I need to know how other people handle this...

renegadecupid

I weigh in once a day and it fluctuates in 2lb increments... the one thing I make sure without fail to do before a weigh in it hit the bathroom. (lol, please excuse me if I do not go into much detail).... that way, I am getting the most accurate reading possible. The scale is only a guide. as long as you lose more than you gain, you're doing something right.

It took a health scare for me to do it. dropped 42lbs without even using this site. going for an additional 90lbs here. cut out all high fructose sugar from diet, as well as all fast food. switched to greens and fruits whole wheat breads, chicken, fish and a lot of water. It's working so far. dropped a pound a day to start, now at 2 -4 lbs a week. 1500 - 2000cal a day.

melneh

The bad are days are just that, bad days. I have been on a constant diet for the past 11 years, 3 of which were the only years i actually lost anything. It feels like the diet which I am on defines me, and when i attempt and do my best and I do not see the results I want ( my scale was actually forged somewhere deep within the pits of hell and is possesed by the devil himself sometimes) Guilt and and ager and all those horrible feelings appear. One would think that over the amount of time i have been dieting, i would of gotten over the guilts and self loathing that goes with it. WRONG.

As you can see, it seems to be a pretty common feeling out there in the magical land of diet-opia - we all go through it, it was brings us to these forums in search of answers.

Stay with it. Remember, bad days are just that, bad days, and although the scale may not budge today or tomorrow, it has no choice but to if you log everything and keep active. Now that science is true fact!

Keep the faith Steph- I was, am and always will be, right there with you on this journey,.

melanie

hisqtangel

Dont stress! Instead of looking at it as 77 pounds left, just count how many you have lost. I have just really started on this life change but i have found when i look at how far I've come instead of what i havent accomplished yet i get discouraged. Also dont weigh yourself so much. Pick a day a week and weigh in the mornings ( i was told 10 am was best but i work so mine is Friday mornings about 7 am) . I dont think you gained 5 pounds just from the dessert. I have weighed both mornings and nights and at night you always way more. Hope that helps Feel free to add me as well!

justnname

i started with over 100 lbs to lose which seems impossible, so i break it down into smaller chunks, so i always have a 'mini goal' to aim for -
10lbs / 20lbs / 30 lbs lost etc
under 200 / 190 / 180 etc

its physically impossible to gain 5lbs overnight from 400cals worth of food, its more than likely water weight due to sodium or something.

THIS^^

jhartram

I've had more desert since I started counting calories than I have in years! It probably wasn't the desert. There are a lot of factors that could have made that happen that other people have listed. Here's my advice (things I've learned when I did almost the same exact thing LOL)

1) Weigh yourself at the same time (morning before anything else is the way to go for me) every Thursday... or Friday, or whatever. Once a week. If you can't make your weigh-in day, do it the next day. DO NOT let less than 7 days pass between weigh-ins, or the scale is mean.

2) Start watching your sodium if you don't already. I'm at a goal of 2500 for sodium, but I'm working toward 2000, maybe eventually 1500. If I go over my sodium, the next day I'm at LEAST 3 pounds up. It never fails. Also, if for some reason you go over your sodium intake, you should try to double the 8 cups of water they recommend you drink. It helps flush out the salt.

3) Break out the measuring tape. I've gone up one pound but lost 3 inches in the same week. A lot of time there's muscle behind some of that gain.

4) Focus more on your health. I find one thing I like better about myself every day, even when I have to look hard to do it. Whether it's more energy or being deliciously tired from a kick-but workout, a tad more definition in my arms/legs/abs/butt, squeezing into a pair of pants just to see if they'll button that day, and if not checking to see if the edges are just a little closer, wanting a salad instead of a burger... whatever you can find will boost your morale.

5) (and this one is kinda TMI) Make sure you're going at least every other day. Some people naturally don't go that often, but it's important. If I go more than one day, I use a mild laxitive to give myself a nudge. Lots of fiber, lots of water. VERY important! There's no need to weigh your body's garbage.

I only offer this advice because it's worked for me. I know it's tough, especially when it doesn't seem like you're making progress. Hang in there! You'll see the results of all your hard work eventually! =D