Anxious and Feeling a Bit Down

Hello Everyone,

I just needed to vent out my small frustration.  I have been working really hard for the past 3 weeks, this week is my 4th week working out and eating healthy.  I had lost 8 lbs. up to a few days ago, my scale read 166 lbs.  today I weighed myself and I gained 3 lbs. back.  I don't want to complain about it because I know it's probably just water weight and stuff but I worked out really hard last night and was hoping to see a decline.  I just feel a bit down about it but I am really trying not to let it discourage me...but it does!  I am just dying to lose weight for the summer and trying soooo hard, and it's such a bummer to see the weight go up after all the hard work.  Thanks for listening to my rant.  Summer is in 5 or so weeks...how much weight do you plan on losing by then?  I am hoping to be down to 155ish by then...that would be a miracle!! lol.  Good luck to everyone.

First off, congrats on the 8 lbs lost!  That's awesome!

And like you said, the 3 lbs is probably mostly water weight.  Make sure to keep your sodium intake down and water intake up! 

And, you also said you had a great workout the night before... and have been working out on a regular basis, right?  Then it could be (and I'm sure it is) that your muscles are growing, too.  And they weigh more than fat.

Rather than just trusting the scales, you should take measurements.  This'll show you that not only have you lost 8lbs, but have probably gained muscle...which not only weighs more than fat but takes up less space... hence the reason for measurements!  Don't let this little "bump in the road" set you back.  Keep at it, you're doing so great!  I have no doubts that you can reach your goal by summer... or at least close to it!!!

Keep your chin up, good luck, and keep truckin'!!!

Just keep plugging along and you will be fine.  Don't focus on the scale and perhaps weight once a week.  I was up one yesterday and down 1.6 today and we have to realize that our bodies change and fluctuate. 

Make sure you are drinking enough water and perhaps increase it - I tried that and was rewarded with steady loss.

Um, not to be nosy but... are you about to start your period?   If so, then there you go.  You've been on the diet and it's your 4th week... so it was bound to happen.   It's definitely water weight and probably due to that time of the  month.

Also I noticed your profile says that you don't track your calories.  Not that you gained 3 pounds over night... but are you sure you aren't eating too little or too much.    Too little and you can stall your weightloss.   Also are you drinking enough water?   Not enough can put your body back into water conservation mode and thus your body will hold on to it more.

But still this sounds like just that certain time of the month and you don't need to worry that much over it.

Hello,

Thanks a lot for your replies, you have cheered me up a bit!  And no, it is not TTOTM anytime soon either. 

About the calorie tracking, no i don't but I would like to do it.  The problem I have with it is that I am usually fine with things that are simple that say the calories right on the product...but things like cheese, I don't know how much of it I put on my sandwiches etc...and I find that it will be inaccurate due to that, so that is the main reason I don't track them.  I am bad with recognizing serving sizes and I don't usually measure how much of something like that I am eating, so what should I do?  Maybe I should try logging again today...for breakfast I had a whole wheat english muffin (130 cals.) with 2 slices of mozza cheese on each half...no idea what 4 slices is?

But I really appreciate your replies and it is so nice to keep eachother motivated.

Sounds to me like you need to invest in a set of measuring cups and spoons, and a good food scale.  I wouldn't be able to control my portions if I didn't measure and weigh.  Try logging just the basics.  Using the food search and adding foods to your log isn't too hard, just takes a little practice.  It's a real eye opener when you see what you're actually eating.

Good Luck

Mozzarella cheese?

http://www.calorie-count.com/calories/item/10 28.html

72cals per 1oz. if it's skim...

http://www.calorie-count.com/calories/item.ph p?item_id=1029&size=5

86 per 1oz (basicly a slice) if it's low moisture, part skim


If you are cutting it yourself and it's thin from a block then think of a slice like a slice of regular american cheese.   You probably had no more than 2 real slices of chese.

And for the record regular kraft american is 60cals per slice.  So mozzarella is just a little more fattening.


Also you can just buy a simple scale with measuring cup.   I have one that's plastic and it works great for measuring portions.

However it's not too hard to guestimate ANYTHING out there.

You just have to pay attention to amounts for a few weeks & then you get a feel for it.  I depends, for example, on the kind of cheese & how large the slices are.  In general, a slice of cheese the size of standard American cheese slices are 1/2 oz.  I eat reduced fat, part skim, and 1 large slice is a whole oz & about 75 calories.  I couldn't tell you that a year ago, but you get used to it.

A good way to keep your encouragement up to to post your weight, daily.  Then, insead of paying attention to your actual weight loss line, pay attention to the "trend" line, which will show you that you're losing, and it will still usually continue on a downward slope even through normal daily fluctutations.

To get rid of water weight you need a good day or two of flushing your system with water.  Drink lots.

Good luck!

lol no more mozzerella cheese for me!  I never realized it was that high...basically because I just don't really know how much 1 oz. is ...I know it's sad, but yes, all of your suggestions are great and thanks!

Oh interesting... I thought american cheese was an ounce... but it's 1/2 an ounce.   Still you can slice mozzarella pretty thin so i wouldn't assume that each one of those thin slices are around 80 or whatever calories each.

Definitely get a food scale.   The plastic one I got from walmart included a measuring cup that sits on top of it... and it was only about $4 or so.   And it's small enough I can take it to work if i need it.   This helps me measure out cottage cheese and weigh stuff like hamburger meat... so I can more easily portion out my meals.

Still, yeah you get a feel for these things after a while.   I'm only past the 3 week point and into my 4th week of this calorie counting diet.  So I'm still working on it all... but certain things are getting clearer.   Also not everything needs measured by weight or volume... celery you can measure by the stalk... grapes you can count them and give them 2calories each.   Stuff like that is easy enough.

Exactly... Do not worry about what the scale says "day to day".  Chances are you are finally starting to build muscle where fat once was.  Keep up with the water because if that is the reason your scale shows you gained three pounds, then it will go away.  Have you been eating enough fiber?  A great way to get your fiber up is to eat the recommendation of Whole Grain Oatmeal (not flavored, just old fashioned) and kick it up by using non fat milk and SPLENDA.... Splenda has no calories and I prefer it much better than regular sugars.  That will keep your digestive system working properly and may prevent the weight gain of having "stuff" sit in your bowels..yuck I know but it is so true!  Also, as another said, keep your sodium intake down to the recommendations and you should see and feel much better.... GOOD LUCK! you are doing so great!