Why DID I GAIN 2LBS....

 Why did i gain. i have been working out every day and eating what i was suppose to. i have been getting a deficeite of 500 or more aday. what gives? i was so bumbed at the gym when the scales said i gained 2lbs.. help!!!!!!!!!!!

From the Q&A:

Temporary weight gain is most likely a result of water retention, which can be caused by eating too much sodium. Water is heavy: a gallon weighs 8.34 pounds. In the body, sodium is found in the tissues outside of the blood vessels. If sodium becomes too concentrated, water rushes in to lower the concentration. The result is puffiness, often seen in the fingers and ankles as gravity pushes water to the ground. To eliminate excess sodium and water, reduce dietary salt intake and drink plain water to flush out the system. In women, the hormones of the menstrual cycle can also cause sodium retention. Certain medications can cause water retention as well.

... it's two pounds relax.

If it was 20 then you'd need to worry. Geez.

Try not to let it get you down.  We all have fluctuations in our weight, even on a daily basis, including what Amethystgirl posted above.  I know I gain as much as 4 pounds just when I get my period.  Not all at once, but over the course of a couple of days and it takes a week for it go away again.  It's terrific when it's gone, especially if there is an extra pound gone too which didn't show because of water retention.    You may have gained a bit more muscle mass which also can account for a little extra.  Don't despair - it's just how the process goes.

From Experience. If you are weight training that makes a great difference. Also if you happen to be retaining water with that it will make the scale look different as well.

What I did when that happens is I leave the weights alone for a week. Once I did that the scale had me down 6 lbs when I went to weight back in. Also be careful what puts you in deficit. Are you working out and restricting carbs massively. Your body needs that balance. If it does not get it your body will hold onto that and you will more than likely hold water to make up for that. At least mine does. What I do is keep my carbs to twice a day bkfast and dinner and make sure my servings are no more than 40 calories per serving.

But again first I would try not touching weights for a week and you will see that difference in teh scale I am sure of it. Good Luck. Remember if you know that you are doing everything right than trust that you will see a "swoosh" result in the weight loss. Meaning one day you will jump on that scale and it will be swoosh ---> 10 lbs down. Keep your head up and your faith strong in what you are doing. Hope this little bit of information helps.

Original Post by rudeetina:

But again first I would try not touching weights for a week and you will see that difference in teh scale I am sure of it.

Actually, if you just keep lifting, the water retention will even out eventually. No reason to stop lifting (although a rest week every so often is good to prevent burnout).

Thank you all for the information.. i feel alot better. see i was averaging a 2-3lb drop every week. mostly 10 a month. so when i see an increase i worry i am not doing something right. i just want the weight off so bad, i have been over weight long enough. i know i can do this, i have been on the skinny side (16yrs ago) and i want it back. thanks again for letting me vent and for all the great advice.

I understand your fustrations. I am right there with you. What we have to remember is that the weight didn't come on over night so it will not leave us over night.

Again continue to watch what you are doing. You always see inches before pounds anyway. Look at that, how your clothes are fitting you and most of all how good you are feeling. That is a visual that is better than numbers.

There is a paridigm in our societey that weight = health sans any other factors.  People who 'scale watch' are focusing on the wrong aspect of health.  If I weighed myself every day, it could vary plus-or-minus 3 to 4 pounds easy based on numerous factors. 

Here is what you need to do to give yourself a fair shake:

Pick a day of the week where you have had your two most 'normal' days preceeding. That MORNING, and after you use the loo, weigh yourself.  Keep a chart of how much you weigh (caloriecount has one of these).  Rather than looking at the week-to-week, you should see a trend which may take a few months.  It will surprise you. That is true weight loss.  Don't weigh yourself more than once a week, ever. 

And 2 pounds?  That might as well be the air in your lungs. 

This is very common and is very likely water weight, or maybe your body just adjusting. Don't worry to much about up and down of two pounds or so, it's when you get more that issues appear.

SW   257   CW  232   GW   165

salt intake, most likely.    ditto what everybody else already recapped.

I also found that eating chinese food (again, sodium, I suspect) will me jump a pound overnight...avoid this kind of stuff

i do agree with every one else who replied to your post.  its most likely water weight.  its hard not to be stuck on the number but try not to be too concerned about it.  take to heart what rudeetina stated: "Look at that, how your clothes are fitting you and most of all how good you are feeling. That is a visual that is better than numbers."

speaking of sodium how much sodium do you guys consume every day?  i normally do 2400 mg and im wondering if its too much sodium.

Thank you all for the information and yes it was water gain. i layed off the frozen meals and doubled up on my garlic pills and today (which is my normal weigh day) i weighed 221 which with the 2 gain totaled a 4lb weight loss. so no more frozen meals and whatching the salt.

PERFECT. It's all about trial and error. Onward to a smaller you.