Need some reassurance...

So I had watched this happen to so many people, and now it's finally happened to me. Friday morning I weighed in at 145.6, my lowest in 4 years. That night I got kind of depressed and binged, but only ate over maintenance by 900 calories. The next morning I got back on my exercise regimen (30 min cardio + 15-20 min strength training + 15-20 more minutes of cardio, 3-4 days a week) and eating properly. I eat about 1600-1800 calories a day, I'm 5'7" and 19 years old. Saturday morning I had gained 2 pounds, which I had expected. I continued my normal diet and drank a ton of water and expected it was just water retention and I would get back on the wagon by Sunday. Not true! Sunday I was 148.6! And I am again today as well!

Can someone please just reassure me that this three pound weight gain is just a fluke? I lose weight very slowly and I was hoping to be 145 by Thanksgiving, and having been .6 away from it and now 3.6 away... I have no problem telling people it will even out in a few days, but when it's me, it's a different story.

Thanks.

Well I will be your someone...it will even out in a few days. You know that 900 calories doesn't equal 3 pounds, no matter how you cut it. Continue doing whatever you were doing before and you should be at your goal by thanksgiving!

I'd say (from personal experience) that this could be a normal fluctuation. And it all depends on things like what you ate, salt and water retention as you said.

You'd be surprised how much your weight naturally fluctuates depending on your cycle too. Maybe that's to blame for this sudden rise?

You're most likely right - it'll even out in a week and soon you'll be fussing about fluctuations of lower numbers like 143 and 142.

 

You'll get there, keep up the good work!

Thank you both so much... I feel better already :) And I hope you're both right about the numbers!!!

That's got to be a fluctuation.  I'll go through a couple days at a time where my fluctuation is on the higher end, whether because it's that time of the month, I'm retaining water, or my bathroom schedule is a bit more off than normal.  :)

Hey, just wanted to add that you gain and lose 5 pounds a day... so 3 pounds is nothing. Make sure you weigh yourself at the same time of day.. prefferably after you go to the bathroom. XD

I have lost a total of 130 pounds and kept it off.  I can say that it probably is just water weight, but in my experience there could be other causes, too.  If I binge on one thing - like your 900 calories - I often find I'm unwittingly binging on other things, too - like putting little bits of food in my mouth while I'm in front of the fridge, or having that pumpkin spice latte and not counting it as calories because it's a beverage.  - or way underestimating my portions - I call it ghost food.  It slips into my mouth without me seeing it. 

One thing you could do to be sure is keep track of what you're eating for a week - write it down even if it's just a cup of coffee or a piece of carrot.  If it's not water weight it probably is ghost food.  and If you keep track you'll either stop doing it (because you'll be more aware if you have to write it down) or at least know what's generating the extra calories and what you can do about it. 

Just make sure you are facing the reality of it.  It's probably nothing, but if it's something, you need to deal with it, face it and see what you need to do.  It really doesn't take long to lose 3 pounds if you have gained them, and that's just part of the journey you're on.  So do take it seriously, but don't think it's the end of the world.

I am creating a blog of my own full experience right now.  There are lots of great insights on dealing with things like this.

http//:getalegupforlife.blogspot.com

If you were going to gain weight from 900 calories it would only be .25 of a pound.  I wouldn't worry about it.  I bet you'll see a nice drop soon.