I hear a lot of people talking about how TOM can affect their weight loss and cause them to gain. Whenever I have a less-than-great weight at WW, my leader always asks if it's TOM. Well how exactly does it work?

For example, on Tuesday I had a 1.5lb loss, which I was surprised and delighted at. 3 days later I got my period, which I expect to be finished by my next meeting this Tuesday. Is the potential gain from PMS bloating, and any gain would have been before my period started, or might it affect any success at this week's weigh in?

For example, if the bloating etc. was more likely to have been a pre-TOM thing, it could be that I have a really good loss at this week's weigh in.

I know I'm over-thinking this, but that's what I do! If anyone understood the process better than I do, I'd be really interested.

If your body deals with TOM like mine does, you will probably have a good weigh-in next week. I gain water weight 3-4 days before I get my period, then within 2 or 3 days of starting, I lose all the water weight. When I was losing, I would lose the water and then see a new low weight on the scale, a half a pound or a whole pound below my previous low.

However, I suspect that, like everything else, everyone's body is different. Pay attention to your weigh-ins for a couple months and you will notice a pattern. Yes, we all over-think a little about the scale when we're losing, but the advice is always the same. Take a deep breath, relax, and remember: the weight will come off, just not all in one day!

I heard if you keep sodium content down and drink lots of water that the water weight gain will be minimal.

Everyone's water weight gains are different - there's no one pattern. I gain one way, you might gain the next, so until you have a few months of regular weighing to figure out what your pattern is, it'll be hard to tell. Once you've figured out what your body does, it'll usually be pretty consistent month to month, in my experience and in what I've read here.

i usually start with the weight gain about 2 days before, and it continues until a day or two after my period. everyones bodys are different so maybe track for a few months to see how TOM affects your weight.