I'm back at my starting point!!

Okay, there's gotta be an explanation for this. I don't work out for a few days because I'm in college and I've been doing outlines, I stay under my calorie limit, yet my weight bounces right back up to my starting point, which took me a whole month to get down to where I was. How did it go up three pounds in two days if I'm under my calorie goal?!
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Replies

  • raven3lise
    raven3lise Posts: 107 Member
    Someone please answer...
  • swonn
    swonn Posts: 323 Member
    How was your sodium intake? For me I need to watch this closely and make sure I get enough water (5 glasses a day). Since I've figured that out I've done really well.
  • FlaxMilk
    FlaxMilk Posts: 3,452 Member
    Your body didn't gain 3 lbs in 2 days. Get back to your routine and things will go back to normal. :)
  • My wife has said things like this in the past. Each time I slap on a reassuring smile and tell her to ignore the scale. Watch the calories as you are, get just a bit of exercise, and it'll happen. Patience :)

    (that was the reassuring smile heh)
  • conniehv40
    conniehv40 Posts: 442 Member
    The scale is cruel! If you keep trying, like you have been, drink your water, stay under calorie and try to get a few exercises in, it will bounce back. I just gained 2 pounds while I slept? I think it is due to water gain through my period.

    There are so many explanations on gaining 2 pounds, but just keep logging and being true to your calorie goal and it will happen!

    (Do you have your calorie goal at sedentary and then you put in your exercise manually? I think that helps a lot too)
  • littlejobo120
    littlejobo120 Posts: 72 Member
    Hi. I've just had a quick look at your diary and there is just not enough of the right food. Things like McDonalds, pop tarts, pound cakes, chocolate syrup, breakfast burritos, these things should be taken in moderation as there is so much fat and sodium in there, as well as carbs, and not enough protein by far.

    I understand that old habits die hard, trust me (I am a chocoholic and HAVE to have chocolate at least once a day) but if you are really serious about this then you must address what kind of foods you are eating and make something like in the list above more of a treat than the bulk of your diet.

    With that said though, the number of calories you consume should not be enough to make you gain so what’s most likely is water retention. With the amount of sodium you consume you will need it or the water will cling to you so up your water intake dramatically (I did that recently and although I’m nipping to the loo so much people are starting to question what’s up with me, 4lbs has come off in the last 2 weeks) and you should see a difference.

    If you need any help, support or encouragement, I’m not a dietician or nutritionist but trial and error have given me a bit of knowledge so feel free to add me.

    Good luck :)
  • uclown2002
    uclown2002 Posts: 79 Member
    It is just water fluctuation; you have not gained any fat in 2 days if you are under your goals.

    I'd only weigh-in once per week, at the same time first thing in a morning under the same conditions.

    Even then you may not see a drop each and every week as weight loss is not linear; but the trend over time will be downwards if you are logging accurately and behaving yourself.

    Good luck.
  • vytamindi
    vytamindi Posts: 845 Member
    Try to make a point to cook your own meals at home. Restaurants/takeout may have a nutritional info sheet available, but I'm sure consistency of those who prepare your meal is shoddy at best. I used to work at a coffee shop and we never followed the recipe because it didn't taste as good as adding a little extra here and there did.

    Also, you'll get to pick your ingredients! Plan your day as far ahead as possible and try to stick with it. That way you'll have a plan to not go hungry or for wiggle room when you have a spur of the moment plan to eat with friends.

    Water water water! Drink it, especially if you're eating restaurant prepared foods which are often higher in sodium than your own prepared foods at home.

    Above all else, don't get discouraged. Look at the big picture. You're not here to only lose weight, you're here to make lasting changes that will be sustainable for you, so when you reach your goal, you'll be healthier over all.

    We can do this together :)
  • Girl, I can gain 3 lbs in a MEAL.

    They're right. It depends a lot on sodium. I also have learned that there are 2 weeks every month where I don't make any progress... The first week, I gain, the second week, I lose what I gained, and then I make progress the following two weeks... but that's only if I'm eating right, drinking all my water, and keeping my sodium low, and if I'm not fighting a bug or whatnot.

    Keep at it. It'll come off.
  • karenwill2
    karenwill2 Posts: 604 Member
    cut out sodium for a week and find out what your real weight actually is.
  • I'm not one to talk as I'm only new to dieting (2 months in), but where are all of your 5-a-day fruit and vegetables and your water?
  • nxd10
    nxd10 Posts: 4,570 Member
    Three pounds in two days has to be water.

    Look at your salt intake. Also, women often put on water cyclically with hormone cycles.

    I bounce up and down every few weeks. That's the bad news. The good news is that I bounce lower each time and less and less high.

    In addition, I lose inches even when I don't lose weight. So it seems as if I lose fat, then gain muscle which causes a weight gain, then I lose more fat and get back down to my lowest weight. But it's a better low weight as I am thinner than I was before.
  • raven3lise
    raven3lise Posts: 107 Member
    Hi. I've just had a quick look at your diary and there is just not enough of the right food. Things like McDonalds, pop tarts, pound cakes, chocolate syrup, breakfast burritos, these things should be taken in moderation as there is so much fat and sodium in there, as well as carbs, and not enough protein by far.

    I understand that old habits die hard, trust me (I am a chocoholic and HAVE to have chocolate at least once a day) but if you are really serious about this then you must address what kind of foods you are eating and make something like in the list above more of a treat than the bulk of your diet.

    With that said though, the number of calories you consume should not be enough to make you gain so what’s most likely is water retention. With the amount of sodium you consume you will need it or the water will cling to you so up your water intake dramatically (I did that recently and although I’m nipping to the loo so much people are starting to question what’s up with me, 4lbs has come off in the last 2 weeks) and you should see a difference.

    If you need any help, support or encouragement, I’m not a dietician or nutritionist but trial and error have given me a bit of knowledge so feel free to add me.

    Good luck :)

    It's really hard to kick fattening food when you have a 12 year old brother and a mom that may as well be a 12 year old. :T The pound cake and the breakfast burrito were one time things though! Fondue party and I had a coupon, I ended up eating that thing throughout the day because of how much it was. I was thinking about just trying to live on those Special K bars but...
  • ascotton80
    ascotton80 Posts: 56 Member
    If your diet has remained the same and you haven't been binging on junk, it's not 3 lbs of fat gain.

    Stay off the scale if you are going to wig out over three lbs.
  • belladonna786
    belladonna786 Posts: 1,165 Member
    you are eating to much crap and not enough food, you need to eat more nutritious foods and more calories
  • susjan
    susjan Posts: 105
    Okay, there's gotta be an explanation for this. I don't work out for a few days because I'm in college and I've been doing outlines, I stay under my calorie limit, yet my weight bounces right back up to my starting point, which took me a whole month to get down to where I was. How did it go up three pounds in two days if I'm under my calorie goal?!

    Water weight, sodium, TOM, the list goes on and on. Just keep doing what you're doing.
  • Your diary does have a lot of unhelathy foods, try adding more fruits and veggies
  • Sodium, the dreaded TOM, and lack of hydration are cruel masters, especially when you want to eat right, and everything is revolving around deadlines.Patience, be kind to yourself, and try to start small, and make healthier options if possible, and being kind and consistent will help. I promise.
  • indpls2002
    indpls2002 Posts: 93 Member
    As far as your diet goes, make small changes. it helps and they become habit. Trust me, I know....getting away from fast food was hard for me too and I still have my days. But when I do go out and eat, I try to stick with a "healthier" version...chicken, salad, etc. As far as at home, I made tiny changes. Instead of canned vegetables, I get frozen. I can't stand canned veggies now. Any rice or pasta? Use whole wheat products. Instead of buying chips to snack, get cheese sticks or yogurt. Once you do these small things for awhile, they become habit and you find yourself not wanting the junk food.

    Good luck :)
  • Ebonyglam
    Ebonyglam Posts: 1 Member
    Hey! Hang in there.. Your fluctuates throughout the day (2-3 pounds).. Also make sure you weigh in around the same time of the day,.:smile:
  • Hi. I've just had a quick look at your diary and there is just not enough of the right food. Things like McDonalds, pop tarts, pound cakes, chocolate syrup, breakfast burritos, these things should be taken in moderation as there is so much fat and sodium in there, as well as carbs, and not enough protein by far.

    I understand that old habits die hard, trust me (I am a chocoholic and HAVE to have chocolate at least once a day) but if you are really serious about this then you must address what kind of foods you are eating and make something like in the list above more of a treat than the bulk of your diet.

    With that said though, the number of calories you consume should not be enough to make you gain so what’s most likely is water retention. With the amount of sodium you consume you will need it or the water will cling to you so up your water intake dramatically (I did that recently and although I’m nipping to the loo so much people are starting to question what’s up with me, 4lbs has come off in the last 2 weeks) and you should see a difference.

    If you need any help, support or encouragement, I’m not a dietician or nutritionist but trial and error have given me a bit of knowledge so feel free to add me.

    Good luck :)

    ^^^ This is the best response yet.
  • MyaPapaya75
    MyaPapaya75 Posts: 3,143 Member
    I sent u a ptivate message but try opting for the better option at the fast food places...at least thats a start...never get double burger always get kid size portions..Its really all about putting in the effort and researching your fav fast food places and the menu options so you know whats best to get....cut the cals for results...you can knock out 100 cals by just switiching your choc milk to soy light choc..it takes getting used to but does the trick for me at least....also mesuring is key invest in measuring tools..dont try to do this without them...
  • Elzecat
    Elzecat Posts: 2,916 Member
    Like others have said, it's unlikely that you've actually gained 3 pounds of body weight in a couple of days, but sodium and other things will affect the daily scale number.

    I concede that it is a little more diffcult to eat healthy if you are living with a parent who is buying the food and not making healthy choices. But you are 19 years old--you can start to make small changes on your own--if you're getting a latte at a gas station or 7-11 (as I saw in your food diary)...they also sell individual pieces of fruit (at least the ones in my neighborhood do. Substitute a piece of fruit for a pop-tart on occasion. Make small changes and ease into healthier eating. Definitely add more healthy fruits and vegetables to your eating plan for the day. Ask mom if you can shop with her and make suggestions for healthier meals. Offer to do a little cooking--get some chicken breasts, brown rice, a bag of frozen veggies--voila, easy dinner for 3 or more ;)
  • Oh girl you can not live on special k bars, buy your own food keep a separate pantry, slowly and I mean slowly start trying to incorporate healthy habits into your mom and brothers lifestyles explain to them you need support and that you don't want those kinds of things in the house. I didn't look at your diary but I read the posts your sodium has got to be incredibly high, water retention, get some healthy fats and calories into that menu, avocados, berries, olive oil (not fried in olive oil but drizzled in a salad) if you like sweets then there's tons of sites out there with healthy low calorie recipes for cookies and cupcakes. Make healthy versions of what you like, breakfast burrito? How about we make that at home with a whole west tortilla, ground turkey/lentils, egg and a ton of veg. Drink water, drink water, drink water!
  • WickedDancerr
    WickedDancerr Posts: 11 Member
    Stop weighing yourself. Once a week at most and even then only pay attention to the monthly number. Too many factors to figure it out. Eat too little your body stores fat - you retained water - you had water weight loss oe day and got it back the next. It will yoyo every day. I worked out everyday for 2 weeks. The swcale didn;t move on my firday weighins. I said that's ok. It eventually will. Finally - 3 pounds down. The scale is not your friend.
  • Ok looked at your diary, 1100 calories? NOT NEARLY ENOUGH, especially with all those processed foods, your body is just going to hold onto everything you eat, saving it all so that your organs can function and you can get out of bed. Fuel your body so that you can go to college, do homework, see friends AND workout.
  • Take a look at some people's diaries who have been really sucessful with weight loss and see what you can do to make yours look more like theirs.
  • CharityEaton
    CharityEaton Posts: 499 Member
    saw your comment about living on special K bars. Ummm NO!!! NO!!! NO!!!! healthy nutritious foods! Fresh fruits and veggies, whole grains....all the stuff you find around the ouside of the grocery store! Nothing from a box or can or frozen food section. If you MUST have quick foods then choose very wisely! pay attention to what is in your food. a lot of those Fad diet items are nothing but crap, chemiclas and sugar or sodium loaded to make them actually taste somewhat edible! How about an apple or a bag of baby carrots. You will also find that eating fresh fruits and veggies fill you up or very little calories.


    If you are serious about yur weight loss goals then you have to pay very close attention to your nutrition...it's not all about the number on teh scale und staying under your calorie goals. The point is to BALANCE yourself. Yes, I still eat crap food but ot every day, I plan it and adjust the rest of the day around that one meal. And as an example: Friday Aug 24 my weigh was 131.6 Monday Aug 27th a whopping 135.4 by Monday Sep 3 I was back down to 131.8 Friday Sep 7th my weight was 131.8 by Monday Sep. 10th my weight was 132.0 today my weight is 129.8.......you can go up and down 2-5 pounds from day to day! It happens. The big picture is that each and every week you lose a little and at the end of the month you should have a loss.

    Patience and time. The scale is evil!
  • fit4lifeUcan2
    fit4lifeUcan2 Posts: 1,458 Member
    you are eating to much crap and not enough food, you need to eat more nutritious foods and more calories

    This!! Try eating fresh fruits and veggies. I only looked at the past few days and didn't see anything other than junk. Don't blame your mother or your 12 year old for what you put in your mouth. They didn't pry open your mouth and shove it down your throat did they? You do have the ability to speak up and ask your mother to buy something healthy other wise you can buy it yourself. If your able to buy food at McDonalds then your able to order a salad or yogurt.
  • Superchas
    Superchas Posts: 129 Member
    Only weigh yourself in morning after bathroom but before you eat to get consistent measure.
    Likely to be water related - most i have lost doing exercise is 6 pounds in a session so 2 pounds is a rounding.
    Personally just get the weight off and then work out how to eat for the rest of your life if you do it the other way round you lose out as you only have a limited amount of willpower.
    I send an sms update to my nearest and dearest once a week and that keeps me on the straight and narrow.
    Congratulations on getting started I am sure there are more bumps along the way but you have come to the right place.
    Best