I've been somewhat depressed and stressed this week...with stuff that has nothing to do with weight loss. Also, I have a toothache that has me popping tylenol like it's going out of style. My eating hasn't been great, but it's not been horrible. I've gained 5.4 lbs in the last 5 days!! How is that even possible?

yikes...maybe because you haven't been moving around? also, you say you haven't been eating much, so maybe your metabolism slowed down?

I can give you a selection of ways:
"not great but not horrible" ~ the body is very sneaky, and even a few extra calories at each meal for 5 days can certainly add up to a stall or an increase.

whatever the 'not great' food is, is it salty? very carby? that can hold onto water like mad, and water is heavy.

is it also TOM? that adds the water weight on.

Unless you overate by 18900 calories, this is not fat weight, 'just' water weight, which will whoosh away. honestly.

if you're not eating well, are you getting enough fibre? you could be seriously bunged up. (sorry about the detail....)

I suspect you're full of gunk and water, not extra fat. You'd know if you'd eaten 18900. this means that although it's really annoying, and bound to bring your mood down even more, it Will pass very quickly.

in the mean time, have a , I hope you feel better soon.

totally agree with Rosinante. Hope you get rid of the toothache fast, that's awful.

Metabolisms aren't affected and don't get altered all that quickly. And even if it were too, it's in minuscule amounts so it wouldn't make much of a difference if any, not enough to gain weight like that in that short of a time span.

I've done more damage in less days, that much I can tell you. So umm, yeah, it's possible all right.

Yes, I know it's *supposed* to be that 3500 calories over what you require will cause you to gain a pound, but for me it's lotssss less calories than that. And for me, it's not mostly water. Well, it's hard to decipher what exactly the percentages are, but regardless, it takes time to get if off. But the good thing is, is that every excess pound on you is one that can come off of you.

Get yourself to a dentist, track those calories (to not do so won't help the toothache, the stress or the mood).

Hopefully, you will feel better soon and those pounds will start coming off of you soon.

"My equal has not been great" means that I had a doughnut one day and a reese cup one day...but stayed within my calorie range. Yesterday, I had potato soup. I know that I didn't eat 18000 calories over what I should. Yes, I probably need more fiber. I'm hoping it all whooshes away soon.

I am concerned that you said you're "popping Tylenol like there's no tomorrow." Tylenol is NEVER to be taken in a higher dosage or more often than is on the package directions. You are risking liver damage if you take more of it! This alone could cause you to retain water.

So reduce your Tylenol and get to the dentist!

Jay

Try some Alleve for your tooth pain, instead of Tylenol. Alleve has an anti-inflammatory in it and worked better for me when I had root canals.

Hang in there!! Stay strong!!