Ok...so I went off plan for about 24 hours and this morning I stepped on the scale and gained 5 pounds? Is this possible?? I cheated for a whole week on vacation and only gained 3 and once I intook all my water, that went away. I am confused! Could it be 5 pounds of water or is chinese food THAT bad for you?? Obviously, I am back on plan today and won't be getting off track for quite some time but I am really surprised by this!
Don't worry! It's highly doubtful that you gained 5 pounds of fat in 24 hours. I haven't met anyone who can even eat that much food! That would have to be 17,500 calories on top of what your body needs to run itself.
There are a couple of reasons why the scale may be a bit higher. The first (and probable reason) is that you're retaining water. Chinese food is extremely salty, so be sure to drink lots of water to flush the sodium out of your body. I also find that if I eat fried or oily food, I get bloated. Also, depending on when you weighed after eating, you could be weighing the food and liquid that's in your stomach/digestive track. A little gross, I know, but if you think about it, a half gallon of water (or, the 64 ounces minimum we're supposed to drink) is 4 pounds.
I know for me, it usually takes about 3-4 days to see a gain if I have one, so I would just get back on track from here, drink a lot of water, and maybe exercise a little more! And don't worry, Chinese food doesn't have to be bad - I ate Chinese food twice last week, and am still doing ok with my WL. I just make sure I get something like a cup of wonton soup and then stick to chicken and veggies or chicken and broccoli. It fills me up way better than a plate of rice/appetizers/etc
Absolutely. Actually if I eat at a restaurant, I can practically guarantee a 3-6 pound scale spike the next morning----even when I make saintly choices. The sodium! But it is not fat. Drink plenty, get right back on your plan, and you will be fine.
Chinese food causes mega water retention. Just know that when you eat that food, the scale will show bloat for a couple days. So, you might have only gained 1/2 a pound of real weight, but the scale doesn't know the difference between water and tissue.
Oh yeah, EASY! That's one reason I HATE eating out now! Basically I am reconciled to the fact that if I eat out I will not lose anything that week. Mexican is my thing, and it's also pretty high in sodium if you're not careful. It's so hard to see that jump overnight! Like tera said though, it *should* be gone in a few days! I'm impressed that you're this far along on your journey and this is only the 2nd time your shocked like this! WTG!
Chinese food is EXTREMELY sodium laden. I can gain 3-5 lbs from a meal at a Chinese restaurant even if I stick within my calorie level and eat on plan.
I can't eat chinese food or pasta (even the healthest kind) I always see a gain. Even if it's a small single serving. I don't know why but my body doesn't take kindly to it. I LOVE both with a purple passion. So this is/was a hard thing for me to give up.
5 pounds in 24 hours??
