Weight fluctuation!! ARGGHH

[Jenn]

Ok, so they changes in eating habits, that my father worked great the frist 3 weeks. I lost 11 lbs YEAH!!!
I rode my butt off this weeknd and have been spinning everyday. I even had the fortunate opportunity to go out and ride this morning and did 22 miles and felt great. I only weigh myself on Monday's so....first thing I got up and I'm back UP 4 freaking lbs. I'm so annoyed. I've been living on fresh fruit, vegetables, white fish, chicken breast, not salt no NOTHING. Eat every 2.5 hours with protein shakes in between.....oh I'm so ticked, what is the deal!!

[Blueberry]

Muscle? How are your clothes fitting??

It's frustrating, I know. Sometimes I don't quite believe "calorie math" - or else my body decides to be really efficient sometimes....

CA

[Jenn]

That is the ONLY thing that is helping me from throwing the scale OUT the window, is the fact that my clothes are definately loser in the waist and hips but my jeans are a little snugger in my legs but I don't mind that!!
People that haven't seen me all want to know what I'm doing because they say I look great...I just HATE that darn scale, I think I'm just going to stay away from it now on. I'm really thinking about going to the gym and getting a body fat percentage done.

[Kano]

I remember losing for three weeks and then the fourth being up -- could be it's that woman thing.....

FWIW, I always hate that too.

(right now, I'm mostly stuck and happy with having stopped the gain -- I'll take whatever I can get lately!)

Karen in Boise

[Zen]

Throw the scale out the window or for some real fun, put it in the road and watch it get run over.
Don't get hung up on the numbers. Are you trying to make weight for the wrestling team?

[indysteel]

I don't have any specific advice for you other than to keep at it--in moderation. Eleven pounds in 3 weeks sounds like a lot and suggests to me that you actually aren't eating enough. If you deprive yourself too much, you'll trick you metabolism into slowing down, obviously not want you want to do. Remember, too, that you need both salt and carbs to exercise. Fruits and veggies can help with "regularity," but are you getting enough fiber? God knows getting "backed up" can make the scale go up.

[velogirl]

11 pounds in three weeks is not healthy weight-loss. Anything more than 2-3 pounds a week is dangerous -- it can affect your metabolism and your body will begin to catabolize your muscle.

Given what you ate (very few dense carbs) I'm pretty certain that your body is in glycogen deficit and that some of your initial weight-loss is due to a lack of water in your muscles.

Try to be patient with the process. We should train (and lose weight) for life, not a short-term goal. Remember, none of us gained unwanted pounds overnight and none of us will lose them overnight either.

Also remember that we experience cyclical fluctuatins in our weight from day to day and within the day. This can be attributed to water weight (ie how much water we're storing in our muscles along with glycogen).

[Jenn]

11 pounds in three weeks is not healthy weight-loss. Anything more than 2-3 pounds a week is dangerous -- it can affect your metabolism and your body will begin to catabolize your muscle.

Given what you ate (very few dense carbs) I'm pretty certain that your body is in glycogen deficit and that some of your initial weight-loss is due to a lack of water in your muscles.

Try to be patient with the process. We should train (and lose weight) for life, not a short-term goal. Remember, none of us gained unwanted pounds overnight and none of us will lose them overnight either.

Also remember that we experience cyclical fluctuatins in our weight from day to day and within the day. This can be attributed to water weight (ie how much water we're storing in our muscles along with glycogen).

Thank you for the input, and trust me I felt it in my rides. I'm not looking for a fast result,I'm looking for a lifestyle change, and it's just my father is a bodybuilder so he gave me his starting regiment, which obviously is based around anerobic (sp?) activity not aerobic. I 've added more fruits and carbs and am not getting on the scale because I see and feel it in my clothes, not to mention feel my strength on the bike. Your website is such an inspiration!!!
Thanks again
Jenn

[ace]

Hiya Jenn,

I feel for you. As a veteran of the weight loss wars, my advice would be to act like it didn't happen. Just one blip on a long trend of weight loss for you. Sometimes after having a few "good" weeks, your body just gets pissy and your weight will go up. Hang on and wait until next week- you'll get there. Do not lose heart

Your sister in struggle,
Ace

[kelownagirl]

You can gain and lose 2-4 lbs easily just by being well-hydrated or dehydrated, or by being a little "sluggish" in the elimination department.

I often find I am down if I weigh myself on a Saturday morning but it's usually because I've had a few glasses of wine on Friday night. Even just 3 glasses can dehydrate me enough to lose 1-2 lbs.

Anyway, I agree with everyone else. Weight loss / change in diet and exercise - takes time. You gain muscle/weight, you lose fat/weight. Focus on how you feel and how you look. Use the scale for interest but try not to freak about it.

[Jenn]

Thank you all for the encouraging words. I'm feeling better, and was able to get into a pair of shorts that I bought 4 years ago, PRE baby, so I am VERY pleased. So, needless to say, the scale is no longer a resident of our household.

[Bikingmomof3]

Jenn,

Everyone has given you excellent advice.

In the beginning I had to literally remove my scale. I was becoming obsessed with the numbers, which is not healthy (or it was not for me).

Short story, I lost a lot of weight, inches, and gained muscle over a long period of time. I am a mom to three boys (I gained a lot of pregnancy weight and spent 5 months on hospital bedrest with the twins' pregnancy). I shed 70 pounds, 67 1/4" overall, and my body fat is normal and healthy. My resting heart rate (not waking, just sitting) is 50 and my BP is low. I did it all through lifestyle change, hard work (I workout daily at home, I am not a gym person) and patience. And yes, I still eat desserts.

Our bodies fluctuate all the time. You mention following the advice of your bodybuilding father? Are you trying to build muscle? Lean muscle? Fat loss? All of the above?

What works for one person may not work for the next person. Also, as you most likely know our bodies rapidly get accustom to a program we we occassionally need to shake things up.

In the end, I trust my measurements and overall how I look and feel.
Take the regime you were given, then tailor it to fit your body's needs.

Just my opinion, take it for whatever it is or is not worth.

Be kind to yourself, have patience, and you will get to where you want to be.

[Bikingmomof3]

You can gain and lose 2-4 lbs easily just by being well-hydrated or dehydrated, or by being a little "sluggish" in the elimination department.

KG-I think I am part camel. I held in 6, yes 6 (not a Jen typo ) pounds of water. I had a small freak out then the next day it was normal again.

[han-grrl]

I agree with everyone here:

your weight can fluctuate about 6 lbs from one day to the next, simply from water absorption.

glycogen (stored carbs) storage also comes with water absorption. So when you deplete glycogen stores with a reduced carb diet, you lose, water weight. Because you are depleted, any time you eat carbs again, your body will absorb them like crazy (along with water).

Go by the way you feel, how clothing fits, etc rather than only look at the scale.

If you have low energy levels since you changed your eating habits, you need to take a good look at your nutrition.

Smile
Hannah

[spokewench]

Be careful with depriving your body of carbs and food like Velo Girl says. Her advice is excellent!

Every once in a while, I get really busy and my body tells me that I haven't eaten enough!

For instance, this week I was late getting home almost every night for one reason or other,

Monday, I played tennis at 6:00 so just ate a light dinner when I got home at 7:30;
Tuesday, I had to go on a trip for work so did not get home till 7:00 - had 15 minutes to change and get a bite (a tiny bit of macaroni and cheese leftover) before I went to go see my hubby play his drums.
Wednesday, I ate regularly, but not a whole lot
Thursday, I had a bowl of cereal, a small piece of pizza for lunch; and went to play tennis for 3 hours after work.

Oh, my god, I was sooooo hungry! I went out and ate a whole burrito last night and this morning had a cheese, egg and green chile burrito with a bunch of watermelon! I'm finally feeling like I'm catching up!

I'm telling this story, cause if you are trying to lose weight when you go into calorie deficit your body will YELL for food - so be careful to fuel yourself enough for your daily activity.

spoke