My first week doing the healthy eating and exercise plan, my weight went down from 246 to 240. Now, it's starting to creep back up again and suddenly I gained 4 pounds overnight and now I am fluctuating between 243 and 244. What is causing this? I haven't gone off plan and I am eating about 1500 calories a day PLUS 45-60 minutes of exercise. Any idea about what is causing this sudden weight gain/fluctuations?

A four-pound gain in one day usually indicates water retention. Are you doing anything new for exercise? Are you eating saltier foods? Weight training and eating salty foods can cause water retention as can TOM. Perhaps you're drinking less water?

Daily fluctuations are normal. One thing I suggest is not to weigh every day because the fluctuations can cause some panic.

Yes I probably should stop weighing myself everyday as it is causing some panic. I haven't been eating really salty foods, but I have had some reduced sodium soy sauce recently, which probably still has a lot of salt in it. I am trying to drink more water to see if I can "flush" out my system.

Also, weight training causes water retention? I wasn't aware of that. You learn so many interesting things on this board lol.

Is your Time of Month (TOM) just around the corner. I go up the day before--can easily be 3 or 4 pounds worth.

BTW, I also intake about 1500 calories a day and run every day three miles. I am still losing. If you are tracking your calories closely, I am sure you don't need to go less than that.

Hmmm I just finished my TOM and I did eat Taco Bell, but it was a Fresco option and I budgeted my calories around it .

What kind of plan do you follow? I count calories and eat really super clean with a focus on proteins first. I don't really eat low carb but if I have a bunch of junky carbs (sugar, flour and the like) one day my weight easily shows a HUGE gain from water retention.

Additionally, I weigh every day - I have for over a year. If you do opt for daily weigh ins make sure to log the weight (on a graph is best, scores of free ones on the net). That way you can look at the trend rather than a single day.

Taco Bell stuff is soooo salty. If I have Taco Bell I will wake up the next morning with puffy eyes and puffy fingers. Man I love Taco Bell though.

~CGH~