weeks now. If I keep kicking it, it will have brain damage LOL!

KourtneyP83

I don't eat my exercise calories back - my doctor and nutritionist both said not to. They said that is only necessary when you are tiny and/or exercising excessively.

mamaredhead

For me it's all in the workouts, too. I am way less hungry and much happier, if I do them. Like REALLY DO them. If I do eat back my exercise-calories or if I just skip them depends on how my day goes. Sometimes I'm a little over, sometimes way under my goal. But in the long run you will make major changes with getting yourself moving :-)

I personally go for the "free" ones on http://www.bodyrock.tv -- she always has new ones on and gives easier variations for beginners. They are killer -- but killer cool.

Good luck!!!

raedlewis

I am having the same issue! I was losing 2 lbs a week or so until June, when I started switching my baby to formula instead of nursing. I upped my weight loss goal from a pound a week to a pound and a half a week and I've been exercising more regularly instead of like once a week like I was before. Yet I gained back like 2 lbs and I have hovered in that area since. I'm drinking my water, and have gotten strict on my portions and logging (not like when I was nursing), and still nothing! I don't know if it's water weight, hormones, or what.

Also, I always am up a few pounds around period time though. I think that is pretty normal and it takes me a while after to get the water retention back down.

It can be so frustrating! Hang in there, and try not to get too discouraged!

soniaa777

cut out some meat.

lostemt76

Hating the scale to. I'm seeing nsv instead. I don't understand why my scale is being evil and the numbers are going the wrong way. They go up and not down.
:explode:

stangma

what do I do? I cuss, I take all the party food in my house to work & give it to my co workers, drink water until I 'slosh' when I walk and start over fresh. s'all you can do

@wickedcricket - LMBFAO !! I soooo know what you mean

rdelonga

I hate scales.!!! I need help, I just can't seem to get back on track. I have been doing this since june lost 15 lbs, then gained 3 back. my food diary is just awful and I just don't know what to eat anymore, any suggestions, everyone feel free to look at my dairy.

heatheramara

Every body is different. My body can gain weight faster than a banker votes himself a pay raise.

Sometimes I gain weight AFTER I go to the bathroom. Seriously. It's a mystery.

What do I do? Take the loooong view. Try not to let it get you off track, and definitely don't eat back your calories.

My favorite thing about this site? "If every day were like today...in five weeks you'd weigh..."

coltonsmumma

I gained 6 lbs during/right after my last period. No friggen clue why, I had just dropped 9 like nothing, then back up six. Stuck. Not going down 2 weeks later.

Mekob25

Hey Krystal, I sympathize with you. I can hear your frustration in your post. I agree with what another lady said, if I have a gain and it's still there by the next weigh-in, then I log it.

Try not to worry about those "period pounds". Most everyone gains between 3-5lbs during their time of the month.

If you are taking in a lot of sodium, drink even more water to flush that out.

Most doctors and personal trainers that I've spoken with say do NOT eat your exercise calories.

And as far as your plateau; I had one that lasted three weeks. Mine was because my body had adjusted to the 1000 calories a day I had been eating for the last two months. I found some information on Zig-Zagging my calories. I still stay under my calories for the week, but two days a week I have "Zag" days where I force myself to eat about 200-300 more calories. It keeps your body guessing and stops it from going into that starvation mode.

Here's an example I found online:
Monday 1512 Cals
Tuesday 1512 Cals
Wednesday 1815 Cals
Thursday 1512 Cals
Friday 1512 Cals
Saturday 1664 Cals
Sunday 1512 Cals

I hope I have been helpful to you. Keep pressing on Sister, You can do this!!!

Lou05

I hate scales.!!! I need help, I just can't seem to get back on track. I have been doing this since june lost 15 lbs, then gained 3 back. my food diary is just awful and I just don't know what to eat anymore, any suggestions, everyone feel free to look at my dairy.

i so hear what your saying i am the same to, but i not gonna let this beat me.

rdelonga

Lou05, your doing great 36 lbs. I would be in heaven if I could get that much off, at least it would keep me going forward.
I am just frustrated, but i will not give up.

krysydawn

WOW! So much great advice and suggestions. Thank you guys so much!! I am starting to really open my eyes and see what things need to be changed. I think there are a few of you that ill be friending soon, I want to pick your brains on things. LOL Thanks again!!!

kriddle428

I've been dealing with this too since my period two weeks ago. I lost 6lbs the week before, then gained 4 back...Its so frustrating. I can't seem to get myself back on track now. I hurt my foot about the same time and I can't barely make it through work so I haven't been exercising everyday like I was before. I've found that no matter how well I eat, if I don't exercise I don't see any loss. I haven't logged my gains, I probably won't. I don't want to see the number go down below 41

Qarol

I got quite sick of the same number showing up on the scale for 6 weeks. Then I lost 2.5 lbs and was thinking I'd broken through the plateau.

Bad week last week, traveling for work. I'm back up a bit. It's distressing, but avoiding the scale has been my downfall in the past. By not wanting to know what the higher number was, I kept putting it off and putting it off until the higher number got out of control.

I just keep fighting and hoping the scale will eventually budge. I can't let up just a little because I'm not gaining this weight back. I'm just not!

There is a theory on here, for women and TOM, that our metabolism goes up between ovulation and starting our period, thus our bodies require a bit more calories. I'm in my first month of trying this, so I have nothing to confirm yet.

krysydawn

It sucks so bad.. I dont want to put in my current weight and have my ticker go down... that would mess with my motivation I think! I am going to try a few things.. most of all I am going to be upping my exercise (cardio!!!!) much more then what I have been doing. Thanks for all the help!