Hey, everyone!

Although I am working like heck to lose my all-or-nothing/can't-happen-soon-enough mindset, old habits are hard to break. Fortunately, since joining this forum, I have been more successful than ever at sticking to my plan (thank you, May Points Challenge).

OK, here comes the whiny part...For the past three weeks, I have been completely 100% faithful and virtuous, dietwise. I have stayed totally o.p. with regards to food choices, exercised (in some form) everyday and have drastically increased my water intake (from virtually none to at least 64 oz daily). For the first two weeks, everything was going well - the numbers on the scale were definitely decreasing. Then, suddenly, for the past four days, they have been STEADILY INCREASING!!!! In fact, when I compare what I saw on the ($*@&#* scale this morning with Monday's weigh-in numbers, I'm up almost 2 lb. (sometimes I curse my oh, so accurate digital scale!). I know this is not significant in the long run, but it's really getting to me. Staying the same, OK, but gaining? Oi...

My wonderful and supportive husband, bless his heart, swears that I am simply gaining muscle. I have not noticed a difference (I know it's only been a short time). I am also not doing any kind of weight training - I alternate Curves and a walking workout each day. I am skeptical that my gain can be attributed to muscle - wouldn't I notice it somewhere on my body?

Thank goodness I have a panel of experts to rely on (don't tell my husband, please ). Has anyone else had a similar experience? Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance for your input. You ladies are the best!

~Laura

Hi LVM. Breathe ...... breathe ..... breathe.

Good. I know all to well just how frustrating that scale can be. It does take months to build muscle, so that's probably not the case with you at this point. But what most likely is the case is that it is a perfectly normal water fluctuation. So, so, so many weeks throughout my journey I have seen up to a 2lb gain throughout any given week. At first I was crazed. I like you had stayed faithfully on plan, food and exericse wise. I have since come to realize that this is perfectly normal. I do weigh every day, but I only count and record it on Mondays. Funny enough I usually hit my new low on Monday, then come Wednesday it sometimes creeps up and by Friday or even Sunday, it's usually headed back down and then come Monday again, I've got me a new low. It's perfectly normal. I told myself a while back that I was only going to weigh once a week due to this, but I just couldn't hold to it. But now I'm really, really okay with seeing the rise, because I know if I DO stick to plan that there is no way on earth that I have gained 2 lbs of FAT, not water, but FAT in a day or 2. So please don't fret. It's perfectly normal and it's not FAT. The good thing is if that you stay on plan, when that water weight disappears (and it will), you will be back down to your original low weight and probably go even lower.

You will eventually lose the weight. I stayed the same weight for over one month. I came here and vented. Then I went from 1200 calories to 1300 -1400 calories. I lost 4 lbs the next week, then 3 lbs, now 5 lbs.
Make sure you are measuring your food or counting calories. You need to be accurate with your portions. I know for myself if I guess, it doesn't work. Those calories add up when I don't count them correctly.

Hi Laura,

I have a real love/hate relationship with those stupid scales! Sometimes, they treat me nice and sometimes they are just so mean! The scales are not a reliable measurement of your success as they do tend to fluctuate...a lot! Are you measuring? I've found that a quick reminder of my inches lost can help me overcome the disappointment of the scales. Also, you may be one of us that needs to weigh less often if the fluctuations of the scales make your weight loss journey get rocky.

The wonderful scale, isn't it a joy? I have been staying on target for exercise, eating and until today the scale didn't move, I felt really bad. Could you be retaining water? This is just an idea, I am not an expert, When I am going through Pms I gain a few pounds and then will loose them again. Also I have read that when you are in a slump you can increase, or change your exercise plan. This may help the #'s go down again.
I am sure before long the #'s will be going inthe right direction.
Cheryl