Well, I knew it was coming eventually, as it does for most of us: today at weigh in I had my first official gain. A "+" written in my membership book.

I tried to brace myself. It was only a small gain (0.2), and I know there will be others, bigger ones, along with dreaded plateaus. I know that viewing weight-loss as a one-way street, all or nothing, be perfect or give up, is a mistake, one that I have made in the past. I know it, logically, but still I can't seem to help being down on myself today, feeling a little sad.

I know I should just continue on plan as I have been, not binge, and not do the opposite either, like going crazy over-exercising until I put my back out! Right now logic is in danger of losing out to emotion.

Hang in there.

Seriously, I know it's cheesy, but just hang in there.

I remember my first gain, too. It was very small, but there it was, that dreaded "+" in my book. And, I too, knew that I just had to continue, through the disappointment, and fear.

Stay on plan. I promise you that this little bump in the road will barely seem like anything a few months from now when you're many more pounds down.

I've had a couple of small gains like yours but the next week I have a wooshie of 2 or more pounds. So like Faerie said hang in there. You can do it!!

It could have been anything.. Water, salt.. Don't let it get you down. Sometimes I'll think I haven't lost anything but it turns out I was just retaining water and the next morning the scale shows I've lost 2lbs. It's nutso.. You'll make it though!

I gain half a pound every 4th week. It doesn't matter what I do, I gain it. Hang in there!

Don't feel sad, you are still down 23 pounds and that is something to be proud of! I can't tell you how many times I have gained weight on my weight loss journey. Maintenance itself is a b*$ch Leave the weigh in behind you and focus on having a great OP day!

Aye think about what you have acheived , sure it is a bump in the road but a very very small bump which no doubt will soon be gone the body works in weird ways and as i think has already been mentioned it could just be excess water or something so try not to get to down about it

I agree with all the above advice, you are doing just great. That scale only says a very small part of the big picture, yes, we all love to see it keep going down each week, but like Faerie said, small bump in the road.

Thank you everyone, for the advice and encouragement! It helps a lot

Since it was so hot here today, I pulled out my capri pants from last summer to see if they would fit. Turns out they fit a lot better than they did last year, one pair is even on the loose side. So that helped my attitude & mood, too.

I'm just going to keep my long term goals in mind, and push through!

Thanks again.