Trying to find the connection.

My weight loss has been plodding along for a couple of months at 2-3 lbs per week (sometimes less, sometimes more).  I have upped protein, upped exercise, increased veggie intake--hasn't really changed anything.

Last week I had a cold, then allergies, and all sorts of life interfered with my gym time last week.  I still fit in some workouts, but not as many as usual.

And I lost 7 lbs.

Now, I plan to keep working out with my usual intensity/frequency because I enjoy it, but it does make me wonder if what I do and the scale have any relationship at all.  Obviously they do, because if they didn't I wouldn't have weighed 265 at one point, but still--I wish I could figure out what was different last week and keep doing THAT for the remainder of weight loss.

Maybe hydration?  My fluid intake was the same (or better) than usual but the exercise was less, so overall hydration was better?

I am NOT complaining.  I will take every ounce lost however it comes, whenever it comes.  Just trying to figure out if I can duplicate this week's success!!!

I think it was just coincidence. Sometimes I can be perfect and not lose an ounce and other times I can eat all kinds of crap and lose. My other thought is that swollen muscles from use hold a good deal of water. You might have just lost tha****er from your muscles by taking a break. I would just keep going and plod right along :)

Agree with Candy. I find that the day or two after a good workout I don't lose much but on day 3 or 4 it seems to come down a bit. Well.. it's been slow overall now but before the six months mark that's how it was. Keep at it!

One of the things that I have come to understand about my own body - and it really bothered me for months and months - is that after a really intense strength training (weight lifting) work out I retain a boat load of water - usually 2 to 3 pounds. This usually happens of Fridays when I get my new routine from my trainer. This past Friday we worked on legs more intensely than we have in well over a month. In addition to being over the top sore this weekend, I woke up Saturday and weighed 3 pounds more than I did on Friday. The only thing that was different was the intense workout. By today 2 of those pounds are gone. By tomorrow the last one will be gone, too, I'm sure.

When I was in the losing phase I got to the point where it was 2-3  pounds per week. That's it. No more. I'm guessing that you had a loss of fluids during your illness, plus probably ate a little less and probably pushed hydration because you were feeling ucky. You created a perfect storm for a little extra drop.

Don't think you'll be able to duplicate a 7 pound drop in a week this far out. I could be mistaken, but I wouldn't even go there. 2 to 3 pounds a week is great. That's 8 to 12 pounds per month. Just my opinion.

I am sure you are right.  Dammit.  Preparing myself to stay in this range for a bit.  SIGH!

Chop wood, carry water.

I'm going to change for my spin class. . . .

Working out always makes me gain too exp intense work outs :( swollen mucscles booo

As you know, I am so new here....I don't have advice, only to parrot what I have seen posted here many times, which is sometimes the body just needs a rest.  Meaning, it is losing the fat so fast, it just needs to be in a holding pattern for a little while to rest and recoup!  So, that is nothing new, but I thought I would mention it since that is what comes to mind after reading your post.  You are awesome and will have the rest of your life to enjoy your new, sexy, tiny little body!  I cannot wait til you get there, too, and see the photos!!!!!!!!

Do you eat more when you are working out heavily?  Many people even inadvertently have higher calories when they work out daily.  Maybe being sick you were eating less?