Weight Up and Down
 

I've been trying to lose weight and follow an eating plan. I don't want to get into the specifics because everyone has their own idea and I don't want to get into that debate.
The thing I find odd is how much my weight can vary day to day. I weigh myself every day around the same time. Again, I know you're not supposed to weigh yourself everyday and again, I don't want to get into that discussion either.
So here's the thing. I started out at around 217. I followed my plan fairly strictly and got down to 203. Then I had a guest for a week and a couple of special events where i was eating out and eating things that I usually stay away from. My weight went back up about 209.
So I got back on my plan and my weight began to steadily go back down. I got down to 204.5 which was great until I got on the scale the next day and I was 209. So I fasted for a day and my weight began going down again. It went 209-208-206.5 205.5-204.5 and just when I think I'm doing great, I get on the scale this morning and it's 209 again. I weighed myself several times and it's 209.

Has anyone who has tried to lose weight ever had anything like this happen to them?

When I was in the service the last 2 years were spent trying to maintain weight standards my weight would plateau 2 to 5 pounds up and down mainly because I concentrated on maintaining a body fat percentage. After I turned 40 no matter how many times I lost weight it kept finding me. : )

Yes. Losing weight is a bi...

Sometimes I think we are preprogrammed for a specific weight---I look identical to my parents! Yikes

Diets don't work so much, a lifestyle does.

Also until you hit your BMI it's harder to keep a set range within 3lbs.
Your likely above your BMI

http://www.webmd.com/men/weight-loss-bmi

Weight can change that quickly due to salt intake. The salt causes the body to retain water, hence weight. The cure is to paradoxically drink lots of water, excreting the salt. Long term, reduce salt intake, read labels.

Likely water retention has lots to do with it
 

My main comment is congratulations. All I read there is that you have lost 8 pounds. :thumbup:

The rest of my post is just some guys opinion, who is not a doctor, not a dietitian and is not thin

Weight loss, like stock growth has to be measured over time, fluctuations on a graph are just noise, it is the trend that matters. IMO the biggest mistake anyone can make is trying to get weight off too quickly and not consuming enough good calories. It is all about metabolism and how the heck we can burn more calories. By not ingesting enough calories the body will learn to live on less.

Take pride in the 8 pounds, then set some goals like:

• I will weigh less than 200 pounds this time next year
• my blood pressure will be xxx/xx
• I will consume a healthy diet (not discussing what that is)
• I will get stronger and more fit. I will have more muscle to burn calories

Well, I knew that was you at the Sat Night Dance party, and couldn't figure out why you looked different! You still have all your hair, but less of you! congratulations on moving toward what you want.

ehhhh, maybe you need a new scale...
and....
a wise person said to me about the stock market, the only two days that matter are the day you put the money in, and the day you take it out.

CONGRATULATIONS!

As ajbrown stated, you have lost 8 pounds - great!

I have been dieting for years and yes, your weight keeps fluctuating. The main thing, obviously, is to stick with it.

Very difficult. The older I get the harder it is to even get started on a diet. I have just started mine and hope I stick to it.

Now - where is that fat burning pill????

As others have said, congrats, and stick with it. You didn't say when you started the weight loss plan. If it's been quite a while, you may need to adjust something in the plan. Maybe replace a carb with a veggie or just cut one non-essential item for a while. See if trimming the food helps to jump start your lose again. I agree about your BMI needing to be at optimal level to maintain your weight. Once you BMI is right, it's easier to keep it off, and one or two bad days won't mess with your progress so much.

After my husband and I stayed on our preferred plan for a very strict 6 weeks, we found we could then eat extras and still lose weight. Hubby actually lost too much and had to add back a cookie, or two!:)

Good luck to you!!

Simple facts: It takes 3500 unused calories to gain one pound. Even in your week of eating out, I doubt you truly gained that much weight. Contrary to popular belief, weight comes off much faster than it goes on. By the same token, it takes a 3500 calorie deficit to lose 1 pound.

You probably burn 1600+ calories per day, by staying alive...breathing, heart beating, etc... your basil metabolic rate.

My weight fluctuates like yours daily, but not such big swings. Normally, 2 to 3 pounds.

Like others have said, you are likely experiencing water weight gain, due to sodium in you diet.

Anyway...congrats on your weight loss so far....stick with it!

By the way, I do weight myself at Publix periodically to verify my scales accuracy...

don't weigh yourself every day. Once a week, same day, same time, naked (optional), before breakfast.

If you haven't done it, try making a list of every single thing you eat or drink during the day and the calories of each food.....labels or estimate. You will find it takes a lot to make the 3500 calories per day.

Go to a web site and find how to measure your metabolic rate. This will allow you to determine what your average daily calorie consumption should be. And then if you stay under that number you will be burning more calories than you put in.

AND if you do not currently partake of some active exercise you need to start doing something. The easiest is walking. Yes it is boring but it does have the effect the body needs to increase metabolism, lower your heart rate, etc.

Then do not vary from the routine.

There are times when we go out to dinner that I order my favorite dessert, carrot cake and coffee for my entre'....about the same as having the main dish/salad/etc.

The food you do eat should have high Fibre....fibre....fibre....fibre.

No eating after 8 PM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There is a relatively new app called LoseIt. It was not designed for our age group, etc...I am using it because the developer is a friend of a relative. Anyway I have found that by not putting in my daily exercise it is more realistic for me. If you put exercise in it adds back more calories to eat. I am now accountable to my Ipad! It works for me. I have been steadily,albeit slowly, losing for three weeks, imagine my horror when at the doctor's office yesterday I was suddenly 4 pounds more! I figure it was the blue jeans and sneakers.
Just keep at it, the weight will come off.....eventually.

Hmmm...wonder if you've ever heard of the 'set-point' theory, where the body wants to be at a certain weight and will struggle to get back to that weight in spite of your efforts. You might google it and see what you think. There have been books written on the subject and it always made some sense to me.

Mudder...LoseIt is a great app.... I've lost 70lbs using that app since June!

Sometimes it is too overwhelming to say I have to lose 25 to 35 pounds. It is much more manageable to do it in five pound increments; ie lose five pounds and let your body adjust to that new weight. Then, using that as your starting point, lose five more pounds...take time to adjust and keep going. Worked for me 15 years ago when I lost 35 pounds and kept it off.