Hi all,

I have been pretty religiously following the plan for a month now, after a little crazy Christmas break. First week, I lost a pound, next week I was up .6, next week I was down 3.7, week after that I was down 1.2, and last night (after following the program exactly once again!) I was up 1.6!!!

Color me shocked - it's not TOM, I varied my points, drank all my water, ate more veggies than usual, took my vitamins, watched my portions - I did all of it. I'm hoping it's just water retention or something silly, but has that ever happened to you? A truly "shocking" week at the scale when it wasn't just different than what you expected, but a significant gain that just...makes no sense?! My pants felt looser this week, even. It's like a little 1.6 pound barbell was sitting on top of my head, haha.

Any suggestions for varying things this up week to try and kickstart things?

But you have lost 8 pounds ? That is an accomplishment to be proud of.

No matter what I do I gain .5 lb every 4th week. I promise, I've done it all and I gain .5 lb every 4th week. It isn't in my cycle where I would think it would be, it isn't any change in eating, it's just my body and I've accepted that there is nothing I can do about it. I've been pretty successful in spite of it, so I try to just remember that usually the next week I have a great loss. Don't get too worried about it and keep up the good work!

Yep, I always have 3 weeks loss and one week gain - it's frustrating as all get out but I've had to accept it and move on. It does happen.

I haven't had that happen yet, but make sure you vary the foods you eat. Don't be a creature of habit and eat the same foods all the time.

Congrats on your weight loss so far!!

Thanks, everyone. It's reassuring to hear that I'm not the only person out there who experiences the three weeks down/one week up phenomenon. I think it's just extra frustrating when you're super close to your next five pound mark, haha.

My mom had that same pattern, down, down, down, up, but overall you're going down, so that's good.

I remember when I was starting out, one week I thought if I drank alot of water it would help me lose weight, well, I drank it right before weigh-in and gained 1 1/2 lbs. You know the saying a pints a pound the world around.

Don't get me wrong, you have to get your water in, most people develop some kind of routine for WI, also if you wear shorts or a skirt and a t-shirt one week and jeans and a sweatshirt the next week there's a difference in the weight of your clothes.

You're still losing weight, you're just not seeing it on the scale. You're doing great, 8 lbs. is wonderful! Congrats!

I am the same way. I will lose 3-4pounds, one the next, and then gain up to a pound the third, I don't know why but it drives me nuts.

When is your weigh in day? Please keep us posted on how you do this week.

I havent had this pattern yet, but my losses seem to be slower this time around.

Dawn