Please help I am just about ready to quit!!!

awestfall
awestfall Posts: 1,774 Member
edited September 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I have been doing this for about 2 months now and I dropped 14 pounds which is great but it seems like from week to week my weight goes up and down and it frustrates me.One Monday its down and then the following Monday its up 4 or 5 pounds so what gives.I stay within my calorie range for the day and I exercise for 90 minutes a day (cardio and strength combined)7 days a week.So what is it I am doing wrong.I want the scales to keep moving down not back up .I know this is a long process and it takes time,but it is a bit frustrating when the scale goes up and down from week to week.Also it doesn't do it all the time just a few weeks out of the month.S oI am guessing I am answering my own question that it is just TOM.My weight fluctuates 2 weeks before TOM and during TOM.Does this happen to anyone else the 2 weeks before TOM.I feeel really strange asking this lol.Please someone help and give me some ideas on what to do.And yes I do eat some of my exercise calories sometimes,and I only eat some of them when I am hungry.I don't eat them all the time because I feel like I am forcing myself to eat if I do because I am not hungry.And I can't see forcing myself to eat when I am not hungry.Does anyone else have this issue?

Replies

  • awestfall
    awestfall Posts: 1,774 Member
    I have been doing this for about 2 months now and I dropped 14 pounds which is great but it seems like from week to week my weight goes up and down and it frustrates me.One Monday its down and then the following Monday its up 4 or 5 pounds so what gives.I stay within my calorie range for the day and I exercise for 90 minutes a day (cardio and strength combined)7 days a week.So what is it I am doing wrong.I want the scales to keep moving down not back up .I know this is a long process and it takes time,but it is a bit frustrating when the scale goes up and down from week to week.Also it doesn't do it all the time just a few weeks out of the month.S oI am guessing I am answering my own question that it is just TOM.My weight fluctuates 2 weeks before TOM and during TOM.Does this happen to anyone else the 2 weeks before TOM.I feeel really strange asking this lol.Please someone help and give me some ideas on what to do.And yes I do eat some of my exercise calories sometimes,and I only eat some of them when I am hungry.I don't eat them all the time because I feel like I am forcing myself to eat if I do because I am not hungry.And I can't see forcing myself to eat when I am not hungry.Does anyone else have this issue?
  • cab2424
    cab2424 Posts: 122 Member
    I don't have an answer for you...sorry. Maybe you should eat your excercise calories, it might help everyone is different. Yes, I have the problem with the TOM, but I have an IUD right now (coming out soon) and my TOM seems to be every few days, and I typically gain 2 or 3 then lose 2 or 3 the next day.

    But don't give up! It will happen :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:
  • Jennnnnnnny
    Jennnnnnnny Posts: 373 Member
    im sure you'll do this! and hey 14 pounds is amazing! i have yet to move past 185 sadly. it keep going up and back down. thankfull i haven't gone back to the 190s.

    you will do this!!!!!
  • purpleparadox
    purpleparadox Posts: 40
    Maybe vary your exercises? Say if you're following a certain exercise dvd, try a new one, or go out to the gym or walk with ankle/wrist weights. Or go swimming- that's a great exercise, you burn 100 calories for every 15 minutes you're swimming! Spicing things up in the exercise department may be just what you need!
  • SHBoss1673
    SHBoss1673 Posts: 7,161 Member
    Well, first, see the link in my signature? Click it and read the posts in there. They might explain for you some of the problems you are perceiving. BUT, you have to realize, week to week, the body is going to fluctuate, there are lots of reasons for this, but mainly it's because of waste movement and water retension. Water is heavy, and some days the muscles soak up more water, some less. It's a complex calculation to find out exactly how much and why. But this is easier if you try to macro manage your weight loss. I.E. don't worry so much about what happens today vs tomorrow, or even this week.
    Weeks are a tiny measurment in regards to weight loss, too small to really be a true indicator. Month to month is a far better tool to judge. It's also easier to manage, and far less stressful. So if say, from Jan to Feb you lost (for example) 8 lbs, that's AWESOME. Think about it that way, if you lost 8 lbs a month for a year you would be down 96 lbs by next February! Granted, that probably won't happen because as we approach a normal BMI and Body Fat %, the amount of weight we lose goes down proportionately, but still, it's a far healthier way to think about it.

    -Best luck to you, hang in there!

    -Banks
  • hmo4
    hmo4 Posts: 1,673 Member
    Cute kids! :smooched: Yes that is the story of my life! It's very depressing. I eat all my exercise calories. There is definite fluid retention related to TOM, and ovulation I'm sure. The hormones are evil!:devil: I've even been watching my sodium intake. I know I have to eat more veggies that's one thing. I find it just varies from day to day by a few pounds and it's so upsetting. Today I'm down from last week, but up 2lbs since Monday?????Talk about mind games!!! I feel less motivated also. Some say weigh everyday, while others don't. Since I've been weighing everyday, I'm definitley having more up and down days where I just don't want to do much :sad: ...I only walked yesterday for 30 min., burning 200 cals-tha'ts not like me. :noway: But, I will continue to plug away I guess. You and I aren't the only ones feeling the frustration unfortunately. But, we do have each other. So today, I'm going to make salad, cut veggies up for veggies and dip and do a chicken and ww pasta supper. AND I am going to exercise for at least an hour!! How about you my darlin'?
  • janiebeth
    janiebeth Posts: 2,509 Member
    TOM definitely affects the weight. I see 5 pound swings regularly before and after.. Frustrating, but just one of the wonderful things about being a girl.. :grumble: :grumble:

    Another thing that tends to affect me is sodium. I don't know how your body reacts but mine seems to be very sensitive to sodium intake. I can gain several pounds after a moderate to high sodium meal - again most likely due to water gain.

    One thing I am trying is to cut out is take out food (chinese and indian are awful - mexican probably as well) and processed foods as much as possible - these are full of sodium. I find I also feel better if I am eating more whole foods (unprocessed meats, vegetables, and fruits). I also increase my water intake if I find myself eating more processed foods or take out. It isn't a cure-all, but does help to flush some of the salt and water uptake.

    Don't give up. You are on the right track, just keep reaching out. There are many other ideas out there, and it is so worth it to stay with it.

    14 pounds is awesome..

    jb
  • hmo4
    hmo4 Posts: 1,673 Member
    Well, first, see the link in my signature? Click it and read the posts in there. They might explain for you some of the problems you are perceiving. BUT, you have to realize, week to week, the body is going to fluctuate, there are lots of reasons for this, but mainly it's because of waste movement and water retension. Water is heavy, and some days the muscles soak up more water, some less. It's a complex calculation to find out exactly how much and why. But this is easier if you try to macro manage your weight loss. I.E. don't worry so much about what happens today vs tomorrow, or even this week.
    Weeks are a tiny measurment in regards to weight loss, too small to really be a true indicator. Month to month is a far better tool to judge. It's also easier to manage, and far less stressful. So if say, from Jan to Feb you lost (for example) 8 lbs, that's AWESOME. Think about it that way, if you lost 8 lbs a month for a year you would be down 96 lbs by next February! Granted, that probably won't happen because as we approach a normal BMI and Body Fat %, the amount of weight we lose goes down proportionately, but still, it's a far healthier way to think about it.

    -Best luck to you, hang in there!

    -Banks

    Thanks Banksi! See you're trying to GAIN weight! Hmmm, I think we've all got some good suggestions for ya!:laugh:
  • awestfall
    awestfall Posts: 1,774 Member
    I am definitely going to do my 90 minutes of cardio today and not worry about this 4 pound gain.It will go away I just know it.I can't give up now I just can't I have come to far to let 4 stupid pounds hold me back from losing more weight.So I am going to get up and exercise and watch what things I eat today.Thanks guys its good to know I am not alone.
  • SHBoss1673
    SHBoss1673 Posts: 7,161 Member
    Thanks Banksi! See you're trying to GAIN weight! Hmmm, I think we've all got some good suggestions for ya!:laugh:

    HA! Don't let that fool ya. Before I wanted to gain, I had to lose 54 lbs. Which I did. And let me tell all of you out there that think I'm "lucky". Gaining weight the healthy way is FAR harder (for me at least) then losing weight healthy. It's a lot easier to eat less then your maintenance and stay healthy, then to try to figure out how to eat healthy for 3000 calories a day AND split it up into the right proportions of nutrients and calorie sizes through the day, AND work a normal job, AND have a wife that is still on the other spectrum (losing).

    All the principles are the same either way, it's just that now I have to deal with an industry (generally body building), that is frought with lies, myths, and very little in the way of actual science. Not many doctors out there do case studies on GAINING 20 lbs of muscle. Most are looking at trying to lose weight. And 1/2 the body builders and weight lifters out there are plucking methods right out of the sky without any theory or evidence. It's pretty crazy.
  • clk238
    clk238 Posts: 48 Member
    yes- DEFinitely keep it up! everyone has lots of up and down 2,3,4, even 5 lb fluctuations, you can't let it get you down. One thing I do recommend is changing it up! stick with the 90 mins/day- strength+ cardio, it's definitely working, but give your body a jolt by doing something a little bit different. go to a class instead of being on the tradmill for 60 mins, or bike, or elliptical. you will notice different muscles getting worked, and it can wake your body up from a "funk". Also, it will be more fun!
  • Sara31
    Sara31 Posts: 10
    Congrats on the weight loss!! Maybe instead of checking the scale, you check your measurments...inches lost, how well your clothes fit, and if you get into that pair of jeans that has been sitting in your closet! If you are doing as well as you say you are in excercise, maybe the weight gain could be attributed to some muscle gain. There are so many factors that can cause weight fluctuation, especially as a female! Keep drinking lots of water, especially at that TOM! Good luck with everything!
  • christahollis
    christahollis Posts: 152
    You're completely normal. A woman, and your body behaves differently based on your hormonal changes in the month. Totally normal. In the weeks before your period, and even during your period...your body retains more fluid just in case you become preggers. Some women retain a little more at this time than others, that's normal too.
    Stop stressing so much, and if the fluctuations drive you totally nuts, try weighing yourself only one a month...after your period.
  • singfree
    singfree Posts: 1,591 Member
    I agree that water retention might be the problem. Monitor your daily sodium intake carefully. This may sound silly, but continue to hydrate as much as possible to flush the waste out of your system. Since you are also doing strength training, the scale weight might not fall as quickly as you would like. You as getting stronger and adding some muscle. This is GOOD! If your clothes are fitting looser and there is little scale loss, don't worry, as this is completely normal for a person who is becoming FIT and HEALTHY! Keep going!
  • awestfall
    awestfall Posts: 1,774 Member
    Thanks guys all of this info has really helped and I am not giving up on me yet.I guess I just needed to vent a bit.And I am definitely going to keep boosting my exercise daily.Today I am doing 120 minutes of cardio.It just make me feel so good to exercise now that I do it all the time.And Sara yes I did think it could be muscle too as much as I exercise daily.So that is a possiblity!!Thanks again everyone!!:smooched:
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