Stalling-sudden-drop phenomenon
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mommarnurse
Posts: 515 Member
So, I've been losing since 11 months ago. I've lost 55lbs so far (equals out to 1.25lbs a week) which, for the first 6 months was pretty steady and predictable. However, my loss since then has been something like this: stall at same weight for up to a month then sudden loss of 3 lbs in a day or two. Lose a couple more lb over the next week, then stall again for 2 weeks or more. The only coinciding factor I've managed to deduce is that when that started happening, I also sarted integrating a lot of strength training (not just cardio).
Does this happen to anyone else? It's frustrating to not understand the physiology of it and the internet has not sourced me an answer.
Does this happen to anyone else? It's frustrating to not understand the physiology of it and the internet has not sourced me an answer.
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Replies
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It really messes with your mind, doesn't it? I wonder if it's because our bodies just do not want to give up the weight. Or maybe it's some water conversion increased muscle mass combo thing going on. Water molecules somehow are attatched to muscle.0
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It's common, just about everyone who monitors closely observes it. It seems to be variations in water retention as the body uses fat stores. It's commonly called a "whoosh" by people who observe it.0
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I read that this might have something to do with the use of glycogen. For every gram of glycogen, your body holds three grams of water. When your glycogen levels drop, your weight drops quickly. As they rebuild, your weight climbs or stalls.0
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What I find strange is when the scale doesn't move for 2+ weeks but you lose a pants size. And then 2-3 pounds fall off as described above with NO change in clothing or appearance.
also, when I started strength training, I actually gained water weight and hung onto it for a while.0 -
Not to be pedantic but I've always seen 4g water to g glycogen
But yes OP ...stall then whoosh is pretty common
http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/of-whooshes-and-squishy-fat.html/
I'm not sure this is how it works in reality but it's a nice graphic
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barbecuesauce wrote: »What I find strange is when the scale doesn't move for 2+ weeks but you lose a pants size. And then 2-3 pounds fall off as described above with NO change in clothing or appearance.
also, when I started strength training, I actually gained water weight and hung onto it for a while.
Muscle repair0 -
barbecuesauce wrote: »What I find strange is when the scale doesn't move for 2+ weeks but you lose a pants size. And then 2-3 pounds fall off as described above with NO change in clothing or appearance.
It really IS wierd isn't it? I hate that it does this to me too.
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Me too. And yes, it messes with your mind until you get used to it.0
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Not to be pedantic but I've always seen 4g water to g glycogen
But yes OP ...stall then whoosh is pretty common
http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/of-whooshes-and-squishy-fat.html/
I'm not sure this is how it works in reality but it's a nice graphic
Love this. Thank you for posting.0 -
This is the way I lose weight. No more then a pound a week. Then I will stall for 2-3 weeks followed by a sudden weight loss of 3-4 pounds.0
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I recently moved into a cycle of stall and whoosh that takes about 2 weeks. I wondered if it was because of the erratic spring weather with a few warm days, then a few cold days. I always tend to retain a little extra water when it is warm out. Whatever the cause, my monthly loss totals are still close to my "normal" pattern.0
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barbecuesauce wrote: »What I find strange is when the scale doesn't move for 2+ weeks but you lose a pants size. And then 2-3 pounds fall off as described above with NO change in clothing or appearance.
also, when I started strength training, I actually gained water weight and hung onto it for a while.
Muscle repair
I know, I should have finished my sentence to point out that OP is correct to tie her stall in with strength training.0 -
barbecuesauce wrote: »What I find strange is when the scale doesn't move for 2+ weeks but you lose a pants size. And then 2-3 pounds fall off as described above with NO change in clothing or appearance.
also, when I started strength training, I actually gained water weight and hung onto it for a while.
Yes! So true. (Or you notice an obvious change in some body shape, somewhere in your body but the scale doesn't match)
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This started happening to me about the time I really got serious about running and strength training. When I was sedentary (but simply limiting intake), I would lose 1-1.5 lbs. per week like clockwork. Once I started getting really fit, I'd fluctuate from my base weight upwards to 3 lbs. or so and then finally, one day it would be gone. Strange phenomenon, but there's definitely something to it! (I'm due for a whoosh soon!)0
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Not to be pedantic but I've always seen 4g water to g glycogen
But yes OP ...stall then whoosh is pretty common
http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/of-whooshes-and-squishy-fat.html/
I'm not sure this is how it works in reality but it's a nice graphic
Interesting. Thank you for that link!0 -
This started happening to me about the time I really got serious about running and strength training. When I was sedentary (but simply limiting intake), I would lose 1-1.5 lbs. per week like clockwork. Once I started getting really fit, I'd fluctuate from my base weight upwards to 3 lbs. or so and then finally, one day it would be gone. Strange phenomenon, but there's definitely something to it! (I'm due for a whoosh soon!)
Lol. I sure hope I'm due for a whoosh soon, too. I just tell myself that it's physiologically impossibly to have a consistent caloric deficit and stay at the same weight forever. But its so frustrating to bust your butt for weeks and see no change on the scale.0 -
I have the same thing, but it correlates to my monthly cycle. I generally lose 5lbs the first 2 weeks of my cycle. Then from ovulation to period, I fluctuate 2-3lbs above my lowest weight. Once my period starts I quickly go down 7-8lbs (2-3# above my last recorded low plus an additional 5ish).0
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I have the same thing, but it correlates to my monthly cycle. I generally lose 5lbs the first 2 weeks of my cycle. Then from ovulation to period, I fluctuate 2-3lbs above my lowest weight. Once my period starts I quickly go down 7-8lbs (2-3# above my last recorded low plus an additional 5ish).
I'm going to start to record closer and see If it's related.0 -
It's was like this for me the two other times I got fat after having babies. Lost every pound gained in six weeks, with none of it in the first two and most of it in the last two. It worsened after I quit smoking in 2004 and actually gained serious weight. I've been losing and gaining ever since. I get discouraged and give up, gain another ten pounds, get mad and start killing myself, don't lose anything for weeks, then in a few weeks lose 15 pounds. Tell myself, okay, that was easy, then stop trying. Then gain 20 pounds. And the beat goes on.
This time, I'm not stopping. I might stall a few times, but not stopping. Thank you MFP and all my friends here.0
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