Just a little confused.

LosingWeightKate

Yesterday was a hard day for me. I was feeling extremely depressed. (Got called fat by total strangers in Walmart). I was also extremely busy trying to keep my mind off of everything.

I didn't eat a lot. I had a big lunch, but it was definitely low in calories (not on purpose, but, it's what I had in the house before shopping today.) And then had a Subway sandwich for dinner while I was out Christmas shopping. Again. Very low calories. I always go to bed around 10-10:30 and so I stop eating around 8. It was 8 by the time I got home. I was exhausted and tired and just wasn't hungry.

I felt like I should have eaten something to up my calorie intake a little, and I usually let myself go get some lighter fast food on pay days, but I didn't want fast food. I absolutely wasn't hungry. And I felt that if I ate after 8, it would be just as dumb an idea as being that far under my calorie goal. (I had 721 calories.) So I just held it off and went to bed at 10.

I also didn't work out because I had been out shopping so late. I was just too tired. I usually work out every day for at least half an hour, taking a rest day once during the week if I feel like I need it. (it varies.) And so, I just used yesterday as my rest day. My pedometer said in total for the day I walked over 7 miles. So I wasn't too upset.

This morning I had gained 7 pounds on my scale. That's half of the weight I've lost, back again. Can starvation mode really kick in that fast? What about when I really wasn't feeling hungry? Can my body really tell me it's full and STILL pretend it's starving? I'm so confused and discouraged. I just need some help. Please and thank you.

mynameiscarrie

You didn't gain 7 pounds overnight. That's mathematically impossible to do if you were 700 calories under. I'd say something is fishy with the scale.

Pencilberry

You can't gain 7 pounds from one day to the next just because you ate low calorie the day before (or for any sane reason). It's probably a lot of retained water from eating salty foods (subway is high sodium many times).

Goosiesnougs

Nope, reweigh yourself in a couple of days. We all have this happen sometimes. Sodium maybe?

ihad

Nothing you do in one day will cause that much real weight gain. Part is likely water retention. Give it some time, keep a reasonable deficit, and don't worry about any one bad day - look to longer term trends and building consistent habits.

littlebutcurvy

bump

lawtechie

In the simplest terms, your body functions.
1. It loses and stores glycogen (carbs and sugars and its the primary source of energy for your body)
2. You gain and lose water, and if you're a bigger size that can be ALOT (even 7 lbs worth). Sodium (aka fast food) can make you retain water.
3. Your menstral cycle and hormones can play with your weight on the short term.

Relax, keep eating right (and most certainly up your calories), and you will lose over the long term. Losing weight, living healthy isn;t a short term fix. It's a lifestyle change.

Use calculators on the internet to figure your BMR (what you need to eat to live -- as if you were comatose) and your TDEE (based on your regular activity level, what you need to maintain). Then adjust that TDEE calories down, and factor in your exercise. That's what you should be eating.

BurtHuttz

7 pound delta between yesterday and today? Sorry to be gross, but go urinate and defecate and weigh yourself again. In order to gain 7 pounds in body fat you would've had to eat 24,500 calories over your TDEE yesterday, and even then, your body could not have metabolized that much food; you'd have just passed it through. You would've noticed that binge.

Be patient and consistent. There will be peaks and valleys.

athenaheim

It could have been water weight. Dont get discouraged just remember the scale dont matter. You can do this. Keep up your good work. And you did exercise with all that shopping that you did.

LosingWeightKate

7 pound delta between yesterday and today? Sorry to be gross, but go urinate and defecate and weigh yourself again. In order to gain 7 pounds in body fat you would've had to eat 24,500 calories over your TDEE yesterday, and even then, your body could not have metabolized that much food; you'd have just passed it through. You would've noticed that binge.

Be patient and consistent. There will be peaks and valleys.

Not to be gross, but I did that already.

NaomiJFoster

Fluctuations are natural, but that's usually 2-3 pounds. Seven pounds overnight just isn't really possible. Either something was off yesterday or something is off today. Or did you do the silliest mistake that we all make, and weight yourself after your shower while wrapped in a wet, heavy towel and with wet, heavy hair?

WinnerVictorious

1) don't ever think about starvation mode. it's nonsense. you will NEVER have to worry about real starvation mode in your entire life. real starvation mode is what happens to people literally starving to death in Africa or people in the concentration camps during WWII. the only thing you'll ever have to worry about is if chronic undereating leads to your metabolism slowing down somewhat. that takes many weeks (according to some) or many months (according to others) of chronic undereating to occur. i personally think it takes months and months before that will happen in a noticeable way.

2) scales. don't trust them! they are not high precision instruments. uneven surfaces and heat/cold affect their accuracy. if it's old, or if its suspect, then get a new one or weigh yourself on a friends scale to check the accuracy of yours.

3) 1 gallon of water weighs a little more than 8lbs. if you eat alot of sodium and drink alot of fluids without peeing it out the day before, then you really can see a large upswing on your scale the next day. it'll take a couple of days for your body to release it. don't worry about it. it happens all the time.

4) don't weigh yourself every day. it's insane! daily weight fluctuations mean nothing. weigh yourself once a week, or better yet, once a month. put the scale in the closet so you're not tempted to jump on it 2 or 3 times a day.

DrBorkBork

probably water weight from all the walking and Subway (it's not exactly water retention friendly)

babyblooz

Does your scale run on batteries? If so, might be time to change them.

hellraisedfire

water weight, sodium.

do you weigh yourself with sneakers/clothes on? usually I'm a good 10 extra pounds thanks to clothes/boots.

have you moved your scale AT ALL recently? if they get moved in the slightest, they sometimes need to be calibrated (even the digital ones). the old piece of crap I used to have would insist that gravity increased about tenfold from the left side of my kitchen to the right. -.-

acogg

Yesterday was a hard day for me. I was feeling extremely depressed.

And here you are anyway, ready to go again. Good for you! This in itself is a major victory over the long term. You are displaying a winning attitude, which is much more important than what the scale fluctuates in a day.

lbaileyjohannsen

Especially at the beginning, my weight fluctuated like crazy. Up and down five pounds or more in a day. The best thing for me to do was to ignore the scale at first, set up a consistent eating habit, and drink lots and lots of water. So many factors affect your weight day to day. It's possible both your meals had a lot of sodium, you didn't drink enough water to flush it through, you're retaining water around this time of the month, etc. Also, after someone engages in a long period of physical activity (even just walking A LOT, which you did) your muscles retain water to fix themselves a little. If you just started, your body isn't really used to that kind of stuff yet. So, keep these things in mind for the next couple of weeks (yes it might take that long) and you may begin to see a real drop in weight.

NaomiJFoster

Yesterday was a hard day for me. I was feeling extremely depressed.

And here you are anyway, ready to go again. Good for you! This in itself is a major victory over the long term. You are displaying a winning attitude, which is much more important than what the scale fluctuates in a day.

That was a lovely response!

jono2970

Kate - I think it's more about the actions of the people yesterday that is upsetting you. Weight changes all the time. For all my effort today, I will be lucky to lose a pound this week! But I will keep trying. Please keep your strength up, and when you are feeling low, that's why your friends at MFP are here. Do take care of yourself!

sevsmom

The more body fat I've had. . .the more water I retain approaching TOM. And, as I get older, that "lead up" time seems to get longer. SO, even 2 weeks ahead of anticipated TOM I may bloat. Now that I've lost some of that body fat, I find I retain less. Instead of a 5 lb weight gain in 36 hours. . .it's like 2 or 3ish. Annoying? YES. But it comes and goes. Also, high sodium will get ya! I went out to eat with the hubby last night and had steak, shrimp, salad, bread, spinach artichoke dip (CLEARLY over on my cals for the day) and a lovely peppermit Kaluha white russian for a night cap. Woke up soooo puffy this morning. . .eyes, fingers, even my belly. It irritates me, but that's what happens. I'll be back to normal tomorrow and my eating will get right back on track as well. No need to panic!

BunnyBabyDoll

I would try a different scale of you can but yeah like the other people said sodium can be a real ***** with the water weight. Don't be discouraged :] just keep on going. You know your eating better and exercising. exercising usually take a long walk somewhere peaceful if possible to improve my mood.

LosingWeightKate

I followed the advice of some in this topic (thanks for all the responses everyone) and bought a fancy, digital, weight-tracking scale. I bought my current dial scale for 7 bucks when I was first moving and couldn't afford much else and haven't been convinced of it's accuracy recently.

So I just tried out the new scale and I've actually lost weight.

Thanks again for all your thoughtful replies everyone! Sorry that this was such a silly thing that I was freaking out about. Silly technology.

Samantha0517

My scale started to fluctuate like crazy and it didn't make sense. It went up 8 pounds then would go back. I knew it wasnt sodium, or a girl issue.... it was however time for a new scale I discovered! I weighed myself at my moms and had lost that week. Maybe try weighing yourself on a friends or family members scale to see.

Samantha0517

Oh I see we posted within a couple mins of eachother. Glad you figured it out!!

Athijade

Everyone else commented on the gain issue... but I want to point out something else. Why would you care if it was after 8? Meal timing and frequency have no impact on weight loss. You can eat right before bed as long as you don't have issues sleeping or issues with heartburn.

LosingWeightKate

Everyone else commented on the gain issue... but I want to point out something else. Why would you care if it was after 8? Meal timing and frequency have no impact on weight loss. You can eat right before bed as long as you don't have issues sleeping or issues with heartburn.

I do have serious trouble sleeping. I haven't eaten after 8 (except on the rare occasion) in years because it's keeps me awake. I am already a troubled sleeper, but food within two hours of sleep makes it worse. It's like drinking caffeine right before bed. At least for me.

TexanThom

No matter what you weigh.....If they are in Walmart, they are no better then you are!

AnvilHead

... but I want to point out something else. Why would you care if it was after 8? Meal timing and frequency have no impact on weight loss. You can eat right before bed as long as you don't have issues sleeping or issues with heartburn.

That's an excellent secondary point in this thread - I was thinking the same thing as I read the OP's initial post.

OP - if you're going to weigh yourself every day, learn to expect fluctuations regardless of how good your scale is. Fluid retention, hormonal issues, etc. will cause you to bounce up and down almost constantly from day to day.

Example - I ate sushi for dinner last night....lots of rice and lots of sodium (in the soy sauce, soup, etc.). I was slightly over my calorie goal for the day, but still in a deficit from TDEE. When I weighed this morning, the scale registered almost a three-pound increase over yesterday's weigh-in. No big deal, as I know I haven't eaten to a 21,000 calorie surplus, so I just shrug it off and move on knowing it will balance out in a day or three.

lovechicagobears

I'm glad you figured out the scale issue. The dial scale in the fitness room at the hotel I stayed in last week said I weighed 284 pounds. I WISH. Those things are easy to knock off-kilter. Hooray for digital!

NaomiJFoster

I probably have the oldest scale in the world. I have the one that my parent's received as a wedding gift in 1962. When I moved out and got my own place, my mom gave it to me so she could get a new one, lol. I still have it. It is wonderful. I check it every now and then to test for accuracy and it's always right on.

Athijade

Everyone else commented on the gain issue... but I want to point out something else. Why would you care if it was after 8? Meal timing and frequency have no impact on weight loss. You can eat right before bed as long as you don't have issues sleeping or issues with heartburn.

I do have serious trouble sleeping. I haven't eaten after 8 (except on the rare occasion) in years because it's keeps me awake. I am already a troubled sleeper, but food within two hours of sleep makes it worse. It's like drinking caffeine right before bed. At least for me.

Then I understand totally. I just didn't want to be one of those situations where it was thought you "couldn't eat after whatever time or you would get fat" things. Sadly, a lot of people still believe that junk. But if it actually impacts your ability to sleep then it is perfectly reasonable to set a time.