We put too much faith in the number on the scale...

Hi All,

I have known for some time that weight varies for reasons other than fat loss.  But I have a rather extreme example from my recent trip.

I got back from a cruise 2 weeks ago.  The cruise was a celebration of my one year surgeversary. 

I tried to stay on plan. For breakfast and lunch this was manageable.  But dinner was challenging because it was a formal dinner with a long time at the table with only fresh-baked breads and butter.  I eventually succumbed and started eating bread at dinner and a few bites of desert.  But my restriction was still doing its job.

I was walking a lot every day, so I hoped I was still losing weight.  But when I got home I found I had gained 10 pounds in 2 weeks!  I was stunned, but got back on plan and figured it would take weeks to recover.  But it must have been water weight, because I dropped pounds every day, and now 2 weeks later, I am down 16 pounds.  I must have lost weight during the vacation because I certainly didn't lose 6 pounds in 2 weeks.  But the scale showed a 10 pound gain. 

Don't give too much credibility to the number on the scale.  If you are following your plan and eating less calories than you need, you are burning fat. 

I'm curious if others have similar examples.  This really surprised me.

best wishes,

Carol

Carol - yes I experience this a lot actually.  Travel makes me retain water, so often when I get home from a trip I am up a couple of pounds.  By the end of the weekend those are gone as well as a few new ones -- just in time for me to get back on a plane and retain again!  

I also overdid it a bit last week on vacation.  I was shocked when I came home and actually was down half a pound.  It goes to show that a little indulgence is much different than our previously falling off the wagon.  I am forcing myself to log everything, even when the choices aren't great.  This helps keep me from the all or nothing headset.  

Congrats on the loss!!  I'm glad you were able to enjoy your cruise :)

Hi Stacy,

Thanks for the information.  Congratulations on losing weight on vacation.   That's always nice to see!  I also log everything, and I find it helps.

best wishes,

Carol

I've lost exactly NO pounds in the month of may.  I've been up a few pounds and down a few pounds but no actual lower number from last month. 

What I have done is dropped from a size 12 to a size 10.  I have noticed some water retention.  So I truly believe the scale is only a tool in your arsenal of tools that show progress.  

The weight gain from cruises is legendary...I think travel brings on water retention.

Congratulations...you are 1 lb from goal!

Hi Kekosmom,

Its interesting how the weight loss can stop but the sizes fall.  Congratulations on fitting in a size 10.  That is awesome.

Carol

YESSSS!!

As some people may have noticed I've been a bit absent on the boards for awhile....that's because I've been traveling a lot for work. Starting with last weekend, I was visiting a friend, then I spent the rest of the week on the road. In that week, I ate and drank whatever I wanted to eat and drink. Yesterday, I got on my scale for the first time in a week - ONE WEEK and what did I find???

A gain of 13 lbs. YES, that's 13 FREAKING LBS! It's hard not to immediately panic and feel as though it will be impossible to get off... but I have to be rational and realize that a lot of that weight is not real - and some of it is very real. I was back in the gym and eating on plan yesterday and in one day so far, I've lost almost 3 lbs of it lol... 

I was telling my husband yesterday that my body being so sensitive to eating poorly is probably why it was always so easy for me to give up on diets in the past... because one or two "bad" days would turn into a big gain and I would think "Oh, I've now undone everything I've accomplished!" This time was different because I stayed on plan for SO long and learned more about how my body works and I don't have those same feeling of defeat when I see a gain.... but it does worry me enough to do something about it!!

Hi Nikke,

Its good to hear from you.  Its also nice to hear that others are dealing with the same travel/weight change phenomenon.  You'll probably find that you are back to your normal weight in a few days, too.  So don't despair.

best wishes

Carol

"my body being so sensitive to eating poorly is probably why it was always so easy for me to give up on diets in the past..."

YES, YES, YES. That makes perfect sense! In the past when I would diet and go off "plan" for a few days, I would inevitable see a huge jump on the scale. This immediately led to feelings of failure and, "if I can undo a week of good behavior with a few days of bad, then I must be doomed to fail."

Rinse, repeat. 

It is so important to understand how our bodies work! If I hadn't gotten into such a rut with that sort of toxic thinking at such a young age, I probably would have never become obese to begin with!

And Carol: How much do you want to bet that you didn't drink enough during your cruise? With all of the sight-seeing and activities, how could your mind be on drinking all day. Makes perfect sense that it was probably water weight and as soon as you got back to business, BOOM. Your body went back to what it was supposed to do! 

By the way, HOORAY FOR BEING SO CLOSE TO GOAL! I'm a few pounds away myself and it feels SO GOOD!

Carol your just amazing with your weight loss your such an inspiration!!!

{{{{Hugs}}}}

♡Kelly

Thanks Kellyjean,  I appreciate the encouragement.  I'm just so amazed that I am so near goal.  I never thought I'd really get to this weight.  What a trip this WLS is!

best wishes,

Carol