GAINED 7 pounds in ONE week. *throws fit*

cepark137
cepark137 Posts: 27
edited November 10 in Health and Weight Loss
Shall I make my explanations or simply thump myself on the back of the head?

Last week was TOM. So, I typically skip working out 3 or 4 days. I also wasn't as religious about counting calories as I have been, but I can tell you I never went over 2,000 calories a day.

Then on Friday, I went to the doctor to have a cyst on my neck looked at, which wound up requiring out-patient surgery/stitches. I was told to "cool it" on anything strenuous lest I pop my sutures, so that has meant no exercise since LAST Monday.

I'm feeling incredibly guilty about not keeping up with my routine, even though I KNOW it's 'Doctor's Orders'. That said, I stepped on the scale this morning just to "see" how bad things were, and I was UP -- SEVEN POUNDS.

Can I really have gained 7 pounds?!? I had FINALLY hit one "mini" goal of -50 pounds, and all of a sudden I'm up 7 and freaking out that I am headed for disaster.

I'm just pissed off, frustrated, mad at myself, ready to scream and cry and pitch an unholy fit over this.

Any advice for someone who is DESPERATE to get under 200 pounds by May 10, and had ONLY 35 pounds to go as of Jan 31, and now have 42 pounds to go, and half the month of Feb is gone???!!!

Ugh, I just wanna start cutting the fat off with a machete.
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Replies

  • ishallnotwant
    ishallnotwant Posts: 1,210 Member
    It's most likely a lot of water weight. Unless you ate a HUGE amount of cals in one week you wouldn't have gained 7 pounds of fat. Hop back on the wagon today and make sure to drink a lot of water to flush out your body. :flowerforyou:
  • chatterbox3110
    chatterbox3110 Posts: 630 Member
    Agree, its probably due to water, you haven't been very active this week.

    The most important thing is NOT to give up, we all have little set-backs from time to time - keep at it and I'm sure the scales will be kinder to you next week.
  • bugs5697
    bugs5697 Posts: 85
    It's most likely a lot of water weight. Unless you ate a HUGE amount of cals in one week you wouldn't have gained 7 pounds of fat. Hop back on the wagon today and make sure to drink a lot of water to flush out your body. :flowerforyou:


    ^^^^
    Yes, this.
  • fionarama
    fionarama Posts: 788 Member
    why would you skip working out just because its TOM?

    Anyway. Don't beat yourself up about it. It happens . Pick yourself up tomorrows a new day!
  • kathyc609
    kathyc609 Posts: 258 Member
    you would have had to eat over 24,000 more than you burned last week to have that much of an actual weight gain. its water and it will be gone as quick as it came. : ) hope your feeling better soon.
  • MMarvelous
    MMarvelous Posts: 1,067 Member
    Well to make you feel better. A year ago I started MFP. I lost 2 pounds since last week's weigh and guess what? I am still not down to the weight I was when I started last year...All you can do is live, learn, eat smart and work out! LOL It is probably just water weight. Have you been monitoring your sodium intake?
  • Ms_Cindyrella
    Ms_Cindyrella Posts: 61 Member
    I agree with everyone else.. water gain.
    Just pick yourself up off the floor and keep on going.
    You will see a loss next week or your next weigh in.

    My doctor told me toss the scale, let your clothes let you know how your doing.
  • brushe
    brushe Posts: 181 Member
    It's happened to me before. Took this past weekend off and spiked my diet for two days while on a weekend getaway. My weight got up to 210 this past Sunday night. By Wednesday morning after two solid days of watching what I ate and working out I weighed 198.6 this morning. Get back on the wagon and you'll be good.
  • ndlakebum
    ndlakebum Posts: 20
    Is it a different scale than the one you usually use? Your weight can vary from scale to scale. You're still doing great, just get back on track! Keep it up!
  • technicalman
    technicalman Posts: 23 Member
    7 pounds. 3000 cals per lb, that's 21000
    you said you ate 2000 / day.
    Doing nothing burns 1800 per day.
    to gain 7 lbs, you would have to eat 1800 *7 + 21000.

    I think you're retaining fluids or haveen't dumped one.

    You're ok, just keep on keeping on. :)
  • ishallnotwant
    ishallnotwant Posts: 1,210 Member
    why would you skip working out just because its TOM?


    I do. I have really heavy cycles and I struggle with chronic anemia. It makes me really tired and shaky, and my heart races just trying to walk up one flight of stairs. (doesn't help that I have a heart problem and asthma on top of it lol. I'm falling apart.) I normally only take one day off per week but that week I take off whatever day I need to so I don't wear my body out. :flowerforyou:
  • abigailrschwartz
    abigailrschwartz Posts: 14 Member

    I think you're retaining fluids or haveen't dumped one.



    Haha, agreed. Everyone goes through that kind of stuff once in a while. Don't give up! I wouldn't be surprised if you weighed yourself a day after that to see you had lost a significant amount of that.
  • kayms13
    kayms13 Posts: 47 Member
    Doesn't that just piss you off when you work so hard, and the weight appears to come back so quickly? But I agree with the others that it's likely fluid retention. Get back on track, and hopefully next week will bring better news :smile:
  • Zee48
    Zee48 Posts: 789 Member
    :flowerforyou: As soon as you get your doctors release to restart your exercise program do so - but not until. Continue eating properly just like you have been while losing and any quick weight gain will come back off. There could be any number of explanations for the quick weight gain but normally quick weight gains don't last and will quickly come back off as soon as we get back on track.
  • MyaPapaya75
    MyaPapaya75 Posts: 3,143 Member
    I thinks its possible you did gain..because you werent keeping track of things...despite the not being able to workout you needed to at least stay within your caloric goal to lose weight...surely 2000 cals isnt the amount for weight loss with no exercise?..I dont know your weight etc but if you were consistently over and not working out then this happens....try to at least count your cals and stay accountable..you CAN lose this 7 its not a major setback...good luck..when u have TOM try to at least get a walk in ...unless your a bed bound TOM person
  • 2bFitNTrim
    2bFitNTrim Posts: 1,209 Member
    I echo what has already been posted above: probably a bit of fluid retention, most of us have been there/done that, etc. I would recommend, however, that when you cannot exercise, that you are diligent about counting your calories. You said you weren't religious about counting your calories, but when you can't exercise, it's even more important to watch those calories than before.

    But whatever you do, try not to beat yourself up about it. For most of us, going up & down is part of the process. Just keep going & don't give up. :flowerforyou:
  • Jessamine
    Jessamine Posts: 226 Member
    *hugs*

    It was TOM for me last week and I skimped on exercising, too. I've been up 5 pounds this week once I finally got back on the scale again. *sigh*
  • yuckidah
    yuckidah Posts: 290 Member
    Don't worry - I never went over 1200 and also gained 7! Where's the fairness in THAT?!?! lol
  • sobriquet84
    sobriquet84 Posts: 607 Member
    Personally, when my activity is low, I keep the carbs low. That staves off any weight gain. Carbohydrates are for energy. If you are not expending much energy, you do not need a lot of carbs. A calorie is NOT just a calorie. Was your sugar /starch/salt intake high?

    But, I wouldn't worry about it too much. I had to travel for a week for work a couple weeks ago and I gained 3 pounds according to the scale. Within 3 days of eating clean and nixing all uneccessary sugar/starch/salt/bad fat, it was gone.
  • SueInAz
    SueInAz Posts: 6,592 Member
    The only explanation for that much weight gain that fast is water retention. I've been having issues with it and recently had gained 10 pounds in under a week. My ankles, feet, calves and fingers all showed the gain. The doctor prescribed diuretics (which I'm still on) and I dropped all 10 pounds in 3 days.

    One suggestion is to really watch your sodium and potassium intake. Lots of sodium, and too little potassium, will cause your body to retain water. Hormones also play a factor (my issue) which is why we usually gain a couple of pounds around TOM. I can usually tell when my weight gain is water by looking at my ankles and fingers first. My rings get tight and my ankle bones aren't as pronounced when I retain water.
  • denalc
    denalc Posts: 4
    Becoming frustrated and angry with ourselves for one bad week is how we utlimately never achieve our weightloss goals. Don't give into the guilt, we all have times when it's necessary to rest and not participate in our diet routines like we would like to. Today is a new day go forward from today with the attitude that you will lose the weight and exercise and don't worry about yesterday. Best of luck to you.
  • cepark137
    cepark137 Posts: 27
    why would you skip working out just because its TOM?

    I usually skip my 2-3 heaviest days and they're uncomfortable, and quite frankly, messy. I know, TMI, but the question was asked.

    :)
  • iSpeakLife
    iSpeakLife Posts: 104 Member
    Girl, TRUST TOM will throw your whole body off!! Just don't weigh in for that week at ALL (I typically do the week after TOM to make sure all my water is GONE - lol)

    Don't stop working out, but instead of doing intense cardio, try walking around the track or outside. Still get some type of physical activity in, maybe yoga or pilates but do not stop.

    Lastly, your "mini" victory is not "mini" - it's huge! 50 pounds is A LOT OF weight!! Don't just watch the number of calories, watch what TYPE of calories you're eating as well. A huge salad is STILL better than a double cheeseburger (like i typically do, lol i love those things!) but your body will respond differently to better food.

    Stay encouraged - you can do it!
  • cepark137
    cepark137 Posts: 27
    Thanks for the comfort and advice, folks!

    My husband was convinced it was water retention, too.

    I'm gonna save weighing in for doctor visit's only, I think. The scale can make you crazy!

    And I agree that I should at least WALK when I'm otherwise unable to do a rigorous workout. I'll be doing that from now on.

    I know, I should've been counting calories, but I guess between TOM, Valentine's Day (chocolate!) and generally feeling icky I gave in to feeling sorry for myself.

    I gotta let these feelings HAPPEN -- acknowledge them and then get back to business, I guess. Easier said than done!
  • tsartwork
    tsartwork Posts: 2 Member
    The key is to not get defeated when you have a set back and always keep moving forward. That was my problem for many years, I would get frustrated punish myself and give up. I finally got to the weight I wanted to this year because every set back made me that much more deteremined to move forward. Weight loss does not come over night, it comes off over time and could take 6 months to a year. If we have realistic goals in our heads and stop thinking we will be skinny in a couple of months, continue to eat healthy, we become a success stories.
  • ArroganceInStep
    ArroganceInStep Posts: 6,239 Member
    I gained 5 lbs in a weekend once.

    Rick James was wrong, cheap beer in college is a helluva drug.

    Pick yourself up! Everyone stutters from time to time, can't be avoided.
  • tistal
    tistal Posts: 869 Member
    I lost 3lbs during my TOM week!

    Chug 100oz of water a day, watch your food and reweigh in a few days, I bed it goes back down some!

    Hope you get to feeling better!
  • bluefox9er
    bluefox9er Posts: 2,917 Member
    unless you have over eaten every single day by a TON, then the gain is down to something else. instead of the scales, pay more attention to how your clothes fit! scales only tell a small part of the story. stick at it!
  • Cntewell
    Cntewell Posts: 35
    Happens to me every month I gain between 5 to 7 pounds. You should let your clothes be your guide more than a number on a scale. That being said, the doctor said no strenous activity. It is my opinion that a walk after work or during lunch would not be considered strenous and it would get you moving.

    WATER WATER WATER is also need to flush the system.

    Hope that helps.
  • MB_Positif
    MB_Positif Posts: 8,897 Member
    Your situation with the doctor visit definitely threw a wrench in things, but I am also curious as to why you don't work out when you have your period. Unless you have such horrible cramps you can't get out of bed or a tampon/pad combo isn't enough to plug up the faucet, you can absolutely still exercise.
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