Being exhausted. Last time I was worried I was developing an eating disorder because I got so restrictive with my calories - oh yes, I got results, but dieting was taking over my life. I decided to take a mental health break, and kind of do intuitive eating. I practically had the calorie numbers for all the foods I normally ate memorized anyway. Of course, an injury preventing exercise and going off plan from my usual diet helped me to pack pounds back on. I didn't step on the scale and ignored my clothes getting tight - until I couldn't ignore it anymore. It's hard to stay in dieting mode for a lifetime, but unfortunately it's a forever thing.

Sodium.

If you're talking about short-term weight gains after a few days of losses, and similar temporary fluctuations, then the answer is water retention. Somewhere in the range of 45% to 60% (approx) of our body weight is made up of water (the % differs from person to person). Day-to-day losses or gains on the scales often just measure changes in the amount of water your body is retaining, as opposed to actual gains/losses of fat. As dietcokehead said, sodium is one key reason that you might retain water and see an increase on the scales. Other reasons include changes in the number of carbs you eat, drinking alcohol (even if within your calorie restrictions), TOM, issues with your "plumbing" (perhaps as a result of not drinking enough water or not eating enough fiber), sleep deprivation, stress, overly strenuous exercise (which I know is counter-intuitive), and so forth. I tend not to worry about short-term ups and downs...but try to focus instead on the longer-term trends.

I always worry about the minor weight fluctuations. I am terrified that the # on the scale will not budge to the left and that # will become my next public enemy #1 until it finally decreases to a less threatening # on my scale. If it stays there for me to look at for more than 2 days in a row I panik and get all depressed and counter productive and even sometimes binge as a result of having to see that number on the scale for far 2 many days in a row. I exercise, usually eat veggies and hi fiber, drink tons of water, and lean dinners. I drink protein shakes at lunch w/ 1 egg daily and I usually see a direct relation between not being able to go to the gym and my weight not reducing when i so wish it would. I become very exhausted, after work, and battling the wet weather and in having to do a gym night as often as i can. Therefore its just very misery inducing and makes me very frustrated over not being able to feel that i have more Total Control over my weight loss and to be able to see this control as soon as i have gone to the gym or fasted or not eaten hi carbs. But no reward after my hard work w/ y diet is the hardest reality for me.

Depression or stress I find is my biggest problem once well not so much stress as when it calms down - I hit a wall sometimes and in comes the negative food choices I'm trying to make a lifestyle change with my eating to ensure this doesn't happen and keep my diet under control

I have a mental block about 200... I've gotten close but haven't broken that number in quite a while. Focusing on getting back to wonderland... I'm pretty close (like 5 lbs). I think it's a fear of failure thing with me...

Something derails me. Something makes me feel vulnerable, and the old habit of food as solace suddenly steps in. In spite of knowing it won't bring me happiness in the long run, it is (yes, I know this is heresy) still incredibly effective at dulling emotional pain in the short run. I'm working on this. It's very frustrating, but cake is just... ****ing reliable, more so than most of the humans in my life. There, I've said it.

I do really well all month. Then I blow it the week before my period--PMSy hormones are frickin' evil. Then I start wondering what the point is in trying since I've blown it this much (again). Reality check and watch what I eat...repeat. -_-

Yikes! I have to admit, my PMS (and my periods, for that matter, ) have disappeared since I got a Mirena spiral. I wasn't keen on the constant dose of hormones in the beginning, but it was better than the alternative (constant flow!) and now I'm so glad I did.

Maybe you can pre-empt it next time, find some healthy snacks that also fill the need and stock up on them?

Good luck!

For me it's the 'I've lost 5 lbs and now I can eat anything I want' syndrome. I was skinny until my mid 30's and could eat and drink anything. Then I was diagnosed pre-diabetic because I was worried about my sudden weight gain (with other things) and so when I finally lose I revert back to my old thinking. I am really working on changing that perceptive and keeping the new perspective.

It was easier being a vegetarian (controlling weight wise) but I got really sick from it so I can't be a veggie girl anymore. I have to admit, I miss being a vegetarian but it is easier at restaurants.

I have been adding more veggies into my diet as part of the changing the 'life style changes' vs 'diet'. There are other things I am doing also (less bread, less empty calories, etc) but it's a slow process. Which is probably a good thing ... so to speak.

Everyone has their own path and struggles, and I am so glad that there are groups of people who are willing to help each other. I read your posts and I would like to respond to some but I feel like it's a family and I would be intruding. I will keep reading and hoping for good and positive outcomes for each and every one of you.

Have an awesome day

I have this same syndrome ---> 'I've lost 5+ lbs and now I can eat anything I want! messes me up everytime

For me it's the tiny cheats which lead to bigger cheats and then on to slowly increasing portion sizes. And sodium!