Upset at sudden gain - please help.

Bunnehface
Bunnehface Posts: 129 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi everyone

I appreciate that someone has probably complained about this before, but I am so confused I don't know what I need to do to get back on track and I really don't want to make things worse! :cry:

Last Thursday (9 days ago) I celebrated four stone (56lb) lost. Two thirds of the way to my goal weight. I was hoping to drop a couple more pounds by the end of the month so that I could start 2013 in ONEderland.

My weight held steady for a few days at 202...then inexplicably I have gained half a stone (7lb) in a few days. I don't understand! Yes my weight has fluctuated before, it's not unusual for me to put on a pound or two occasionally, but it usually drops off within a couple of days and I can normally attribute it to water retention or some other factor. But half a stone?! :grumble:

Before anyone asks, no it's not my TOM - I'm on the Cerazette pill and don't have periods. I haven't gone crazy and eaten the whole refrigerator...in fact on most days I eat my recommended calories of around 1500-1600. I haven't been heavy on my sodium, it's rare for me to even hit half of my sodium allowance for the day. I drink plenty of fluids so I don't think I'm retaining water. I've been active, but I can't attribute it to gaining muscle because I have not been strenuously exercising, just my usual.

I really don't understand how I can have gained so much in such a short amount of time. My measurements have gotten smaller - we take them bi-monthly, and I have recently dropped a clothes size, so I don't FEEL bigger...so WTH?

If anybody has experienced this and can tell me what to do, I'd be really grateful. I have my six monthly checkup with my Doctor in a couple weeks and was very much looking forward to the scale saying I'd lost 25lb since our last meeting - now it seems it will look like I've only lost 18lb :noway:
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Replies

  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,419 Member
    Step away from the scale.




    You've covered all the usual suspects. Relax.
  • acogg
    acogg Posts: 1,870 Member
    If it was sudden, it's likely temporary. Could it be your scale? Is your scale digital or dial? If it's digital, how are the batteries? If it's dial, could it be out of adjustment?
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,427 MFP Moderator
    Unless you have eaten 24,500 calories about your maintenance calories then its water.
  • WDEvy
    WDEvy Posts: 814 Member
    Hi,

    I also take a continuous pill and I still get TOM fluctuations ( where my period should be) So it definitely might be that. No way you gained that much!
  • vikefan2012
    vikefan2012 Posts: 3 Member
    I believe if you lower bad carbs such as bread, pasta, snacks, etc. that should help.
    Check out the Paleo Diet
  • Bunnehface
    Bunnehface Posts: 129 Member
    I've checked my scales - they are digital - they are giving correct readings for my partner and are less than a year old, so I don't think they are broken! :huh:

    All I can think of to do is to keep plodding on, drink lots of water and hope it drops off again? I really hope that's the case because it was a hard two-month slog to lose that 7lb, I don't particularly want to repeat it! :explode:
  • robin52077
    robin52077 Posts: 4,383 Member
    go poop
  • ItsTheBeebs
    ItsTheBeebs Posts: 127
    have you been doing any resistance work (free weights/ machines)?
    it could just be muscle mass you have added to your body, you could be heaver but a healther body at a higher weight?
  • tigerblue
    tigerblue Posts: 1,526 Member
    Unless you have eaten 24,500 calories about your maintenance calories then its water.

    Nice reminder for us all!! Thanks.
  • MB_Positif
    MB_Positif Posts: 8,897 Member
    go poop

    Yeah, how's your fiber intake?
  • bombedpop
    bombedpop Posts: 2,228 Member
    I believe if you lower bad carbs such as bread, pasta, snacks, etc. that should help.
    Check out the Paleo Diet

    There is no such thing as a bad carb and eating bread, pasta, etc. will not make you gain 7 lbs overnight.
  • Bunnehface
    Bunnehface Posts: 129 Member
    go poop

    Yeah, how's your fiber intake?

    Pretty good thanks lol, I'm regular...and I'd be impressed if someone could poop 7lb!
  • BlackTimber
    BlackTimber Posts: 230 Member
    I've checked my scales - they are digital - they are giving correct readings for my partner and are less than a year old, so I don't think they are broken! :huh:

    All I can think of to do is to keep plodding on, drink lots of water and hope it drops off again? I really hope that's the case because it was a hard two-month slog to lose that 7lb, I don't particularly want to repeat it! :explode:

    Can only be water. There could be a lot of reasons your water weight has increased. Have you added anything new to your diet lately? I understand the surprise and disappointment in the scale weight but then again you will get to see a big drop very soon.
  • purpleipod
    purpleipod Posts: 1,147 Member
    Why are you weighing yourself so often?
  • billsica
    billsica Posts: 4,741 Member
    go poop

    Yeah, how's your fiber intake?

    Pretty good thanks lol, I'm regular...and I'd be impressed if someone could poop 7lb!

    Prepare to be impressed
  • Bunnehface
    Bunnehface Posts: 129 Member
    Can only be water. There could be a lot of reasons your water weight has increased. Have you added anything new to your diet lately? I understand the surprise and disappointment in the scale weight but then again you will get to see a big drop very soon.

    Not that I can think of...I don't follow a specific 'fad' diet - Paleo, Atkins, etc - I just do my best to make good choices and stick to my calories and it's served me well so far! I do have 'treats' occasionally like a meal out, but I always pick the 'healthiest' options, up my exercise, drink lots of water etc to try and counteract a gain around that time. I haven't introduced anything in the last 9 days that I haven't eaten before!
  • vikefan2012
    vikefan2012 Posts: 3 Member
    Watch the documentary Fat Head. Carbs cause heart disease and diabetes, I have researched this topic. Look into it.
  • Bunnehface
    Bunnehface Posts: 129 Member
    Why are you weighing yourself so often?

    I don't weigh myself fanatically. I jump on the scales 1-2 times a week and I don't freak out if I've gained a pound. I wait until I have held a certain weight two weigh-ins in a row before I consider it weight "lost". Each to their own, this works for me.
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    Maybe try weighing yourself once a week..or every other week. And rely more on measurements then the fluctuating scale.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,427 MFP Moderator
    Watch the documentary Fat Head. Carbs cause heart disease and diabetes, I have researched this topic. Look into it.

    Carbs do not cause heart disease, obesity does. And how do you get obese... by eating more than you burn.
  • CynthiaCollin
    CynthiaCollin Posts: 406 Member
    I weigh myself everyday. I am not obsessed or stressed by the numbers. I like to see the fluctuations and I can compare with my intake/exercise on a daily basis to figure out why. Usually around once or twice a month I will go from 132.6 to 138.6 and usually comes done by the end of a week . It always fluctuates....so when see it go up I just exercise more and watch even more carefully what I eat. There are so many factors why your body fluctuates.....stop driving yourself crazy. I weigh 10lbs more than I did 7 years ago at my lowest weight, yet I am still the same size 5. If you feel good than you are doing something right!
  • Bunnehface
    Bunnehface Posts: 129 Member
    I am fully aware that the scale is not the only measurement of progress, and believe me I'm happy with my NSV's, but here in the UK, my GP does not take my measurements, measure my body fat percentage, track my clothes size or ask me if I'm feeling stronger! It's a straightforward BMI measurement and that's it.
  • vikefan2012
    vikefan2012 Posts: 3 Member
    Watch the documentary Fat Head. Carbs cause heart disease and diabetes, I have researched this topic. Look into it.

    Carbs do not cause heart disease, obesity does. And how do you get obese... by eating more than you burn.
    ?
    True usually, but there are very thin people who ended up getting Type 2 Diabetes. Food Choices play a large part in my opinion, not just burning less than you eat.
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    I am fully aware that the scale is not the only measurement of progress, and believe me I'm happy with my NSV's, but here in the UK, my GP does not take my measurements, measure my body fat percentage, track my clothes size or ask me if I'm feeling stronger! It's a straightforward BMI measurement and that's it.

    Your doctor could check your body fat percentage...it'd be odd if he couldn't. Your GP should also be aware that the scale will fluctuate with water retention and muscle gain.
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    I am fully aware that the scale is not the only measurement of progress, and believe me I'm happy with my NSV's, but here in the UK, my GP does not take my measurements, measure my body fat percentage, track my clothes size or ask me if I'm feeling stronger! It's a straightforward BMI measurement and that's it.

    Your doctor could check your body fat percentage...it'd be odd if he couldn't. Your GP should also be aware that the scale will fluctuate with water retention and muscle gain.

    Maybe you could work with a nutritionist/dietitian if having smaller measurements, clothes, and body fat % is not enough. Your dietitian could then work with your doctor if he/she is that concerned about the scale # and they can assure your GP that you are actually still losing and getting healthier.
  • Bunnehface
    Bunnehface Posts: 129 Member
    Your doctor could check your body fat percentage...it'd be odd if he couldn't. Your GP should also be aware that the scale will fluctuate with water retention and muscle gain.

    I'm sure he could. I'll ask him when I want to know.

    And yes, he probably is aware. But how many overweight people do you think he sees every day, who are full of excuses as to why they haven't hit their target? I was proud of maintaining a good steady loss of 1lb a week over six months. Now it will appear that I have lost less than that. Plenty of people will say "big deal"...but it is a big deal to me. I worked hard to lose that 7lb!
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    Your doctor could check your body fat percentage...it'd be odd if he couldn't. Your GP should also be aware that the scale will fluctuate with water retention and muscle gain.

    I'm sure he could. I'll ask him when I want to know.

    And yes, he probably is aware. But how many overweight people do you think he sees every day, who are full of excuses as to why they haven't hit their target? I was proud of maintaining a good steady loss of 1lb a week over six months. Now it will appear that I have lost less than that. Plenty of people will say "big deal"...but it is a big deal to me. I worked hard to lose that 7lb!

    You did lose weight. You just didn't lose as much as you wanted. And since you go to your doctor every so often - he has it recorded. He's going to know you aren't making stuff up.

    As long as you are still losing, whether it is a 1lb a week or 1lb a month - you should be proud that you are getting healthier and more fit.
  • fun_b
    fun_b Posts: 199 Member
    Last week I gained four pounds over three days. I was excepting a slight gain as I was eating out more and had a lot of xmas celebrations. When I gained on the other two days, I couldn't quite understand it. I decided not to stress and continued eating normal. Then today, I had suddenly lost three of the four pounds. No idea how that happened :).....my advise just continue eating what you normally do and log everything.
  • Bunnehface
    Bunnehface Posts: 129 Member
    Maybe you could work with a nutritionist/dietitian if having smaller measurements, clothes, and body fat % is not enough. Your dietitian could then work with your doctor if he/she is that concerned about the scale # and they can assure your GP that you are actually still losing and getting healthier.

    I live in the UK, we use the National Health Service. A private dietician costs around £75 ($120) for a consultation, and £50 ($80) for every appointment after. I'm a housewife and part time student with a daughter to support and a wedding to pay for! This is not a financial option for me, I'm afraid.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,419 Member
    It sounds as if you are overly concerned with what your doctor thinks...is there some reason why your doctor's words carry so much negative emotion with them? You've done a great job of weight loss, by anyone's standards. If your doctor makes you feel incompetent, maybe you could find another doctor. I don't know how your health care system works, but in my world negative professionals get replaced quickly in my life. I could see your concern if you had not been able to lose any weight at all since the start, but you have lost a lot of weight.

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