Heh - I jumped on the scale after coming back from the parents and a week long "stuff fest" and discovered to my horror that I was up about 4 pounds as well.

Like Cousin I am well able to do the mental math in figuring out how many extra calories it would take for that to be a real gain...and as such knew that the majority of it is actually water from retention. My body hasn't known a sodium hit like that since this time last year! All the ham and turkey and other sodium rich foods consumed. I had this horrid bloat belly on me as well! Argh...totally humilating lol.

BUT - during that week long binge I'd also been keeping up the exercise regime. Boxing day (the 26th) was fun - 6am and running up Evans Hill - miles of uphill running...nothing like it to get the guilts under control lol.

So come this morning when I braved the scale again it was back to within normal range. I expect it will drop further in the next few days as like the other ladies have suggested I've gone back to salads, fruits, veggies, yoghurts...all my usual foods (my body was actually craving it so bad lol)

2000 extra calories in a day - my body can take up to 1800 in maintenance, sometimes more. I would be physically sick if I tried to eat almost 4000 calories...mostly because I don't eat chocolate or icecream or cakes or biscuits (except the odd bit of mums christmas cake and trifle during that period!)...or anything similar. It holds no appeal.

You've done great to get this far and you'll be back on track before you know it!

*hug*