Posts by silverschuie

First of all, Bunny, don't give up. You deserve a big attagirl for having lost 10-12 pounds in 5 weeks. That's excellent!

Yes, weight fluctuates hour-to-hour and day-to-day, depending on many factors having to do primarily with fluid balance. When I eat a bigger dinner or dinner out (more food, more sodium), I can count on weighing a pound or two more the next day, but it's usually back down the day after that. Hormones also affect fluid retention - think premenstrual bloating.

I DO weigh daily, and some studies have shown that works best overall when trying to lose weight. You have daily feedback and are hopefully encouraged to see your weight go down every few days, or are reminded that you overate the previous day and need to get back on track.

Because of fluid fluctuations, I have stuck with an old style needle scale that doesn't show tenths of pounds.

I weigh at a consistent time in my daily routine - after coffee, bowel movement, breakfast, exercise, urination, and shower. I have 2 different spots I place my scale, since slight variations in the flooring can affect the reading. If those two don't agree, I try again, at which point they usually do.

If you weigh daily, you can see the trend over a few days or a week and discount the times you retained - or lost - fluid. Remember that a pint of fluid weighs a pound, so drinking an extra glass of water or mug of coffee, or not emptying your bladder, just before weighing makes a difference (see above about consistent weighing in regard to daily routine). Suppose your true weight is 200 pounds, but on Monday morning of week 1 you have less fluid in your body than normal for whatever reason, and get a reading of 197. The next Monday morning you are well hydrated and weigh 198. You think you've gained a pound and are discouraged, but actually, you have lost 2# and should be feeling pleased and encouraged!

Play around with this a bit and see what works for you. Again, congrats on doing so well!

There are quite a few good pancake mixes available in the grocery store, including some tasty high fiber ones. Using one that calls for adding water only, start with the amount of mix/serving according to the nutrition panel, and add the appropriate amount of water. That's often a 1:1 ratio, but you can always start with less and stir while add gradually adding water. The batter will likely thicken a bit after standing for a minute or two. I just tried it for breakfast using a mix that called for water AND one egg for 2-1/2 cups of mix. I omitted the egg for the 1/3 cup mix I used (one large, two medium, or three small pancakes), and it worked just fine. For that one, I needed about half as much water as mix. It's fast and easy!

Most from-scratch recipes call for eggs, so you'd have to experiment. You may be able to eliminate the egg, or to use a little powdered egg or liquid egg substitute.

I absolutely agree that weight is not as important as fat vs muscle, and we should not get hung up on what the scale says. Seeing your clothes get looser and your measurements go down is a better indicator of how you are doing. But for those like me who like frequent positive reinforcement, measurements are a good monthly indicator, but not a daily or weekly one, as measurements don't change very quickly. My problem with weighing once a week or less is just what you said about how our weight can fluctuate daily. Example: For 7 days I weighed essentially the same, which is a pound less than I had weighed for several days before that. On day 8, I weighed 2# MORE. If I had just weighed on days  1 and 8, I would think I had gained 2#. But on day 9, I lost that 2#, held it for day 10, on days 11 and 12, I have dropped 1# more, etc. My weight graph is not a straight line, but more like a jagged lightning bolt. When I weigh only once a week, I sometimes think I have GAINED when I have actually remained the same or even LOST, and I find that discouraging.  I do NOT use a digital scale, but if I did, I would not pay much attention to the decimal points. I AM very consistent about weighing at the same time and point in my day - after breakfast, exercise, and shower.

Looking better, feeling better, having more stamina and energy, maybe cutting down or getting off any meds that might be at least partly due to overfatness - that's what counts.

I think that what works for you to eat in the late evening depends, at least in part, on WHY you are eating then. If you don't eat something, do you have trouble falling asleep because you are hungry, or awaken in the wee hours feeling hungry? I find that my best option is a cup of 60 cal Swiss Miss cocoa. It stops the hunger pains and has also become a ritual that helps me fall asleep. If I had an earlier and/or lighter than usual dinner, I may have a piece of string cheese along with it. Or I occasionally stir 1/2 T of PB into the hot cocoa. I like chunky because I like spooning out the little peanut pieces at the end. I find that I need something with some protein. Good luck with finding something that works for you while keeping the calories low.

Another way to decrease your sodium intake and increase that of potassium is to substitute a product such as NoSalt (there may be others, but that is the only one I have found) for regular table salt. You can buy it next to the regular salt in the grocery store. It contains 650 mg of potassium (from potassium chloride and potassium bitartrate) per 1/4 tsp. When I first started using it, I thought it had a more acid taste, so mixed it half and half, then 3:1, then was able to use it straight. That 1/4 tsp is listed as 19% of your daily value of potassium, and the fruits, veggies, and meats are still important sources, but it helps.