this is seriously stressing me out. i somehow have gained 10lbs from monday to now and i have no idea how that could be possible. i've never really paid attention to my cycle before now and i've just recently started weighing daily, so before when i was on my period i would never weigh myself; i have no idea if this is normal.

but my pants are fitting tighter than usual and i feel bigger. the only night i've gone off plan was when my best friend took me out for my birthday dinner, and even then, i had only consumed 1500 calories that day where normally i eat 1200. otherwise, things have basically been the same.

i feel so discouraged right now. i wanted to be down to a size 12 by april, but if this is real, sustained weight gain, that won't be possible anymore. i feel like crying!!!

does anyone else experience weight gain like this while you're on your monthly, or could this be a problem?

ughhh

If you only consumed the amount of calories you stated it is impossible that you gained 10 actual pounds.

Water weight is a funky thing.
At night I weigh around 5-7 pounds more than in the morning.
Stay true to your plan and drink your water and you'll be fine ;-)

Unless you ate a surplus of 35,500 calories since Monday, it isn't fat gain. The crucial response (as kaala has already said) is to stick absolutely 100% to your plan. I know it's hard in the face of discouragement but the only way that this could end up as fat gain is if you blow it, thinking "What's the point?"

You can choose in future not to weigh during TOM, if it upsets you so much
or
You can choose to keep weighing at whatever your regularity is, and learn to see your body's patterns. That's what I do ~ but then, I'm Option #3: "Beyond Flo"
and stick with it; it will be well worth it.

After a few months of weighing daily, you'll see that your weight will fluctuate at different times during your cycle, but as long as the overall trend is downward you are fine.

A 10lb weight gain IS a bit much for TOM. However, the good news is that it's WATER weight. You may want to watch your sodium. Try to keep it at about 1500 mgs/day. Then you'll see those lbs fly off..even during TOM.

I've heard of quite large weight gains during TOM. It's probably partially TOM, partially higher sodium intake with eating out. I don't have a weight gain on TOM but I think I'm definitely the exception, rather than the rule.

my weight goes up and down soo much and TOM is insane. My best advice is to check yourself like 2 days after TOM is gone and then see what you're left with.

I gain 8 to 10 lbs every month. It all disappears in a few days if I don't give in to TOM food cravings.

I can definitely recommend putting your daily weigh-ins into an Excel spreadsheet and graphing the results. I've done this for the past 2.5 months and have figured out that most of my weight loss comes around the middle of my cycle and I always experience a spike in weight before TOM.
Maybe seeing your progress on paper and realizing a pattern might take some of the disappointment away. Good luck and stick with it!!

What did you eat this week? I know when I used to eat carbs like crackers and bread I would retain a lot more fluids. or a salty food. I bet it is all water weight. Drink lots of water to try to cleanse it out.

I don't eat any bread or crackers or pasta now. I started my period on Wednesday and today is about the last day and I didn't gain anything. Actually I lost a pound. Usually I don't lose on my period though. I usually stay the same for a week after and then have a "whoosh" of a couple of pounds.

Do you usually have that much water weight when you're on TOM? It could be a combination of TOM and increased bloating because of sodium, or something else you ate that makes you bloat. If you've been on plan, it's really not possible to gain ten pounds of fat like that, so don't worry! Increase your water intake, stay on plan, and maybe don't weigh until TOM is over if it's really upsetting you. You should see the weight go down soon.

i am on my TOM and gained four pounds staying on plan!

i wonder why we crave salty foods. There must a biological cave-man-days explanation for this! LOL

-fm

heeey, thank you guys for the advice. i've stopped freaking out and will weigh myself when it's over.

i think i was just feeling extra guilty about splurging that day.

uuuggh, reigning it in

the excel spreadsheet is also an excellent idea - especially considering my horrible memory.

10lbs though. insanity.

That is pretty crazy but the uterus is a loose cannon and does whatever she wants to do. Hormones+sodium+stress+regular period bloat could actually = 10lbs.

I usually gain about 10lbs during my period, and I tend to lose more weight after, when it suddenly all drops down. It's been like that forever, even though I exercise and watch my sodium intake. I am sure you will be fine.

Goodluck, hold on and eat healthy!