Fell of the diet

You didn't gain 4 real pounds in a week eating that amount, unless you're 4 feet tall and even more slothful than I am.

It's water weight, as you said.

You need to aim for 1200 calories a day at minimum, and that is still too low for most people. I hope you at least take a multivitamin and closely monitor your daily vitamins and minerals. You're setting yourself up for deficiencies. Although to be fair you can also eat 3000 calories every day of garbage foods and suffer deficiencies, too.

Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it's always your choice.
-Wayne Dyer

It's about moderation not deprivation. There are no good/bad foods, only bad eating habits. Do or do not, there is no try. You have to want it, you have to work for it, you have to realize that only you can do it.

Read these:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1346163-change-your-mindset

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819925-the-basics-don-t-complicate-it

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1235566-so-you-re-new-here?hl=so+you're+new+here

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/872212-you-re-probably-eating-more-than-you-think

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1217573-so-you-want-to-start-running

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/974888-in-place-of-a-road-map-2k13

TL:DR the link right above this one then ->http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/975025-in-place-of-a-road-map-short-n-sweet

Excuses??? http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2014/06/02/the-no-excuses-play-like-a-champion-challenge/

If you have 75+ lbs to lose 2 lbs/week is ideal
If you have 40-75 lbs to lose 1.5 lbs/week is ideal
If you have 25-40 lbs to lose 1 lbs/week is ideal
If you have 15 -25 lbs to lose 0.5 to 1.0 lbs/week is ideal
If you have less than 15 lbs to lose 0.5 lbs/week is ideal

Want to lift heavy things?
http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/

Stronglifts Summary
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/560459-stronglifts-5x5-summary

Stronglifts Womens Group
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/4601-stronglifts-5x5-for-women

I believe that the journey isn't perfect and that the only way one can achieve the fitness we are all desiring is to understand that we'll stumble a little bit along the way and when we do, we just get back up and move along without any guilt or ill feelings. I personally won't completely deny myself of things I like. Just consider it a few "cheat days" and look forward.

I found that often we decide "now i'm gonna lose weight" and we go a bit crazy with it. Were you very restrictive, no carbs, all veggies and lean meat?
The only time I actually succeeded sticking to my "diet" is when i decided i would not do a diet and just learn about nutrition. I've lost 66 pounds in 7 months and still doing very well.

If your body feel too many lost it will often make you want to binge-eat. You just concentrate on food and want to eat so much all the time.

I would suggest you to ease back into it. If you eat about 1800 cals a day now, go down to 1600 next week. then 1500 cals, etc until you reach the amount that works for you. 1200 is very low, I did it for a while but i was still OBSESSED with food a bit unhealthily. I increased to 1300-1400 and i'm still losing 1.5 to 2 pounds a week (i started off at 250 and i'm still at 184) but i'm much happier and i don't feel like i'm at war with myself every waking moment. I also take "break" every 6 weeks, I have a week where I stop counting cals, I just eat whatever while still making smart choices. So if would usually eat just veggie and pasta for dinner on a normal "diet" week but i feel like a slice of bread during my "non-diet" week, I just go for it. Still doesn't mean i'll eat a whole pizza with a side of fry, i just don't obsess and eat what i want. I usually stay around 1500-2000 cals (by eyeballing everything) and i still don't gain during those weeks. I stay at the same weight i was when i started the week or even still manage to lose about half a pound.

You mentioned having gained weight, which is probably, as you said not "real weight". Whenever you restrict your intake too much, your body is freaking out a bit, it's thinking it won't receive enough fuel again so it "keeps" everything instead of burning it. If you stay at eating 1500-1800 cals for 3-4 weeks, you will start losing again (or plateau depending on your weight/size/etc) once your body realize it's not in danger of being under feed.

Good luck!

IMO, you were being too aggressive. 1000-1200 calories? That's not alot. Of course it backfired on you. Your body needs more calories than that. This is your body's way of telling you to eat more. So listen to it.

Hello Everyone ????

Just a short post, basically since last Wednesday I have fell of my diet and cannot seem to get back on it! I was averaging on 1000/1200 calories and was losing 2/3 pounds a week, I am so angry with myself, when I see how far I have come and to think I am pushing myself back again, I have gained around 4 pounds since last week eating average 1500/1800 calories a day (Possibly water weight as hormones) Goodness. have you got any words of encouragement?

Thank you

Last weekend I was out of town partying hard for 4 days. I was 5 pounds heavier when I came back than when I left.

It doesn't mean I fell off anything. It's all water and glycogen. In fact, as of this morning I lost 4.5 pounds of the 5 that I had gained. I had a great weekend and I am grateful for that - and now I'm back to the regular everyday lifestyle.

It's not about living like a monk at the top of the mountain. It's about finding the balance.