lil help from the ladies pls

It was good seeing you guys last Wed. I hope to be around here more.

I was wondering if you can help me, help the mrs.

She hit wonderland a few weeks ago, but in the past week her weight began to climb.  We've hit the gym extra hard, and it didn't help.

She is going thru her cycle, and that was my explanation, but wanted to see if I was blowing smoke up her butt. 

Thanks for letting me know.

What is she eating? Give quantities and description.

I could have gained anywhere between 5-10 pounds of water weight with my cycle. She could also be gaining muscle since you are at the gym more and muscle weighs more then fat. I would tell her to only weigh weekly, anything more is setting yourself up for disappointment! AND I might even skip the week I was PMSing! I only weigh about once a month now.

Hope that she can get back to loosing soon!

Liz

PS - how are YOU doing?

Hey, welcome back to the boards! Been wondering how you guys were doing. Congrats to the Mrs for hitting Onderland - that's awesome!!

Knowing what she's eating would help but her cycle will definitely cause weight gain, but just temporarily - it'll pass.

And as long as she's not gaining a lot of weight I wouldn't be too concerned - if her weight is only fluxuating a couple of pounds up and down its her body catching up to itself.

Put the scale away - tell her to only weigh once a week - and Liz is right - skip the week of her cycle - that only makes matters worse!

Hope you're both doing well...Kathy

Hey good to "see" ya!  I agree with the posts, between cycle (DEFINITELY a weight adder-upper) AND building muscle it's bound to happen.  In addition, as the body builds muscle and cycles through the glycogen stores it depletes water in the muscles (about 5-8 pounds).  Then, as you build muscle the body starts "retaining" more of the water in the muscles to aid in glycogen processing so it "seems" like you are gaining weight.  You really AREN'T.  She'll probably see a larger than normal drop within the next two weeks.  I know it's frustrating but ultimately it will help her KEEP the weight off and her muscles built up.

Hey Steve,

I'm with Nan (her advice on this topic has never varied) and I'm adding a few of my own thoughts below:

- 1st: you need to know what you are consuming, so starting a food log is key

- 2nd: evaluate the food log as it may reveal souces of additional 'empty' calories (cut them out)

- 3rd: evaluate exercise regeim and 'switch it up'... not nessecarily work harder but just a change.  Like go swimming instead of biking or do a spin class instead of treadmill....etc.

- 4th: self evaluate what you're comfortable with.... maybe upon reflection 195-ish isn't that bad (in heignsight) because it's all about maintining what lifestyle you now want.  Hitting the gym 5 days a week and always being good is just not realistic....so it's finding that happy medium with what can be maintained is the new goal.

- 5th: plateaus are normal provided you're not adding calories (hence food log) so it's just perserverance in some instances.

- 6th: it's about what she wants.  I suggest you step back and don't offer much advise.  If she wants help she'll reach out and/or speak with her doctor if she's not comfortable coming to the meetings or posting online.  She may take your genuine thoughful advise as invasive, patranizing and generally unwelcomed.  If she wants help she'll have to reach out to a 'real' medical professional.... not some quack that likes James Bond :)

Later,
-GD_007

In addition to the wonderful advice already given, what I have found is to weigh myself weekly, chart it, and then wait for two or three MONTHS before looking for a reason to panic.  Net losses will not be seen for a couple of months, due to the fluctuation of the water weight in a women who is menstruating.  Therefore, charting it for a few months helps to see the reality.  

Keep up the great work.

Trish