Down a pound and then back up?

Kaypix · April 2013

I weigh myself on Thursdays and record it each week. Last week I was at 189.4 and was OK with that, as I was 190.2 the Thursday before. Well, today I'm right back up to 190.2...WTH? I've been religiously counting my calories and logging anything that passes my lips, and what's worse, is I checked my weight each day of the week as a "keep on track" and was totally fine, down to 189.0 as of Wednesday , then back up today? >.< Angry face! I'm not sure if it's because I had a lot of sodium yesterday, that I have aunt flo visiting this week or what, but it has been super discouraging. My breakfasts consist of an EAS carb control shake every morning now, lunch kind of depends but we go to restaurants most of the time that are on the food list so I add from there, and dinner is homemade meat and vegetables each night typically. Yesterday I had an enchilada for lunch along with cheesy hashbrowns , both of which are high in sodium, but last night's dinner was a hand pattie'd hamburger, just one, on a bun with cheese, and I drank water with that even.

I think I'm just looking for a "keep on it, you're doing fine" because right now, even though I'm ticked about my lack of weight loss, I'm proud that I stopped myself from throwing in the towel after stepping off the scale this morning. My gut reaction was a scoop of peanut butter, a huge glass of milk and a handful of oreos. What really happened? I went back to bed to get away from the temptation. Now I'm drinking my coffee, my shake is ready to go, and I'm trying to stay positive, but think I need a bit of help

squatsandlipgloss · April 2013

Since we get about 500 of these types of posts on MFP, I am going to ask you: do you know why you shouldn't weigh every day if you can't take the fluctuations?

Read your post again, you answer your own questions.

jljshoe1979 · April 2013

"Keep on it, you're doing fine."

Those %$#!& hormones are probably messing with you. Typically, I gain several pounds right before my time, and it all comes off by the time I'm finished (every stinkin' month). For me, I try to up my water intake and pray that I just maintain when it's all over because I do give in to cravings more than I should...

squatsandlipgloss · April 2013

I weigh myself on Thursdays and record it each week. Last week I was at 189.4 and was OK with that, as I was 190.2 the Thursday before. Well, today I'm right back up to 190.2...WTH? I've been religiously counting my calories and logging anything that passes my lips, and what's worse, is I checked my weight each day of the week as a "keep on track" and was totally fine, down to 189.0 as of Wednesday , then back up today? >.< Angry face! I'm not sure if it's because I had a lot of sodium yesterday, that I have aunt flo visiting this week or what, but it has been super discouraging. My breakfasts consist of an EAS carb control shake every morning now, lunch kind of depends but we go to restaurants most of the time that are on the food list so I add from there, and dinner is homemade meat and vegetables each night typically. Yesterday I had an enchilada for lunch along with cheesy hashbrowns , both of which are high in sodium, but last night's dinner was a hand pattie'd hamburger, just one, on a bun with cheese, and I drank water with that even.

I think I'm just looking for a "keep on it, you're doing fine" because right now, even though I'm ticked about my lack of weight loss, I'm proud that I stopped myself from throwing in the towel after stepping off the scale this morning. My gut reaction was a scoop of peanut butter, a huge glass of milk and a handful of oreos. What really happened? I went back to bed to get away from the temptation. Now I'm drinking my coffee, my shake is ready to go, and I'm trying to stay positive, but think I need a bit of help

I just highlighted some things for ya

Cut back on the restaurant lunches - loooots of sodium and other cr*p you don't even know what is in there. Your weight is dropping, fluctuations are normal, don't get on the scale every day, honey, it'll drive you mad! Trust me, been there, done that.

Crochetluvr · April 2013

Yes... your weight goes up and down from day to day.... Even hour to hour. So, yes, you're doing fine.

Caperfae · April 2013

I wouldn't worry too much about the scale and focus more on how clothes are fitting.

I_Will_End_You · April 2013

I have no idea how much I actually weight because it changes between 128-132 every day. I wouldn't worry too much about it, probably has to do with retaining water.

jljshoe1979 · April 2013

ninerbuff · April 2013

Weight loss isn't linear. If it were, then there wouldn't be fluctuations.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

jljshoe1979 · April 2013

I weigh myself on Thursdays and record it each week. Last week I was at 189.4 and was OK with that, as I was 190.2 the Thursday before. Well, today I'm right back up to 190.2...WTH? I've been religiously counting my calories and logging anything that passes my lips, and what's worse, is I checked my weight each day of the week as a "keep on track" and was totally fine, down to 189.0 as of Wednesday , then back up today? >.< Angry face! I'm not sure if it's because I had a lot of sodium yesterday, that I have aunt flo visiting this week or what, but it has been super discouraging. My breakfasts consist of an EAS carb control shake every morning now, lunch kind of depends but we go to restaurants most of the time that are on the food list so I add from there, and dinner is homemade meat and vegetables each night typically. Yesterday I had an enchilada for lunch along with cheesy hashbrowns , both of which are high in sodium, but last night's dinner was a hand pattie'd hamburger, just one, on a bun with cheese, and I drank water with that even.

I think I'm just looking for a "keep on it, you're doing fine" because right now, even though I'm ticked about my lack of weight loss, I'm proud that I stopped myself from throwing in the towel after stepping off the scale this morning. My gut reaction was a scoop of peanut butter, a huge glass of milk and a handful of oreos. What really happened? I went back to bed to get away from the temptation. Now I'm drinking my coffee, my shake is ready to go, and I'm trying to stay positive, but think I need a bit of help

I just highlighted some things for ya Cut back on the restaurant lunches - loooots of sodium and other cr*p you don't even know what is in there. Your weight is dropping, fluctuations are normal, don't get on the scale every day, honey, it'll drive you mad! Trust me, been there, done that.

Umm - she didn't say she got on the scale everyday. She weighs on Thursdays...I think she is just on here for some support. Isn't that what this section is for on MFP?

ScorpioSista · April 2013

Don't get discouraged, I went through the same thing about three weeks ago. My weight went back up by a pound and a half. Try changes up the shakes, I was drinking those too, a lot of sodium. You are seeing the water weit gain from retaining that sodium. Try to eat as much "home prepared" food as possible and when you go out to eat avoid the cheesy meals, I like to order either a grilled chicken salad or a meat with lots of steamed veggies. For breakfast I have Cheerios and almond milk or if I'm in a rush I'll get a veggie wrap from dunkin donuts, not bad at all on the sodium. We're all struggling together, I know it's not easy! Keep up the good work.,

Kaypix · April 2013

Thanks everyone, and yes, it's true that we fluctuate daily, and I'm OK with that. I didn't say that "I weighed 189.0 yesterday, and now I"m 190.2 so I"m mad". I said "I weighed 189.4 last Thursday, and this Thursday I'm 190.2 so I'm confused" basically. Thanks so much for the encouragement. I've been weaning myself off of going out to lunch, eating leftovers from dinner more often, but it's super difficult because I work with my husband (not just us, we're in an office with others), and every day he goes to lunch with them and guilt trips me if I don't go with him.

He's accepted my weight, I think because he thinks I'm amazing in pretty much everything and can not do wrong. Which is endearing but not helpful when it comes to changing something about myself lol! I'm going to have to get that man off my case, I cannot wait until it's warm enough to start walking on my lunch breaks. Last summer that's how I got out of the lunches, I'd go walking for 45 minutes instead, and DH hates walking, so he left me to it! lol.

I'm reading others' struggles today to keep me focused on this is not just me, that everyone goes through things like this, and that I will get past it!

Kaypix · April 2013

Thanks so much

I'll try my cereal (plain raisin bran sound ok?) for a couple days, what does almond milk taste like? Is it similar to like, soy milk in taste? coconut milk etc? I've never tried any of them for fear of taste, I'm such a wimp!

OMG I just looked at my shake, 360mg of sodium *face palm* thanks for mentioning that, totally didn' consider sodium in my shakes

dianeb613 · April 2013

stop weighing yourself every day. Your weight will fluctuate from day to day. Take one day a week, same time, and weigh yourself.

Brownsbacker4evr · April 2013

Dont let a single pound bring you down. Weight fluctuates like that. I fluctuated 16 pounds over the span of a day! Be sure to get your water. Very important. 8+ cups a day. More if your sodium is real high.

Also try spreading the weigh ins out a little more try every two weeks or every half way point in the month. That is normally my approach.

ScorpioSista · April 2013

I get Blue Diamond unsweetened vanilla almond milk, I won't lie it's not as good a regular milk but works good in cereal and is lactose free. I challenge you to try it!! Ha. You get used to it. Drink lots and lots of water too, you'll be down in no time.

Faye_Anderson · April 2013

If fluctuating by 1lb causes that reaction just wait til you get nearer to goal :flowerforyou:

Kaypix · April 2013

Haha good point ! Alright Mary, I'll try almond milk when I get back into town on Sunday. I have to go grocery shopping anyways at least to get me through to PayDay (pay day is next Tuesday) so I'll grab a half gallon and see how it goes

Faye: Thanks for the chuckle! You're totally right though. I had dropped to 160.2 last summer (Ideal Protein, wouldn't recommend it, I started losing my hair after 2 months...) and I was a rock star, albeit a wimpy rock star since I never exercised.

I have my boss sweet talked into getting me and ergonomic desk so I can stand up at work whenever I want (it raises and lowers), but I won't be getting it until sometime mid-june, and will have my walking lunches probably starting within a week or two (south dakota april = blizzard, then a high of 75, then another blizzard, then a rainstorm...we believe in consistency).

Brown: I might try cutting back to weighing only once every other week, or not at all the weeks of PMS/aunt flo, since as mentioned the hormones wreck havoc with that. And I'll add more water, I know I am only getting probably 5 glasses in a day right now (16 oz at home and 24 oz at work).

I think my daily weighing was a way to make sure I was staying on track, so if I had a mystery gain, even if it was just from water retention etc. I'd focus very hard the next day to stay on point. I hate head games, why do I play them on myself?

Thanks again guys

olDave · April 2013

That happens to me some weeks too. Then a week or two later I will lose two pounds instead of my goal of one pound. So far it has averaged out to a pound/week for the last 15 weeks.

Mcgrawhaha · April 2013

it happens, dont worry. ill lose weeekly, then have 2 or 3 weeks with no movement, then boom!!! ill have a week with a 2 or 4 pound drop... it all works itself out. just keep doing what your doing!

lisa9700134 · April 2013

Walking is great, but ADD SOME STRENGTH TRAINING! You can do this at home with a $20 investment at Target for some 5 lb dumbbells if you dont belong to a gym...My weight loss did not take off until I did this, was walking for years and got nowhere...it allows you to burn more calories all day long, not just while you are doing it, like walking does...mix up your excercises with walking, weights, maybe add some bike riding for something fun...
Dine out no more than 2x a week..even good choices loaded with salt....get a salad and you dont know whats in their dressing, ect..
Get used to the fluctuations...perfecy normal..even after an awesomly on track day, TMI maybe, but maybe if you did not have a regular #2 (sorry!) that day, it can make you up a pound or 2...sorry, just something I have noticed!

Good luck! I am new to here this week but have lost 50 over the past 2 years...oh, and slow and steady wins the race!

Kaypix · April 2013

Lisa:

Thanks so much for your advice! I was so proud when DH and I got down to no more eating out after work at night, now I cook every night, even if it kills me! We belong to a gym, and typically we go 3-5 days/week. I do the Arc Trainer for my cardio (Cybex Arc Trainer) and alternate the exercises it does, then also do 10 lb dumbells for bicep curls, tricep curls, and shoulder press. I need to start doing squats and lunges again, I am such a wimp when it comes to those.

squatsandlipgloss · April 2013

I weigh myself on Thursdays and record it each week. Last week I was at 189.4 and was OK with that, as I was 190.2 the Thursday before. Well, today I'm right back up to 190.2...WTH? I've been religiously counting my calories and logging anything that passes my lips, and what's worse, is I checked my weight each day of the week as a "keep on track" and was totally fine, down to 189.0 as of Wednesday , then back up today? >.< Angry face! I'm not sure if it's because I had a lot of sodium yesterday, that I have aunt flo visiting this week or what, but it has been super discouraging. My breakfasts consist of an EAS carb control shake every morning now, lunch kind of depends but we go to restaurants most of the time that are on the food list so I add from there, and dinner is homemade meat and vegetables each night typically. Yesterday I had an enchilada for lunch along with cheesy hashbrowns , both of which are high in sodium, but last night's dinner was a hand pattie'd hamburger, just one, on a bun with cheese, and I drank water with that even.

I think I'm just looking for a "keep on it, you're doing fine" because right now, even though I'm ticked about my lack of weight loss, I'm proud that I stopped myself from throwing in the towel after stepping off the scale this morning. My gut reaction was a scoop of peanut butter, a huge glass of milk and a handful of oreos. What really happened? I went back to bed to get away from the temptation. Now I'm drinking my coffee, my shake is ready to go, and I'm trying to stay positive, but think I need a bit of help

I just highlighted some things for ya Cut back on the restaurant lunches - loooots of sodium and other cr*p you don't even know what is in there. Your weight is dropping, fluctuations are normal, don't get on the scale every day, honey, it'll drive you mad! Trust me, been there, done that.

Umm - she didn't say she got on the scale everyday. She weighs on Thursdays...I think she is just on here for some support. Isn't that what this section is for on MFP?

I think someone needs to go back and read before they comment.

"...is I checked my weight each day of the week as a "keep on track" and..."

Welcome to MFP.

jennifer_417 · April 2013

If you get discouraged every time your weight fluctuates up, then you are not a good candidate for a daily weigh-in.

All kinds of things can cause your body to fluctuate on a daily basis.

Cut back to weekly weigh-ins.

pkw58 · April 2013

I hear you on the pressure to eat out in a work environment. I eat out at least 10 to 21 times a week depending on my work travel schedule. I lost 46 pounds in 2012, and did it with the same "eating out schedule".

There are a thousand tricks to doing this, but the main one for me was absolutley no bread, potatoes, rice or pasta. I am a reformed empty carb junky.

The second thing is everydrop of salad or sauce on the side.

The third is when in doubt, order the leanest protein.

Even at the deli, you can get SOMETHING.. hard boiled eggs or a scoup of tuna or chicken salad on top of lettuce and tomato.

I also coax clients and coworkers to walk further when I am downtown. An extra 5 -10 blocks a day adds up!

PS.... I weigh daily at the same time .. I note it but if it is up, more water, same calories, more walking.

jdhoward_101 · April 2013

I'd blame aunt flo. You retain water like mad at this time, i quite often find the scales tell me i've put on an extra pound or two around this time. Don't give up!

Kaypix · April 2013

Thanks again all for your feedback. To those who are being all "don't weigh every day", trust me I know that weight fluctuates every day. I've dieted and lost weight in the past using this same weighing technique, weigh in one day a week with body measurements etc. and the rest of the week if I think I have a day of being bad, step on the scale the following morning as penance. I use it as a motivational tool to stay on track. I only write down my weight on Thursday morning weigh in. If I jump up in weight on any given day it doesn't bother me. The ONLY reason I mentioned it is that it is part of my routine, not that daily weighing is what was confusing me. If I had left out the daily weighing portion, your response would have become completely pointless, as my issue is greater than weighing on a daily basis.

Please don't strike out against people who are defending me in my own thread, that's terribly disrespectful and trolly behavior.

Brown: I ATE A BANANA THIS MORNING!!! I skipped my shake and had me a banana instead, woot woot! I was running late so no time for cereal, but still, better than my shake

JD: I'm in the same boat with the aunt flo blamage, I'm really thinking that's the majority of what caused my weight to fluctuate so hard this week.

PK: Thanks so much for the eating out suggestions. If you can lose and do it, so can I!

amatxuof5 · April 2013

Thanks so much I'll try my cereal (plain raisin bran sound ok?) for a couple days, what does almond milk taste like? Is it similar to like, soy milk in taste? coconut milk etc? I've never tried any of them for fear of taste, I'm such a wimp!

OMG I just looked at my shake, 360mg of sodium *face palm* thanks for mentioning that, totally didn' consider sodium in my shakes

I LOVE the fat free vanilla almond milk. I make my Body by Vi shakes with it. It tastes nutty. I can't drink regular milk - it hurts my stomach. I have the same frustrations you do, but I know that my weight can fluctuate within a 2 pound range. I actually weigh myself every night AND every morning. I usually weigh 1 pound lighter in the morning than at night so I do it to see if I've lost anything. I started weighing myself every day when I read something in a book that suggested that and taking the average of every week to see if you've lost or not BECAUSE our weight can fluctuate so much, so the weekly average is a truer measure of your actual weight. But now I actually weight myself every day so that I don't let myself get out of control because I know I can gain weight super easily. I also know that I gain weight if I don't get enough sleep, so hopefully you are sleeping enough! Good luck! When I track religiously and don't lose I try to just tell myself "next time, tomorrow is a new day and I'll see a change then". And be proud that you have been tracking so well!

gracielynn1011 · April 2013

I work with my husband too, so I know it is hard to pack your own lunch and eat a good meal while he won't. My hubby won't eat a sandwich every day, and God forbid I suggest a microwavable meal. So, I just pack my lunch and offer to pack his, and if he says no, he's on his own for the day! It was difficult and it is still difficult sometimes to stick to my packed lunch while they are staring at me while munching burgers and fries.

On another note, I am on my second week of no weight loss. Last week I didn't mind remaining the same because of Aunt Flo, but I expected to be back on track this week. My official weigh in is tomorrow, but this morning I had a sneak peek and no change. So unless something happens between now and in the morning, I am expecting to stay the same or go up. I hate that. This is the first time since Jan that I have not had a loss in 2 weeks. I get what you are going through!

Down a pound and then back up?

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