Water retention + plateau

Ok so my weights been the same for 2 months as maybe some of you know. And i had been slacking on the weight lifting for almost 2 weeks.

The day before yesterday i started lifting again. and MAN AM I SORE!!

I also gained 2.5 lbs since before i started lifting. Im pretty sure its water retention, since im eating no more than 2000 calories a day. But how long will it take this water to go away?

If you can understand, this isnt helping my paranoid "is my new calorie/exercise plan gonna get me out of this plateau? Will my weight finally go down next week?" -mentality.

As you can understand, if my weight is up or still the same, i wont know if its solely water retention, or if my new plan is working. Because im trying so hard to break this darn plateau, and i've been trying all month and dont wanna waste november too!

I want to say 2 weeks-ish... This is why I don't own a scale. I do have a few mirrors though.

It's different for everyone.  Mine usually only takes a few days to work itself out, but another woman in a group I'm in retained for a month. 

I know it's hard since you've been on a plateau for a while (I'm a lurker, I've seen several of your posts), but you just have to give it time.  I highly doubt you lost much muscle and gained much fat in the two weeks you took off.  It's not like you were laying in bed for two weeks.  I took a week off and started up again last Fri - that first workout was killer and made me incredibly sore, but now my lifting is back to normal and I'm barely retaining any water (maybe 1/2 a lb). 

Don't think of a plateau as a waste - use the time to show yourself that you can maintain a healthier lifestyle, even if it's not your end goal.  It sounds like you're doing most things right but then you stress yourself out and go overboard one way or another.  Try to relax a bit!

Thats exactly what i do, i dont see results and give up. Lately i've tried everything, but that next week theres still no change.

It's frustrating because i know im doing everything right. I even changed up my exercise routine and eating more varied. Also only exercising every other day so i dont wear myself out.

Is eating 2000 on days i work out (burn about 500 cals) enough?

On days i dont do extra activity i eat 1800. Just walking to classes and to bus stops, etc.

The days i sit on the computer all day and only get up to use the restroom and make food, i eat 1600. (usually on sundays. lol)

Since im only exercising 4 times a week, i think that should be sufficient. I want a 700 cal deficit. And until i get my bodybugg, i wont know for sure my energy output. I'm thinking its around 2300 a day. (18 y/o female, 5'5@185)

I've been sticking to my calorie goals better lately. Getting back into the "weightloss mentality". I guess i should stick it out for the rest of the month, and see if i finally start to drop again..

I didn't mean to say you give up - I just recalled reading in another post that you had gone over your goal several days in a row (3000+ cals if I remember correctly).  I think it's very admirable that you've continued to make overall good choices while being stuck at the same weight this long! 

It sounds like you are eating the right amount (not too much or too little), and getting a good amount of exercise.  Have you been to see a Dr at all?  (sorry if I missed it in another post)  If not, it might be a good idea just in case.  Other than that, I won't list out a million ideas since I think you've heard them all already - I'll just say keep up the good work and I know eventually the results will appear again!

You mean to get my thyroid tested or something? I wouldnt know what to ask for. Haha. My doctor is intimidating. lol

it might be some lady issues. 

i retain 5 - 6 lbs of water sometimes, in addition to feeling bummed.

walking seems to help me.

just make note, and see if it happens again.

Original Post by healthisinplease:

You mean to get my thyroid tested or something? I wouldnt know what to ask for. Haha. My doctor is intimidating. lol

I would just get a basic physical checkup (blood pressure, heart rate) and consider basic labs...thyroid, blood glucose, etc.  There's probably nothing wrong but at the very least you have a baseline to see improvements from as you get healthier.  Don't let your Dr intimidate you - find another one if you don't like him/her, or if that's not an option, just talk to him frankly.  He should be impressed with the steps you've taken to improve your health!  Or maybe it's just an authority thing...in which case, get over it

The plateau certainly isn't "lady issues", but you could consider whether that has caused the increase this week I guess.

Original Post by caloriewarrior:

it might be some lady issues. 

i retain 5 - 6 lbs of water sometimes, in addition to feeling bummed.

walking seems to help me.

just make note, and see if it happens again.

Haha, no no, im well aware of PMS water retention, this is just a straight 2 month plateau. lol

Yeah I think i'll just go ahead and ask for a regular check up. My doctor doesnt know anything about my weightloss because i just moved and he's a new doctor. He has vert bac communication skills and doesnt call back to report results. (I had to call back several times to find out why my hips were crooked, turns out one leg is 1.6 cm longer than the other, he would have never notified me.)

He kind of just half-arses his job. But i'll try him out one more time before i change.