Ok, over the last 2 years I have lost 48 lbs. I am 170. Sadly I started up again in April, and I kicked it up a notch. Went from little activity to:
20 minutes on my recumbent bike in the morning.
15 minute walk to work.
15 minute walk from work.
20 minutes on recumbent bike.

If able, I will do 20 minutes walking at lunch. In addition to this I have an active job. My boss is on the other side of the building and I timed it and each walk to his office ( I likely do about 8 per day) is 3 minutes. I do about 4 or 5 mini walks (to the cafeteria -- to the basement etc.)

I have been doing this for two weeks.... and my legs actually are a little sore. So I know something is happening down there.

Further, I have been on plan if not every day 6 out of 7 days per week and on the non plan days I was over about 200 cals.

I have been doing it this way... take my calories burned + my deficit ( both extremely conservative numbers ) and see if I burned off a decent amount. Usually it is about 400 per day. 200 cals burned plus about 250 in deficit.

Scale... hasn't moved at all in two weeks. Well I take that back, one day 172, one day 173, one day 171, one day 172, one day 171, what the heck? Also, and I am hesitant to mention this... but I was due for TOM a few days ago and it hasn't come?

Anyone else know what to make of this? I take a multi vitamin every day. And I think I eat well.

How many calories are you eating on a normal basis? You may not be eating enough for how much activity you're getting.

When I started out, I didn't lose weight for a month. In fact, I gained 5 pounds before it all started coming off.

When I change my exercise or eating significantly, it affects my TOM (I usually don't start when I'm supposed to, then it changes the cycle). Could that be what's happening? I wonder if your body's trying to be premenstrual (you know, with bloat and fluid retention)? Great job on working in the exercise!! Keep it up!! Woman cannot live by the scale alone!!

AnnRue - I too am in your same situation.. I've ramped up diet and exercise t his past week. My weight is up. TOM is now over a week late. Not sure why?!? I anxiously await an answer to your question

I have also heard that if you are working your muscles harder, they too can hold water. I have discovered (since following South Beach Diet -1-01-08) that I can attribute temporary weight gain to increased grains. If I cut out or back on bread, etc. for just a couple of days, my body usually released the water retention it is holding onto. (By the way, I drink an average of 100 oz of fluids a day every day so I can still have a water retention problem in spite of the volume I am moving through my body)

Hope you find out what works for you.

Don't despair! Weighing daily will show daily fluctuations. At least you're not seeing 173 any longer. Give it another few days and I'm sure you won't be seeing the 172 any longer.

Phew! Good to know. My TOM is also a week late and it never is. Although I feel like I already have it. I have all the symptoms. Aches, zits, boobies that hurt. But no flow. TMI? Anyhoo.... it is frustrating. It is my hope that my increase in exercise affected my TOM negatively delaying it.

Absolutely -- changing your exercise routine can affect your TOM, and when it's later than usual, you can retain more water. If your breasts are tender you're almost definitely retaining.

PLUS, just to expand on what pamatga said, muscle soreness is almost always accompanied by muscle edema -- they're both part of the natural inflammatory response. So you're probably retaining water in your muscles, too.

So yeah, keep it up, drink lots of water, and I'll bet you'll see a tidy little loss once your TOM finally does come and go.

And let's not forget that muscle weighs more than fat. So if you're increasing exercise then chances are your body ration of fat to muscle is changing. Also if you're changing the type of exercise to one that's designed to increase muscle then your weight might not change for a bit.

The latter is my excuse this week. Now I probably would lose about 4 lbs immediately if I could figure out how to flush the fat between my ears . Anyone have any brainercize DVD's?

Dagmar

I am a little late on finding this...but If your body is not getting enough calories it will go into starvation mode and hold onto the weight. Also make sure that you are giveing your muscles time to heal. Are you doing this workout everyday? Great job on all the walking!!!Keep it up!