Got a huge surprise when I stepped on the scale this morning!

Well, I usually weigh myself on Saturdays, but when I did last Saturday, I was still 256.4, which was only about a one pound or so loss from the week before, and the week before that, it was also pretty slow, but I looked like I was losing more than that, so I knew the scale was lying.. well, I just told myself that haha.

So this morning, I weighed myself again and to my huge surprise my weight was 251.8.  I knew it would all catch up to me eventually.  I haven't been doing anything differently the last few days, just working I guess, but I always raise my calorie intake when I work or exercise.

Has this happened to anybody else?  I am so glad that my weight is finally down again, I must have been retaining water or something and this weight must've just come off in the last two to three weeks and since I triple my water intake when I work (and have been working more than usual), it must've just decided to go away :)  Horray!

(Oh and for the record, I am female, 19, start weight was about 280 lbs (didn't weigh myself until the 3rd day of my diet.. was too scared lol), current weight is 251.8, and my goal weight is 175.  I am 5'7 or so, light activity between work and light exercise on days that I don't work, and eat between 1500-1650 or so calories on days where I don't do much exercise at all and on days where I work or exercise it's between 1500-1800 usually, sometimes a little bit more.. but I always give myself a good range so that it's easier for me to not feel like I'm on a diet- so no telling me I'm unhealthy!  I follow ALL of CC's recommendations!)

You are doing really well, keep up the good work!  I hate weighing my self because my scale lies too.  I have no answer for my weight going up 2 lbs or down 3lbs this happens from day to day.  I weigh myself Monday thru Friday at the same time each day.  The weight gains have got to be water, thats what I tell myself too.  I'm not cheating and excercising like crazy, so on the days my weight goes up I try and keep a positive attitude, (which is very hard sometimes) and low and behold a day or so later I end up down 2 lbs.

I feel better physically than I have in years and I see and feel the differance in the way my clothes fit.  I started out at 157.5lbs and after 5 weeks I'm at 149lbs.  I've got aways to go and I know I will make it.

I feel good about my weight loss and you should be very proud of yourself too!

YOU GO GIRL!

I weigh myself daily in the morning and sometimes I have variations of 1 and even 1.5 Kilos (that is up to 3 pounds) I believe it has a lot to do with water retention. If you ate salty foods 12 hours before weighing in it is easy to show 2 pounds more. Also for women your menstrual cycle can impact water retention. If you have eaten a lot of salty food the best way to get back to normal is to reduce sodium intake and (as strange as it sounds) drink lots of water.

For the past two months, I have been weighing myself daily also. (I don't know if I will keep it up.) Always first thing in the morning. Then I keep a calendar and track the fluctuations along with my menstruation cycle, exercise, calorie intake. I can clearly see the link between salty foods, alcohol intake, hormones and my calorie intake. I no longer worry about a pound or two gain because those fluctuations are normal for me. I am in in downward trend overall and that's what counts. If I feel like a failure at any point, it is reinforcing for me to look back several weeks on the calendar and see where I was. I keep my eye on the trend.

That happened to me to. I was wondering what I was doing wrong then all the sudden I was 3 pounds down. I guess it took a few days for my body to kick in.

Wow, congrats!  I too have lost weight like that three to four pounds at a time, but today it looks like I'm two pounds up, and not down :(

Let's hope it's water retention. or something.

My weight fluctuates almost 3 pounds from bedtime to morning. (Yes, I've weighed myself that often.)  There have been desperation moments (days) where I've weighed myself every time I use "the facilities" hoping to see a loss.  I've started to lose now, due to healthy eating, eating small meals 5 or 6 times a day, exercising and weight training.  That bit about muscle weighing more than fat comes into play, too; my clothes feel better on me, and I look better even though the scales may not say it.  Good luck on the weight loss!  Keep up the good work!

Funny, I was just getting fed up this morning, not that I am going to change my caloric intake (which is about 1200-1300 a day, I go to the gym at minimum 3 x a week, and work with a trainer, I do 1/2 hour bike, half hour training plus some more..if we work on arms, I'll do some leg stuff...then 1/2 hour on the treadmill...

My weight has not moved an ounce in over two weeks...154.8, 154.8, 154.8, you get the picture...I have been having Leas Cuisines for dinner...they all have pasta in them, anyone have any thoughts on this?  I am gad that my clothes are fitting better, I am down to a size 10 from a 12... I am 5'1" and stuck at 154.8, 154.8, 154.8, you get the picture ;o)

Hi Lisamart1n, those Lean Cuisines are packed with sodium (think water retention) and perservatives.  You've got the quantity right, now it's time to focus on the quality ;-)

Thanks V...you get what you pay for I suppose ;o)

Yeah mine does that too! I dont wanna repeat what everyone else said, but your period or alochol level or salt intake are probably the biggest culprits.

I only allow myself to weigh in once a week, otherwise I become obsessed and get depressed if the scale fluctuates! :) Monday mornings are my time. Just seems like a good time since its the beginning of a new week. Good luck :)

Congratulations on how you are doing so far!!!  Way to go!

I weigh myself Monday - Friday in the morning when i get to work before eating. I have a little journal I track my weight, how much I am down, and make notes about maybe why I am up or down ( ie... was at bbq ate more or misjudged calories).  I do not weigh myself on the weekends... At some point I figure I need a break.

But the sudden drop seems to make sense..  I have lately been doing this thing where I hold my weight for four days, then drop two pounds.  At first I was frustrated, but i figure I will take that!

Good luck and keep up the great work!

lisamart1n - You're doing a LOT of weight training along with cardio.  You are making muscle!!!  Muscle weighs more than fat!!  If your clothes are getting loose and you look better, then that's a good thing!  Enjoy it!  Keep doing what you are doing and the weight will come off.  And, yes, Lean Cuisines and other short cuts taste good because of the sodium in them.  They replace the fat content with sodium.

This happens to me, too! I did start weighing only on Thursday mornings (naked; every little bit helps, lol). I also have cut down on my salt intake to help with the water retention and bloat. As far as the sweets, which are a major concern for me, I chose a very small and cute dish to put my desserts in and that helps with portion control. I also used to eat them with a large tablespoon but have switched to a baby spoon to slow my eating and make it last longer. I can't seem to get down where I want to be, but I am not quitting; I just keep adding ideas to my arsenal.

I don't know how true this is, but I read somewhere that if you start or increase the amount of exercise you do, your muscles go in to shock, and automatically hold water for a while.  As I say don't know if its true, but it kinda fits with what has happened to you.

Keep up the gud work.

Reading this post and all the great replies have been quite helpful.  I would feel upset if I did gain a pound or two.  I'm glad I'm not the only one this happens too.  Logically I knew I shouldn't get upset, but I always felt slightly defeated in a way.

Thank you all for your help.  I won't feel so bummed out about a little weight gain here and there.  I've lost 8ish pounds in the last 12 weeks and have decided slow is definitely the way to go.  I have a long road ahead of me, but this site, my family, friends and amazing boyfriend all support me.

Good luck to the rest of you!

Lisamart1n - are you sure you are eating ENOUGH calories??? I was eating about 1200 a day & after I met with my new personal trainer he upped me to appr 1900 because I work out 3-4 days a week too. I was told that I need appr 1400 calories just to "lay in bed and blink my eyes".... I'm 5'3 and might need more than you, but still.... 1200 can't be enough :0) I was at a stand still, but once I started eating more calories... I started loosing weight again. Might be worth looking into :0)

I agree Shugs - it's nice to see that all of us are experiencing (or have experienced) the scale frustration!  I am on a mission to lose AT LEAST 80 pounds...I've been on it for two weeks, and while the first week I saw RAPID weight loss, this past week I only lost a pound.  I'm assuming the first week I lost a lot of water weight...but it was still discouraging.

I'm going to keep doing the same amount of cardio (interval walking/jogging 5 days a week for 45 minutes) and eating the same amount of calories and hope that it kicks back in.  If it doesn't budge on my next weigh day (I weigh every Monday)...I might change things up a bit.

Again though - reading that it's normal to experience this is very reassuring.  When I went through a weight loss process before - it just fell off of me...  I guess I was expecting it to do the same this time...5 years later...  :-/

Thank you everyone!  And congratulations!  Let's all keep up the good work!!!  :-)

I think you are right on that Ashley.  I try to replace the calories I burned while working out though I have stayed at 1200 - 1400 calories daily except on days when I really go over the 300 calorie burn mark.  I hate weighing myself so I just use a very small dress I have and a tight pair of jeans I want to wear.  Now I am wearing a fourteen comfortably and my waist is 32.  In dresses I wear a 12. My practice jeans have a 30 inch waist and the dress is size 10.   I just try getting into them.  I have been on this lifestyle change since March and I weighed 240 wearing a size 22.  So I know I have lost!  You can't go into starvation mode so I was told to replace those calories on days that you do heavy workouts!  My ideal weight is 125 and I have a long way to go.  I should reach it by October of 2010.  Slow and steady is the best way so I don't think you should worry about all the weighing in.

Keep up the great work,  I started at 360lbs I walked every break I got at work which was at 10am 20min lunch the whole hour and at 3pm 20mins I did this every day,  drink  plenty of water and try to eat healthy and if I did good all week I would treat my self on the weekend to something Yummy like Ice cream or cookies I lost 100lbs the first 6-7 months , So believe me if  you want it bad enough the weight will start coming off,  it's hard but the end results are awesome I'm now 175lbs if you ever want to e-mail me for support please feel free too ok at meaguilar@scif.com Good Luck .......I believe You can Do it.. If I can Help let me Know K My name is Maria I'm 32 years from Bakersfield CA :)

Good starting goal weight but im 170 & 5'8 & i feel huge so you probably wont be happy with that weight... Good job on the 30 pounds i wish i would loose some too..