Have you checked w/ a Dr.?

From the limited info, it seems you're not eating in a healthy way, regardless whether it's low-cal or not. Edema can cause weight gain, even if one isn't eating fattening foods, BTW...

Pickles = water retention for me.

That said, the problem with any weight loss quick fix plan (fasting?) is when you do change the plan you are likely to gain.

That must be really frustrating. I don't have your issue (I can't lose but only b/c I have no will power), but one of the women in a support group I used to belong to was the same way. She would weep with frustration when the rest of us were losing and she was gaining on the same number of calories.

I do find that I can eat whatever I want during my pms week and not gain an ounce or sometimes even lose, but if I eat the same way at other times in my cycle, it shows up right away. This might explain some of it for you?

I would also recommend a check up with a good doc. There are things like thyroid and hormones that could be out of whack.

I am glad to hear your work is going well. When work sucks, it sometimes seems like life sucks. Wonderful to have a job you enjoy.

ETA: my other excuse when I gain and I feel I shouldn't be, is to blame the scale :)

I'm so sorry this is being frustrating. If it's any help, Dr. Fung says that even on a total fast, all the time with no days off, the average person will lose no more than half a pound a day, and he warns that the bigger loss at the beginning is just water that will come right back as soon as you start eating again. So you're really not doing all that badly.

I'm on Weight Watchers and have lost 15 lb with 5 to go so far. I know that a lot of folks on the WW forums say that if you try to hurry the process and eat significantly below the daily points, you will actually lose less than if you ate all the necessary points. It is counter intuitive, but the body thinks you are starving and thus holds onto the weight. I've heard this elsewhere, too. It does seem like you are eating too little. Why not just adopt a sensible calorie intake (1200-1500?) with perhaps one fast day a week? What I've realized more than anything is that weight loss is just a matter of consistency and lots of patience.

A friend of mine has ups and downs like that. He feels like he's really careful, but can seemingly gain 2-3 lbs overnight. Usually it ties back to something that caused him fluid retention. If he just stays calm, his weight goes right back down in a day or two. I really don't think it's physically possible for a normal person to eat enough to retain 4 lbs of it, in one day. See what the scale says tomorrow.

Thanks, Daisy. The opportunities at work are exciting -- even with the hectic couple of months that comes with them.

I should have been clear. Alternate day fasting means 500 calories one day--eat what you want the next. I've had 500 calories a day for most of the last 7 days. I don't consider a handful of tomatoes and a slice of cheese a day going back to "normal eating". Does anyone?

i do suspect I need to have my thyroid meds adjusted .. and while that may contribute to my already (life long) slow metabolism, I don't think it would target one week to go wacky.

No major water retention-- my rings are slightly tight so there is some -- but about what you'd expect on a hot day!

still -- I see NO explanation for a weight GAIN. Darn it. They put very obese people on 800 calories and they lose 60+ lb in a few months

as for water weight and early losses I think that can be true for those with bad eating habits -- chemicals/toxins in junk/processed foods can cause you to hold water... I didn't experience those kinds of early losses (though I have in the past) until this week, I've lost a steady 1-2 lb a week with an occasional 3lb (since mid April)

Thanks for the suggestions -- but mostly thanks for understanding the frustration!

FYI. I only weigh once a week. I was feeling thin today so I weighed a day early (!).

Emory congrats on your losses!!

I have never lost weight on the oft quoted 1200 calories. Not even when I was MUCH more active... :(

one more thing to clarify. I wasn't trying to be extreme or short cut anything. I had a hectic schedule and at the end of the day not much appetite or desire for a meal.

I too am on thyroid meds. For me stress causes me terrible problems with my weight. And no, it is not because stress causes me to eat more. Our adrenal glands and our thyroid function are very closely related. Some people like me have poor adrenal function that affects our weight. You can do a search and find tons of information about this however, most Dr.'s do not recognize this condition. Sorry that you are having problems, I can totally relate.

Oh my I am sooo sorry.

I get very frustrated when I am "good" and the Scale Gods refuse to capitulate. It is hard enough without "unfair" results.

My thoughts ---

1. I only weigh weekly, even when I am tempted because I "feel skinnier" (totally know what you mean). It greatly reduces the risk of the Scale Gods messing with you. Even a day.

2. You may want a scale that estimates water weight? My Dr. has one so I tried one too and I now find that my water weight does shift a lot (and I eat almost zero processed food so it isn't like my sodium should vary too much). Dr. says it is more hormonal (oh joy). They are imperfect but it is a thought. Sometime I gain weight one week (water) but lose fat.

3. I would double down; the scale owes you. You know, I would just show THEM and be perfect again this week. Then your next weigh in will probably look pretty good.

You are slowing down your metabolism, in part.

I know this will pass .. and I am just competitive enough to stick to the plan and beat the damn scale! Thank you for the encouragement.

I am reminding myself that the scale didn't budge at all when I was on a steady calorie restriction. My body responded to the alternate days. I need to stick with that plan. Make myself put together a meal even when exhausted and/or bringing home work.

Gale, I think you are onto something. My adrenal levels get out of whack too. Istress --even good stress is a better explanation than anything else I've come up with. I was planning to work this afternoon/evening but I'm going to take the day to chill. (I've been on the deck feeling guilty) I will be much more relaxed and focused tomorrow!

I also am due for a thyroid check. It's very frustrating.

Plus, I just went to my annual conference this month and some of the UK researchers from Bath were presenting their data on fasting. Unfortunately, they found that the alternate day fasting didn't do a whole lot for overweight people and some of them even gained, but the normal-weight people lost weight! They were even monitoring them with blood glucose monitors to ensure they were not cheating. So, that was a little discouraging.

I know this will pass .. and I am just competitive enough to stick to the plan and beat the damn scale! That a girl!

Gscience --- I think it is so hard to really accurately study these things. It is a very complex system designed to insure our very survival! And people cannot really be monitored 24/7 with precise control groups, either.

We are all our own guinea pigs!

Yes!! What Mtn said!! (ETA. Re conflicting "guidance" calories vs metabolism)

I feel your pain. For me, it's 900 calories and moderate exercise, which are next to impossible together because I bonk.

Remember with thyroid, there are connections to your lady-hormones, blood sugar issues, and metabolic disorders. And because these levels interact, when one alters so do the others. Poor eating and not enough calories will absolutely kill your effort.

the battle is real

Mtn- thyroid goes hand in hand with metabolic issues. That is real.

Yeah, to really study 24 calorie expenditure requires either living in a metabolic chamber or else doubly-labeled water. Not easy to do.

Then I also went to some presentations on the gut microbiome and nutrition, obesity, and exercise, which were also awesome, but we are only beginning to really explore this, and a lot of the research still is in mice and rats.

Yes sorry meant to add way back .... disclaimer o know nothing about thyroid.

I had been paying more attention to bad fats intake than calories but try to watch both. I do have one cheat day a week. One thing I noticed with the low fat part of the diet is that it was harder in the beginning part of my gym workout, my muscles seemed stubborn to the idea. I've slightly upped my fat intake (good fats) and noticed a difference for the better. It's all one great big balancing act! Since the ten pound challenge I haven't lost any more weight but haven't gained. My body has changed a lot though. Still have a lot of work to do on the torso area. Still need to figure out a way to lose at least five more pounds. Might have to give up my glass of Cabernet I have most nights with husband. But, we enjoy a glass of nice cab so I'm not sure it would be worth it.

OK. I am done with the pity party lol.. but i do think i want one of these scales that estimates BMI, bone density and water weight. Which brand do you have, Mtn? Any experiences good/bad/indifferent?

Funky, not home right now but will look.

Sure.. no rush. I'll be at this awhile :)

It can be very frustrating when the scale doesn't show what you expect.

I would be very concerned though if you've gone 7 days with only 500 calories a day. That is not enough and not healthy for you. If you are trying to lose weight to get healthy, consider putting more emphasis on the health than the weight to be sure you're eating all the things your body needs: fruits, vegetables, proteins, healthy fats and lots of water...and a daily multivitamin.

I too can testify that eating too little retards my weight loss. Back in the day when WW was doing calories, my weight came off faster on 1200 calories per day than 1000. Now that they do points, my weight loss is definitely slower if I don't get my full 30 points in a day.

Also the cheese, the crackers and the pickles are all very salty and can cause water retention. When DH returned from our 2 weeks in Alaska, especially after the cruise, the food was so salty that he lost 8 lbs in 3 days once he got home.

And -- can we talk -- I lost 1.8 lbs in one week at Weight Watchers, which is a lot for me...the next week I was up 1 lb. I knew it would happen too. Why? Because the prior week, before weigh-in, I was --er-- shall we say running loose and I disposed of a lot of waste and water that would normally still be in my gut. If you are not eating a lot and especially not vegetables or fiber, then the food you've eaten can still be in your system and you're weighing that too. (Some say people can carry 20 lbs of food in their system including 8 undigested meals!) So even on the low cal days, do make sure to get lots of fiber to keep things moving.

Getting your thyroid checked is also a good idea. It can certainly mess with weight.

Could you be full of stool? If you don't have regular bowel movements, that can also add to your weight. Ask me how I know... I weigh every day.

I weigh myself once every one to two weeks. I fluctuate by 5 lbs. It's normal or so I've heard. Sometimes the food stays with me for longer so I weigh more on exactly the same cals. Sometimes I eat more than I usually do so it takes a while for my weight to re stabilize.

The most reliable weight reducing program for me is to eat the same thing in the same proportion for the week days. If I do so I don't overeat as the food isn't exciting. On the weekend I have some cheese and 2 slices of rye bread. That is if DH and I don't go out for pizza, which we do every third week. Those are my cheat days and foods. :)

I have read that it is difficult to maintain weight loss due to regular eating as opposed to diet eating.

I plan to continue to be really bored with my food most of the time for the rest of my life. It is my fuel, not my fun. (Except on grilled cheese or pizza day as I said. :) )

So far so good. Plus I exercise a ton.

Funky,

Mine is an EatSmart Products Precision Body Fat Scale Bathroom Scale. I bought it because i like how it looks. : ) My model is no longer avail. though.

I find it to be very precise with weight. As far as water%, I am not sure how it squares vs my Dr.s (much fancier) scale ... CR says most home scales are not very accurate on this statistic, but they can be used to measure changes over time or vs a baseline.

See Consumer Reports here: http://www.consumerreports.org/products/body-fat-scale/ratings-overview/

FYI people seem to like this on amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/1byone-Bathroom-Bluetooth-Wireless-Visceral/dp/B01FHELB56/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_121_bs_t_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=81EEYK3KWR1AC94VA1FN

I follow some fasting groups in Facebook and a lot of people think that with 500 calorie fasting you may tend to plateau. What seems to be more recommended is doing, say 18 hours of fasting and a 6 hour window for eating. So eat dinner tonight, then nothing but water or maybe coffee without sweetener until 18 hours later. (I frequently do 18:6 starting with dinner and find it pretty easy.) Throw an occasional 24 hour fast in there. You want to mix things up so your body doesn't get used to any one schedule. Also, you may not be eating enough fat, and some people find they can't eat fruit without blood sugar spiking and weight increase.

I only have success with a low carb diet. I could not eat a piece of fruit without gaining weight. I weigh myself every day if I remember. I use creamer in my coffee and found that i did not lose if I had more than two cups of coffee, no sweetener, a day. I have been a low carber since my 20's. Calorie counting does not work for me.

Thanks, Mtn. I have the same brand but mine doesn't include body fat/water weight, etc. While looking at them, I realized that I bought my scale because of the xlarge digital display (vision probs). I'll have to find the right combo of digital readout and features. Or I continue to wing it.

Bluebell, the nature of my schedule is that I tend towards 18-24 hr fast .. except for cream in my coffee every morning which pretty much blows it (no sweetener). I do try to get lunch a few days a week-- even if it is just an orange-- but some weeks that just doesn't work out. I don't seem to get a blood sugar spike from the fruit I eat-- or at least I don't get the tell-tale "hunger" after a sugar spike (I don't test my blood sugar).

I am surprised that so many mention the salt in pickles-- I've always used pickles as a diuretic because of the vinegar. I don't really think 3 crackers or a slice of cheese are going to make me hold on to a huge quantity of water-- but again, I don't have the tell tale signs of large scale water retention. Some water retention? sure, possibly-- but not 4lb worth.

I did NOT eat as much fiber as usual-- I did have some lentils, tomatoes, whole grain crackers but not the normal quantity or array of veggies. Also thyroid can mess with the digestive system also.

Like I said above-- I am done whining. I am going to press forward and keep going. When you weigh once a week, sometimes there are aberrations but they even out. Ive stocked the fridge and I am ready for a new week!

Thank you for the support and encouragement.

On a good note, I weighed myself today and I was down about 3 lbs. I feel a difference in my clothes, so yay. I'm getting to the Y more often since I am on summer break and overall step counts better. Also cutting way down on alcohol. But I will take even this little progress.

For those of you who are interested, I've lost 80 lbs. It took me 1.5 years. I've kept it off for almost 2 years now. The maintaining is more difficult for me than the losing was. I went to a doctor who has the industrial style of the little scale Mtn recommended. It measures the fat, water and muscle. Tells you your BMI, etc. That really encouraged me. It also tells you your resting metabolism. I ate 500 calories a day less than what my resting metabolism burned, and I consistently lost 1 to 2 lbs a week. After about 25 lbs, I joined a gym and started working out, too. I never really felt deprived because I decided how to use my calories. If I wanted to splurge on something, I knew I had to give up something else. And I always have one Dove dark chocolate candy before I go to bed. I struggle with keeping the weight off because I still love food. I eat so much healthier now, but I have trouble with portions. I gradually eat a little more and a little more. That's why I weigh every day. I can't afford to let it slide. If the scale starts creeping up, I have to nip it in the bud immediately. I've lost weight on 3 separate times in the past, and always gained it back. This is the longest I've ever kept it off. Before, I started gaining it back almost immediately after I'd lost it. What started it all was that I found out I had a fatty liver. It scared me. I didn't really think I could lose it, but to my surprise, I did. After menopause, when I tried to diet, I felt starved and deprived, and then didn't lose any weight. I wasn't cutting back enough. With this calorie driven diet, since I ate what I wanted, I was in control, not some unseen dietician or author. But different things work for different people. Now I'm healthier than I've ever been, in better shape physically than I've ever been, and feel 42 instead of 62. Since I lost slowly, I lost primarily fat, and minimal muscle. And the gym helped with that as well. So take heart, if I could do it, you can too. And if you fall off the wagon, jump right back on. The longer you delay, the harder it is to get back on.

Jeane Gallo - That's why I weigh every day. I can't afford to let it slide. If the scale starts creeping up, I have to nip it in the bud immediately

Exactly, your story mirrors mine so closely. I lost 42 pounds over 9 months in 2009 by, as you did, dropping 500 calories a day and I have it kept off. I weigh myself every single day.

What I found as you have done, is because I feel so much better, am in better shape and most importantly moving is just so much easier, I suspect that you too will keep it off.

I have eliminated all carbs (including fruit for now). I am only eating veggies and meat and some nuts. With my salads I eat a yogurt based dressing and it is low in carbs, sugar, fat and calories. I have found that it is the only way to get rid of stubborn weight loss.

Exercise really helps speed things up. I walk daily for half an hour. Not much, but for me it is better than nothing.

Also, I have read repeatedly that the more you sleep the more you lose. In that, I mean getting a good night's sleep vs. four or five hours. It's odd, you think it would be the other way around.

Congrats on your weight loss! 10-15 pounds is significant. I am sure you will lose those extra 4 you gained back in to time. Scales can also vary from 1 to 5 pounds in just a day. Frustrating!

Congratulations to you all for your losses.. and for sympathizing with my effort with (temporary) negative results.

a few things

• I have to be really really careful about no carb (or more accurately, low carb-- as veggies are carbs). I have found that my very slow digestive system NEEDS the water soluble fiber.
• Based on my experience the last few days, I am pretty sure my (temporary!) weight gain is from a lack of fiber-- both water soluble and insoluble.
• I think we all need to decide how we diet and what works for us-- what keeps us motivated and what keeps a healthy view of our eating/dieting/weight loss. For ME, weighing daily is not the best approach. I get obsessive/competitive with the scale-- in a way that can work against me. It may be different when I am in maintenance mode.. but I doubt it.

It's so helpful to hear from all of you-- what works, what doesn't. I may not adopt all approaches but it makes me really consider what works for ME rather than hopping from one thing to the next based on the last article I read.

. I may not adopt all approaches but it makes me really consider what
works for ME rather than hopping from one thing to the next based on the
last article I read. - funkyart

Yes, I completely agree. I have a friend who does this and this is a woman with a degree in Biology. She got herself and her body so mixed up she wound up having to go to the doctor. She was switching diets just about every week based on the latest theory. And now she's decided to follow something called the Obesity Code diet which I haven't heard of but she's going to give it a go.