I weigh every 1-2 days, depending on if I remember 1st thing in the morning.
I've noticed that once I see my "newl lowest number", I only see it once then it disappears for days or even weeks, depending. I stay on-plan, so I'm not gaining b/c of that. I'll go up 1-3 pounds and hover there.
When I see that fleeting low number again finally, I know that within a few days i will see a new "all-time low" and then it will start all over again.
I pretend it is my body enticing me to hold that lower weight!
I get "whooshes" of weight loss too. Mine is a little different. I'm a vegetarian and 20 years old and I don't have the time to exercise regularly. I plateau for about 4-6 months at a time, and then I relax (weight loss is usually during the summer or when I have a week off), and then I lose pounds on a 10-lb scale. So every 5 months, a quick almost astounding drop of weight. But in between, it is a complete plateau. I called these plateaus the "new normals" and that kind of helps me cope with my stubborn body... because a "new normal" suggests something as superficial but realizable as high school cliques or new family members or something not too devastating.
The 180s were once a very sad "new norm" followed by the 170s and then the 160s, which was the first normal I accepted :P I know, I'm a dork, but I know the path towards a self-sustainably healthy body doesn't happen in weeks or even months, but it's a long-term commitment/game.
I know, I'm so weird. But I guess these are my patterns and this is how I cope with them. Yes, the entire time, I try to diet, but it's like a feast and famine cycle (but not that bad, promise). I wish the weight loss was more noticeable but I'm glad it's slow because my body can handle small changes... But I wish my boyfriend noticed sometimes so he could pick up on why I'm trying an why I want this so bad :s
I weigh daily as well (and sometimes multiple times a day).
My weight-loss patterns are like yours. My mom says she is the same as well when I talked to her about it a month or so ago. I don't let it bother me because I use other means to measure weight loss. The biggest being the way my clothes fit! Even I don't lose for 2 weeks, I may be able to fit into a shirt that 2 weeks ago I couldn't quite wear in public yet.
Daily weighing helps me make sense of the stalls and whooshes. Once a week was actually more stressful for me. I have a big nerdy spreadsheet with charts and trend lines and predictions, some are by calendar month and some by cycle month.
I tend to drop slowly and consistently the week after my period ends, then a small gain for ovulation and hang out there for a week. Then I get a big whoosh (I dropped 2.2 lbs overnight the other day), then hover around the same pound or two until my period comes and goes again.
It's frustrating, especially when you are about to hit a mini-goal (I am 202.0 as of this morning, and I think my whoosh is about over, so it may be several weeks before I hit my 199!) but I know it's coming, so I just keep on keepin' on.
It's frustrating, especially when you are about to hit a mini-goal (I am 202.0 as of this morning, and I think my whoosh is about over, so it may be several weeks before I hit my 199!) but I know it's coming, so I just keep on keepin' on.
That's exactly how it is for me and it is SOOOOOO frustrating!!! I did similarly when I was about to get to onderland - had to wait another month.
I am post-menopausal and still had that kind of erratic pattern. Weight loss is not linear! I weighed daily and still do--there ARE fluctuations due to processes that we don't understand.
I told myself that if I stayed on plan I would get to my goal and I did. I just lived with the 1-2 pound gains and knew I would drop a few in time. The daily weigh-in kept me accountable and I didn't let myself get discouraged by a small gain--once I realized that this was a pattern.
The realization about the non-linear nature of weight loss is crucial for success. Someone on this forum said that in weight loss, we all get WHAT we deserve--but not necessarily WHEN we deserve it. That is so true!
I am a once to twice a week weigher. I am officially a WI girl for Saturdays, but sometimes peek halfway through the week. At the beginning, I am a weird one: scale didn't move for the first 3 1/2 wks of working at it! Then started consistent losses...I had between .8-3.2Lbs of loss per week. THEN I hit 208ish lbs and that all changed! Since then it's "usually" this pattern (cause nothing is 100% all the time with me due to life getting in the way): week 1 - a bit of a loss, usually a pound or under... week 2 - a big loss, up to 3 lbs, week 3 - no loss or VERY tiny loss... .2 when lucky, week 4 - up a pound to 2... frustrating cause I expect more speed that just isn't going to happen. I have set goals that I COULD have met if stayed on the starting pattern of the first 30Lbs.. but alas, at least I am still in overall loss for the month and that is a victory. I am to the point I am considering weighing bi-weekly instead of weekly, now that I AM familiar with my patterns to deter the frustration. However, if I did not know how my body functioned, I would not even consider.
In summary my best advice: weigh as often as YOU have to in order to become familiar with YOUR body and its patterns. Once you know your patterns, it does cut the frustration levels a bit. I haven't added in measurements for myself yet, but when frustration hits an all time high, that is what is my next step. Have back-up plans to keep you focussed on the positives. And don't wonder if you are ever "abnormal" and here's why.. this is such an individual process, that doing so will drive you nuts. I used to wonder why others could lose by changing diets slightly and I couldn't.... or why others could do a diet only way of loss and I couldn't... this doesn't help anything, nor does it enhance good feelings about yourself... then I learned - we are ALL so different... MY journey is that, mine. The SUPPORT here and the comparisons for IDEAS is ever so helpful, but not to think that ANY of this is black and white. Not that you asked, but figured that might be where the original question stemmed from Sorry for the rambling
I weigh in the same date I start my weight loss journey. (I started Sept 26 then I weigh on Oct 26). I used other ways to measure my weight loss and gain. My clothes are getting looser but it get a lil tighter around TOM. I measure myself b4, during and after TOM. I lose between 3,4 or 5 lbs. I don't get mad at my weight gain during TOM becuz I know when tom leave I'll see a big lost. My next weigh in is Nov 26 so wish me luck!
I weigh in the same date I start my weight loss journey. (I started Sept 26 then I weigh on Oct 26). I used other ways to measure my weight loss and gain. My clothes are getting looser but it get a lil tighter around TOM. I measure myself b4, during and after TOM. I lose between 3,4 or 5 lbs. I don't get mad at my weight gain during TOM becuz I know when tom leave I'll see a big lost. My next weigh in is Nov 26 so wish me luck!
Wow, I'm SO impressed that you lost 22 pounds in your first month!!! That's amazing!!
Great job noticing your patterns! I often encourage people to be aware of this.
My pattern is similar to yours. I typically lose in a 2-3 pound "whoosh" over a couple of days. The whoosh is followed by a bounce back up of a pound or two. Then, I fluctuate up or down a pound or so - essentially holding steady for 7-14 days. Then the pattern repeats.
I would say the pattern has held true for the entire duration of my 2+ years of weight loss, at least during the times when I was conscientiously on plan.
I'm so glad you posted this. I thought I was the only one whose weight bounced around like that. It's so frustrating to go down then backup. The bouncing is new for me, and I don't like it.
I can instead write about my weight loss pattern!!!
My pattern is that the first week of the month, I lose nothing. The 2nd week, I get a big woosh 2-3 pounds. Third week, is something like a 1-2, then the last week can be either 0-2. This is my pattern based on the last two months. This month so far seems to be confirming it.
Last edited by solarplant; 11-11-2011 at 11:49 PM.
Reason: oops wrong post, but fixed it now :)
Sorry for the rambling 
