OK seriously this can't be normal. I am about to page my doc 911. This is the worst day since I started this journey. I really can't even imagine gaining 5 lbs since last week. I don't know what to do. I'm at a loss how can Inot be losing weight and I eat nothing at all ever. I'm darn near tears. Someone please help and tell me what to do.  If i'm going to gain weight then I might as well enjoy myself...

Let's start with the basics. For us to help you, we need some details. What are you eating and drinking? Are you tracking your food? Calories and carbs sneak in and we tend to underestimate.

The classic plan is:

600-800 calories
70+ grams of protein
less than 40 grams of carbs (all carbs, not net carbs)
64+ ounces of clear liquids
Exercise
Track your food

How are you doing on these things? Stalls do happen, but a gain like that is unusual except at your TOM.

Less than the 600 calories
* by far. maybe half. I just can't get it in.

50-60 grams of protein from my shakes,

40 total carbs or less daily and thats a really bad day,

liquids are on target.

i'm exercising.



It is my TOM... but 5 lbs really?

OK, then it's got to be fluid weight.

I know this is frustrating, but you will lose weight if you follow the plan. I only lost 7 lbs my whole first month. I'm down a total of 113 now, 23 pre-op and 90 post op. I had freaked-out panic periods early on, just convinced it wasn't going to work for me, but it has.
 
First, keep working toward upping your protien. I started losing best when I started consistently being over 80 grams a day. That too****il the 3rd month. I lost before then, but it's then that it kicked into gear.

Watch your sodium closely. That contributes to fluid retention.

Push fluids. Counter-intuitively, pushing fluids helps flush out sodium and reduce fluid retention. Won't help if it's TOM related, but otherwise it makes a difference.

I know you were hoping for an amazing result before a special event and you're disappointed. But please remember: stress hormones slow weight loss. Take a deep breathe and try hard to take this day by day.

Good luck.

that one little piece of informatiion, time of the month, is the problem.  Just went thru the exact same thing......your #'s will start to go back down again.  Have a nice weekend and put your scale away unitl 2 days after your TOM.  I certainly wish I would have.

I know it feels horrid and makes you wanna punch a baby in the face but this **** happens babe. And for me if I drink a ton of water for like 2 days it drops back down. For example  Monday I was 136... Tuesday 138 Thursday 141... WTF?!?! Today 141... I haven't gotten all my water all week. I usually do but its so ******g cold and for that just makes drinking cold water unappealing. I'm eating lots of meat, nuts and cheeses which are all high in sodium. I know once I pound water for 2 or 3 days it'll drop to at least 138 and my happy range is 135 - 140. I have had this happen through out the weight loss journey and typically its water weight. That time of month or too much sodium in without enough water intake. I always try to be really ******g honest with myself... i ask "Jen are you eating a bunch of junk and being an asshole?" If the answers yes... I shape up... but if I honestly have been on plan then I know it HAS to water and always is... Hugs babe... chug that **** and keep us up to date 
Muah!

Girl, calm down!   You just had surgery and your body is attempting to heal itself.  Follow the plan....600-800cal/60+ proteins/

I don't know what's wrong with my computer but it's not allowing me to post properly!!

Anyway, 600-800cal/60+proteins/

I give up!  Damn computers!   Hang in there!   ~Jennifer

First things first--don't panic.

Second--you're gonna panic no matter what I say, I say this cause I do every time this sh** happens too.   We've invested a lot in this and when things don't go the way we planned it is a BIG DEAL. Its natural to freak out a little.

Third--don't do anything crazy for a couple of days. Here's why.

Listen to JennChap. Drink the water, watch the sodium. At my TOM, I gain, and last time it was 4 lbs in a day, no joke. I freaked. I got depressed. I questioned my whole choice. I thought, just like you, wtf is the point?! This ain't no stall, this is GAIN.

Still, I read what everyone else was sayin, and I drank my water, watched my sodium intake for the next few days, and I dropped 6 lbs in like 3 days.

This sh** is scary. I get it. But the other folks have it right--your body does weird things, espeically during that time, so don't lose faith. It'll right itself in no time if you're following your plan.