At my wits end this morning!

Okay grads I am not in a good place this morning. I have been crying for the past hour I think. First of all let me say I reached my goal of 150 this past May. Since then I have even got down as far as 143.9. Ive been flutuating between that and 150 since May. Well here recently I have slipped back into the sweets mode and have really gotten serious about it this past week. I havent had any this week. I have been eating around 1500 calories with one day(Wed) I got up to 2000. On this past Monday I was 151.9 and Thursday I was 150.8. Well I didnt weigh yesterday due to no BM on Thurs, but I went yesterday so I weighed this morning and low and behold the scale says 152.2, all I could say was WTF? I even got on it twice to make sure it was correct. I weigh more now than on Monday when I started. I have been drinking close to 96oz of water everyday so I know its not that. I havent exercised but one time this week(Thurs-walked for about 30 min). I just dont know whats going on. I know it hasnt been a full week so far, but can I lose 1.4 and then some in 2 days? Maybe I need to lower my calories? Shoot its been hard doing the 1500 calories, Ive been eating every 3 hours to keep my hunger at bay. Maybe I should just wait till Monday and see what the scale says? How can I do good today with such dissapointment this morning, I just want to go into full binge mode right now. Sorry this is so long, Im just at my wits end! Candy

Candy: Do not go into full binge mode! Today is a new day. Do you have to lose 1.4 lbs in 2 days? No, you do not. Take a deep breath, calm down and stop crying. I think eating every 3 hours to keep the hunger down is an excellent idea. Do you need to drop down below 1500 calories. Probably not. Maybe you just need a different 1500 calories. Dense protein, lower the refined carbs (if that is an issue). Sounds like your water intake is great! Wish I could say the same. Walk again today. And yes, stay off the scale until at least Monday. This is not a hopeless situation. All you can do is take one day at a time or one bite at a time if you prefer to look at it that way. Today is NOT shot! It's early and you can go on to have a good day. Look at how far you have come! You can do this! Chris

Candy, Pull back from your 'daily' charting, And look at a weekly or even monthly. There are up and down spikes each day, But if you 'graph' the highest to the lowest, I'd bet it's far 'flatter' Than you sense it being now. A few pounds? Consider------ There's an 8 to 10lb. volume of "wiggle room" due to water alone. And it comes into play a lot. This has to do with our bodies using glycogen for short term energy storage. Glycogen is not very soluble, But it is stored in our muscles for quick energy - ONE POUND OF GLYCOGEN REQUIRES 4 LBS OF WATER TO KEEP IT SOLUBLE, And the average glycogen storage capacity is about 2 lbs. So, when you are not getting in enough food, (Like when you drop down to your calorie intake) Your body turns first to stored glycogen, Which is easy to break down for energy. And when you use up 2 lbs of glycogen, You also lose 8 lbs of water that was used to store it Voila -- the "easy" 10 lbs that most people lose in the first week of any diet. As you stay in caloric deficit, however, Your body starts to 'realize' that this is not a short term problem. You start mobilizing fat from your adipose tissue And burning fat for energy. But your body also 'realizes'---- (by way of your liver releasing hormones signaling low Cal intake) ---That fat can't be used for short bursts of energy - Like, to outrun a sabertooth tiger. So, it starts converting some of the fat into glycogen, And rebuilding the glycogen stores. And as it puts back the 2 lbs of glycogen into the muscle, 8 lbs of water has to be stored with it to keep it soluble. So, even though you might still be LOSING energy content to your body, (Thus showing negative Calorie load overall) Your weight will not go down or you might even GAIN for a while As you retain water to dissolve the glycogen that is being reformed and stored. Yes? The whole 'weight-loss' process is not a straight "Slide" down the scale. More like "Stair-Steps," (Down then forward, then down, then forward, etc... As your body cycles fat out of "deep storage" and through the Liver Into the muscles as Glycogen. The muscles and Liver can hold about a 3 weeks supply. This is why many people find that their "Stall" or "Plateau" Breaks when adding a bit of exercise And upping their water intake, or in the case of an "extreme exerciser," The total Calorie or Protein Intake, To signal the liver to let go of more Glycogen. Fear not, many people who are now enjoying life at a normal BMI Once had a few weeks or so of thinking- "...my weight loss has been awfully slow, has it stopped..."? Don't keep holding onto- "I'm at my GOAL. Are you at/in your goal range? And I mean RANGE. An arbitrary Number on the Scale can make a person Crazy. Keep up any Exercise, but maybe change up and add more protein Without adding Too many Calories. And, keep the water intake high. Fearing "Binge-Mode" and "Crying for the past hour " Is no way to live a New "Goal-Range" Life. Yes? Unless that works for you, and that's what makes you happy, then Go for it. Doing what you've done in order to lose the weight Is what will continue to serve you, not stressing over the scales. You've lost to your Goal range. Either live in anxiety about maintaining it, or- Enjoy that Life and don't shoot yourself in the foot over 2 or 3 pounds. Just my thoughts............... Best Wishes- Dx

Candy, I've been there and I understand exactly how you're feeling! Don't go on a binge~that will only make you feel worse. Sometimes even when we've been "good", it takes a few days for our bodies to reflect it on the scale~I've found that to be true many times. Your water intake is great! I wouldn't lower your calories~I agree with the other response~focus on protein first, cut down on the bad carbs (if you're eating any), etc. Exercise always makes me feel better so if you can get some in today and tomorrow that will help in many ways. I think the combination of eating right and exercising on a regular basis has been the key for me, and even though some days I just don't feel like exercising, I always feel better after I do it! Don't get back on the scale until Monday morning and see what happens. You're doing all the right things so the scale will HAVE to reflect that soon! Hang in there and Good Luck!!!!!!!!!! Tracy B 328/150 5'9"

You want to go on a binge over what...7 pounds? You *do* know it's absolutely 100% normal to fluctuate a number of pounds, right? 5...7...10...it varies person to person. If 7 pounds freaks you out, then maybe you should weigh every day? Maybe once a month or once a week then average it out. Maybe speaking with your counselor? It's really nothing to get worked up about. It's how 99% of people in the world are.

Might just be hormonal fluctuations, Candy. I know it's easier said than done, but don't stress too much. You'll be fine. Hugs, Tracy

take a deep breath and relax. It might be the 96 oz of water. I drop a lot when I am dehyrated and drinking a couple big glasses of water can add a couple pounds. so, Is it fat weight? absolutely not, it is coming out of dehydration weight. put away your scale for a few weeks. stick to a heatlthy eating plan and continue the 6 meals a day. keep up the exercise. but dont over do it. at least 30 - 60 minutes of walking every day. you are worth the investment of time and energy. then when you feel like going into binge mode, go for another walk. focus on what you are doing good for your body. cut yourself a little extra room here. big giant hugs from one who has been there and is coming thru in ok shape!!!!