[** Stacye **]

Hey y'all ... I posted this on the support thread ... but I thought I'd post it here too - hope y'all don't mind.

I've GAINED 10 lbs over the last 2 weeks and I just can't figure out what I'm doing or not doing!

Backing up 2 weeks ago ... My DH & I have a business and I decided that I wanted to start working out in the field (land surveying) b/c I thought it would be good exercise and that it would also help with my continued weightloss - for the 1st couple of days everything was fine, I lost 2 lbs - just like that! But now I seem to be gaining at a rate of almost A POUND A DAY!!

WTH? I'm more active than I've been in 20 yrs ... how can this be happening?

Anyone have any ideas??


** ETA ** :: A brief background ... I've bounced back and forth between 'Counting Calories' and 'Portion Control' ... During this time that I've been gaining I haven't really changed what I've been eating ... Could this be the problem? Since I'm more active should I decrease or increase my intake? Sorry so many Q's, but I've never fully understood the whole 'in & out' thing ... Maybe that's what I need, a 'Dummies Guide' so that I'll know what I'm doing!

I'm just so frustrated and that scares me just as much as gaining back the weight.

[chick_in_the_hat]

Hi Stacye

Lemme start with - holy guacamole! Good for you on the almost 80 freaking pounds lost!! You are obviously doing something right!!! Your pics are stunning!

As for the weight gain - maybe sodium? Do you track your calories by writing it down in Fitday or Nutridiary? It's hard to tell what's different if we can't see what you are eating...is it possible you are hungrier because of the exercise and eating more?
While it is kinda freaky that you've gained so much out of the blue....it could just be a normal body fluctuation...it happens.
Maybe it's time to lessen your calories because you are getting smaller and need less calories to get through the day?
I'm just tossing out ideas.
Hang in there girl!!! You ARE doing great - your body will catch up, soon.

[KriWes]

A few thoughts...if you're more active you *will* need more calories but if you're not counting your body may be asking for more food so you're grabbing a handful of this here and a biteful of that there and that is what adds up pretty quickly. My only advice is that if you're not already doing so start food journalling. Also, if you're more active during the day maybe you've cut out some of the "extra" exercise you regularly do which may be the reason??? Just a stab in the dark anyway. Don't freak out too much about the scale though because remember it does lie, it's nearly impossible to have actually gained that much fat in 2 weeks because remember for 3500 calories equaling a pound that would be 35000 excess calories in a couple weeks. That would be quite the feat. Unless you're living on McDonald's there's a good chance this is water weight.

If you're more active remember that you need to drink more water. Otherwise your body will hold on to every little bit of fluid you take in because it doesn't know when more is coming and you will see that reflected on the the scale.

I'm rambling so I will summarize my 3 top pieces of advice

1. Food Journal
2. Drink more water and prepare healthy, convenient snacks for when you're out working
3. Stop weighing yourself for a bit. Start using the measuring tape and your clothes size as a guidelines. If your clothes still fit great you probably have nothing to worry about.

I hope some of this helped. Keep on trucking, you're doing great.

[hockeyfan7]

Stacye, how many calories are you consuming in a day? Are you exercising regularly?

[** Stacye **]

THANKS to all of you for your advice and support!

I knew that there had to be a logical explaination and that I couldn't have actually gained 10 lbs of fat back in 2 wks - but when I was trying everything and the only thing that I was seeing where pounds adding up on the scale ... I started to panic. *But* we're all good now b/c since my original post I've dropped 8 lbs ... OF FLUID! LoL

I'm now 100% sure that it's been nothing more than water retention ... While I've been working outside I've not been drinking nearly enough water and my body's been reserving everything it's gotten ahold of ...
"Lesson Learned" ... For the last 4 days I've had no less than 80 ounces of water ... I'm happy about that and body seems to be happy too!

Gina :: Hoorah ~ Right back at ya girlie ... You're doing incredible!

Kristi :: You were so right about the water! I keep a list on the fridge that keeps up with every bottle of water that I grab during the day ... I was logging them when I got home but wasn't really paying careful enough attention to them, once I went back and looked - that's when I noticed that I was hardly getting what I needed.

Susan :: You too ... WoW - Mega Congrats to you on your success!


Thanks again ladies ... and Congrats to you all for your amazing success!

[hockeyfan7]

Wow Stacye -- did you just add your pictures or did I just miss them the first time around? You look fantastic! You have done a great job. You should be very proud of yourself.

[** Stacye **]

Aww Thank ya Susan ... the pics have been there Speaking of pics - I tried looking at yours the other day but they're so small ... I *can* tell the difference, but I was wondering if you have them posted somewhere?

[ckatgo]

I don't have a comment (I will leave that to the experts here...) but you look fantastic!