OK Guys, I Need Some Help

I'm looking for suggestions. When I got to the gym today, I weighed three pounds more than I did yesterday. I have no monthly friend so can't blame that. For the last couple of months, like many of you, the weight loss has slowed to a crawl. I've tried eating more, eating less, drinking more water, upping the protein, exercizing more and the weight stays. My calorie intake is normally around 1,000 to 1,200 a day with between 75 and 90 grams of protein. I do an hour of aerobics almost every day and have recently added risers to my bench in step aerobics thinking I needed to kick it up a notch. Any thoughts? Any suggestions? Thanks!!!! Connie

Some days are just like that. Perhaps you ate something saltier than usual. A one-day 3 lb gain has to be fluid retention. Don't worry about it. It will go away as fast as it came. I have the same problem when a low pressure center moves into town! Joy

Remember....muscle weighs more than fat and weight fluctuations from 3 - 5 pounds are normal. There are a couple of tricks you can do to shock your system also....first, fasting (well, not exactly..) but, go back to your early surgery days where you were on soft foods and almost totally protein....the other is to increase your calories to about 1500 a day for a week or so and then drop back down to normal....this wakes up the matabolism...food diaries can help us figure out where we might be getting in hidden calories also....This is the time that we start getting into the really hard work....the surgery has done it's prime job and now, it's our turn to kick it up a notch...the honeymoon is almost over....but we will prevail and beat this disease once and for all!!!! Cause Marcher's Rule!!! Good Luck!!! Whitney

Connie, I know it feels devestating to get on the scale and see a gain but I agree with Joy. A 3 lb. gain over night when there is no reasonable explanation has to be water weight. Up your water today, avoid all salty foods and see what happens for you tomorrow. You are exercising like a maniac! Susan Powter has nothin' on you, my friend! Why don't you take a break, pull back on that just a little for this week? Instead of all that aerobic and muscle building stuff, just get out and take a nice, long walk -- you LOVE nature! Give yourself a little break and just take a healthy, long stroll and enjoy the scenery (watch out for those rattlesnakes!!). Can you share your stats with us? Where were you on the day of your surgery and where are you now? I think I recall you posted you slithered into size 12 leather pants??? Hello!!! Cut yourself a break, you're doing fantastically well! Just for the next couple of days, up your water, down your workout routine and just enjoy how your new, wonderfully toned, skinny-minny body feels! Take care, sweetie. Maureen

Ahhh - you know the others nailed what I was going to say, so I'll just say "ditto." Try a little asparagus for dinner....that should draw it out of you! Dina

Dina, You say that, "asparagus will draw it out of ya", are you talking about weight or water. If it is the weight, I am going to buy stock in asparagus and eat it morning noon and night. HEHEHEHE You gave me a chuckle. Chris

Thanks guys! Actually, I'm going to take all of your suggestions. I think Joy is on to something with the water weight because looking back over my food diaries, I am eating a lot of high sodium foods. Pickles, nuts and jerkey are high on the list. I'm also going to up the calories for a little while. I thought I was eating a lot, but I'm not getting in that much calorie wise. Today I had 2 ounces of turkey, one ounce of cheese, one of those Lean Cuisine low carb dinners that only had 130 calories. For dinner I had 2 ounces of prime rib and a tablespoon of mashed potatoes. I just wasn't hungry today. I'm going to see if I can bump up the calories while I cut back on the aerobics for a few days. I think the ol' bod can use a break. I know my knees, back and shoulders have about had it with me. Last but not least, I'm adding asparagus. I'm not getting in enough veggies and I love asparagus. Bonus if it makes me wee. I'll let you guys know how it goes. Thanks for the suggestions. Sometimes I need someone to kick me in the head so I can see what should have been obvious. Hugs, Connie

Hi, First of all you are driving yourself crazzzzzzy!!!! Do not get on that scale every day, it will make you insane! Trust me I am speaking out of experience. Maybe you should switch up your exercise routine. I go to Curves 3 times a week and walk 4 to 5 days a week. I was going to Curves 5 days a week and the weight stopped coming off. My instructor at Curves told me that working out 5 days a week is not bad but you have to have Hard workout days and inbetween those days a nice walk will do. Anyway maybe try that, and I also went to only weighing every 2 weeks. It is helping alot. Good Luck! Rhen