Weight loss stopped...what is wrong?

caimay149
caimay149 Posts: 65 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I never wanted to do one of these posts...I'm just confused. Week 1, ate an average of 1700 calories, dropped 5lbs. Week 2, ate an average of 1700 calories, dropped 4lbs. Week 3, ate an average of 1700 calories...nothing. Week 4, ate an average of 1700 calories...gained 1/2lb.

I was expecting a slow down of weight loss for sure. But to not lose anything at all and now actually start gaining? It's weird to me. I've done pretty much the same thing since day one - the only difference being, from week 2 to week 4 I did a lot more cardio and added in weight lifting again because I had adjusted to the lower calories and had much more energy.

I was getting really excited, because I had broken into the 190s, and was 2lbs away from being in the 'overweight' not 'obese' category. Now it's like I'm taking steps back.

I should mention: my period was due week 3. So I put no loss down to pre-menstrual weight fluctuation, and hoped a loss would show the following week. However, no sign of the period, and the weight isn't gone. And no, I'm definitely not pregnant - my TOM does tend to be unreliable, always has.

I'm just frustrated. I had goals!

Replies

  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    Weight loss isn't linear just keep at it

    Week 1 and 2 mainly water weight - might be some fat in it
    Water weight increases after exercise and with hormones in monthly cycle

    Keep going, keep logging it will drop - give it a few weeks

    if it helps last month for me
    week 1 - lost 1lb
    week 2 - put on 1lb
    week 3 - stayed the same
    week 4 - stayed the same
    week 5 - dropped 4lb

    this week I seem to be a lb heavier than last week - although 3 days ago I was 3lb lighter - water weight, DOMs, TOM all count - it's the overall trend that counts and my overall trend in 140 days is 35lb down

  • caimay149
    caimay149 Posts: 65 Member
    Yeah, you're right. I will give it a few more weeks and monitor the results, see what happens. :)
  • hortensehildegarde
    hortensehildegarde Posts: 592 Member
    Good on you for being so close to just being "overweight" not "obese"- oh how I look forward to getting there!!

    For what it's worth, my TOM weight "gains" are a total PITA and tend to last from a few days before until almost the end/a week into.

    If you are sure your weighing of solids/measuring of liquids is accurate just keep plugging away over the weeks and you will see results. If you think your logging could possibly less then perfectly accurate work on tightening that up.

    9 lb loss in 2 weeks when you are so close to only being overweight is pretty darn stellar. You are correct to stick to it and give yourself more time to monitor results.
  • caimay149
    caimay149 Posts: 65 Member
    I definitely think it could be less than accurate, and it's something I'm working on. I'm a work in progress! The first week, I measured out a proper tablespoon for the first time, and it turned out I had been eating about 2x the amount of peanut butter I thought I was! haha. However, I have been consistent since day one, so if my logging is not accurate now, it wasn't accurate day one either.
  • eldamiano
    eldamiano Posts: 2,667 Member
    "I was expecting a slow down of weight loss for sure. But to not lose anything at all and now actually start gaining? It's weird to me."

    Why is it? You have experience of gaining weight (like many of us) and you know why this is, so surely you recognise the cause?....
  • caimay149
    caimay149 Posts: 65 Member
    No...I don't know why it is. I don't recognise the cause.
  • Piper911
    Piper911 Posts: 46 Member
    Wait no sign of period and gaining weight? Any way you could be pregnant? That could cause you to stop losing...
  • eldamiano
    eldamiano Posts: 2,667 Member
    caimay149 wrote: »
    No...I don't know why it is. I don't recognise the cause.

    You have put on weight because you are overeating. The same still applies. The only difference now is that because you now have a weight loss objective, you believe you are not.
  • Piper911
    Piper911 Posts: 46 Member
    Eta just saw your last paragraph sorry! If your tom is weird fhough I bet its just hormonal!
  • caimay149
    caimay149 Posts: 65 Member
    eldamiano wrote: »
    caimay149 wrote: »
    No...I don't know why it is. I don't recognise the cause.

    You have put on weight because you are overeating. The same still applies. The only difference now is that because you now have a weight loss objective, you believe you are not.

    You are not adding anything helpful at all to this conversation. I have already stated that my calories are the same. No, I am NOT overeating. I am still in a deficit. Please don't tell me what I believe and what my objectives are. You clearly haven't read my post properly.

  • bylot
    bylot Posts: 11
    Here we go again.. Isaac Newton was wrong all along.
  • caimay149
    caimay149 Posts: 65 Member
    Yep, here we go again for sure. Someone posting the same old sarcastic response without actually properly reading the thread or giving it any thought.
  • eldamiano
    eldamiano Posts: 2,667 Member
    caimay149 wrote: »
    eldamiano wrote: »
    caimay149 wrote: »
    No...I don't know why it is. I don't recognise the cause.

    You have put on weight because you are overeating. The same still applies. The only difference now is that because you now have a weight loss objective, you believe you are not.

    You are not adding anything helpful at all to this conversation. I have already stated that my calories are the same. No, I am NOT overeating. I am still in a deficit. Please don't tell me what I believe and what my objectives are. You clearly haven't read my post properly.

    Believe me, I am adding something helpful. If not, then you should come up with an explanation if you are confident enough to be dismissive of this (without suggesting water weight (this is not a sustainable cause), metabolism, or a medical problem).
  • caimay149
    caimay149 Posts: 65 Member
    Since I know that my calories have been the same, and I am an experienced logger, I know that overeating is not the cause. Also, I have been in a calorie deficit (2300 to maintain my weight) so even if I have been, for example, eating 100 extra a day, or 200 extra a day, I should still have lost around half a pound, not put on a pound.
  • Phrick
    Phrick Posts: 2,765 Member
    @caimay149 - no sense in arguing with him, my observation over time is that he's blunt and tends to be fairly inflammatory. You know he's intentionally baiting you so I suggest you refuse to give him the rise.

    Things we know:

    - weight loss is not linear.
    - weight will fluctuate on a daily basis due to factors such as previous days' sodium intake, duration/intensity of exercise, amount of undigested food still in your gut, whether or not you've had a bowel movement, and for women, where you are in your menstrual cycle. As you stated your period was due but didn't show (and you are confident that you're not pregnant) so my personal bet is on this as main cause.
    - 1/2 pound is an insignificant weight fluctuation anyway. See points 1 and 2.
  • eldamiano
    eldamiano Posts: 2,667 Member
    caimay149 wrote: »
    Since I know that my calories have been the same, and I am an experienced logger, I know that overeating is not the cause. Also, I have been in a calorie deficit (2300 to maintain my weight) so even if I have been, for example, eating 100 extra a day, or 200 extra a day, I should still have lost around half a pound, not put on a pound.

    Dont use the phrase 'I should have lost'. It is up to you to get things right. You were losing one minute, and not the next, so something changed Your body doesnt just make it up as you go along. It is all down to a calorie deficit. We are all humans, we do different things most days, and we make errors. Consider this possibility.
  • independant2406
    independant2406 Posts: 447 Member
    I always gain when I start working out, especially when I start a new cardio routine... It takes as much as 2 months before I start seeing a loss again. It sucks.

    I wouldn't worry about the small increase on the scale. Happens to me all the time and then a few days later I'll unexpectedly see a loss.

    Give it another week of careful logging but try also this: Take some ibuprophen or ibuprophen PM before bed with a small amount of food (just not on an empty tummy!) and drink several extra glasses of water when you first wake in the mornings. Then weigh yourself 1 week later. This should reduce any swelling/inflammation/water retention you're experiencing as a result of the new cardio workout.

    Also sometimes mixing up your calorie intake can help. So for example: Monday eat an additional deficit of 200 calories and Tuesday eat your regular deficit, on the third day eat your deficit + 200 calories..and repeat. Just mix it up a bit to keep your body guessing...just keep your weekly total at the deficit you've been using with higher and lower calorie days.
  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    OP deactivated account. Hmm
  • eldamiano
    eldamiano Posts: 2,667 Member
    Phrick wrote: »
    @caimay149 - no sense in arguing with him, my observation over time is that he's blunt and tends to be fairly inflammatory. You know he's intentionally baiting you so I suggest you refuse to give him the rise.

    Things we know:

    - weight loss is not linear.
    - weight will fluctuate on a daily basis due to factors such as previous days' sodium intake, duration/intensity of exercise, amount of undigested food still in your gut, whether or not you've had a bowel movement, and for women, where you are in your menstrual cycle. As you stated your period was due but didn't show (and you are confident that you're not pregnant) so my personal bet is on this as main cause.
    - 1/2 pound is an insignificant weight fluctuation anyway. See points 1 and 2.

    Oh the voice of reason. So explain that why on another thread with the same question, and to who I gave the same answer, the OP wrote "fair enough. I suppose I have become a bit relaxed towards measuring over time. Maybe a back to basics approach is needed."

    I suppose that happened from intentionally baiting?

Categories