How could I have GAINED???

I'm almost 8 weeks post surgery, and today when I went to weigh at my doctors (I don't own a scale) I found I had gained a pound since last Thursday,4 days ago. Now a pound isn't much, but I haven't gained any weight since I had the surgery. I've had time where I didn't lose anything, but usually I lose at least a pound in 4 days. I've been moving around as much or more than normal, I'm not retaining water, and for once I'm not constipated. So what is it? I've been keeping track of my food, and I'm eating 400-600 cal/day, carbs are usually 15 or less/day, and I thought I was getting all the protein I need. But I'm wondering if my weight loss has slowed because I'm not getting enough protein. Is it possible to stop losing or gain because of lack of protein? Since I've started keeping track of my food, I've noticed that even though I thought I was getting 60-80g of protein/day (like my dr recommends) I'm really only getting 30-50 g/day....

Heather!  Thou shalt gain a pound here and there even it seems to defy laws of nature! 

I know it doesn't feel like you are retaining water but I would guess there is some water being held somewhere even if it isn't showing up in the usual places.  As you read the forum, you probably have noticed that many people lose in a stair step fashion.  And, sometimes, you dance around the same step for a while.  

Don't worry! Water moves in, and water moves out.  Keep to your plan and over time the weight comes off.   

(Do get your protein in, and continue to track your food.)  

You are going to do great 

You're doing great, you're only 8 weeks out, your body is probably still trying to find its groove again. Stay with your Drs plan for you & the weight will come off. Don't base your weight loss on the previous couple of weeks, you won't lose like that forever. Definitely up your protein, 30-50 sounds kinda low, especially if your Dr wants you to have more than that.

I really don't know if low protein will cause weight loss to slow down. From what I understood, the body will lose at its own pace. You can't exercise your way to thin, & you can't outrun a bad diet. Have you taken any measurements? The scale is just 1 indicator of weight loss, you might be losing inches. Finally take a breath, breathe & be patient. Good Luck to you on your weight loss journey. 

I have been taking measurements, and yes I still lost this past week and i know I should be happy with that. I guess I've gotten so used to seeing the number on the scale go down I was super disappointed to see it go up, even just one pound. 

More than likely you are just retaining water.  A half gallon of water weighs 4 lbs!!  It's true that you're not getting enough protein but that probably wouldn't hold up weight loss.  

At this early juncture do NOT sweat the numbers on the scale.  You are looking for FAT loss, not WEIGHT loss.  There's a big difference between the two, actually.  You can be losing fat and the scale doesn't move because of water retention issues (which can occur for a lot of reasons).  

Stay calm, up both your protein and water and know that this too shall pass.  Promise! 

1 lb is meaningless you  can weigh yourself a few minutes latter and weigh more or less , , where you wearing the same cloths did you go to the bathroom , eat or drink more , 1 cup of water weighs 1/2 lb

I would bet you are retaining water. Not to get too personal, but think about where you are in your menstrual cycle. For about 5 days before your period begins, every cell in your body retains a little bit if water during to a lack of progesterone. Last week I freaked because I saw a small gain and then I got my period a few days later and my weight started coming off again.

I wish i could blame it on that, but that was part of my issue the last couple weeks. :-( 

You listed what your nutritional stats are on the average.  What abou****er intake?  Are you getting AT LEAST 64 oz water/fluid?  Try to get that much minimum or more.  You are doing great for only 8 weeks out.  The scale will bounce around at times.  Perhaps you had a little too much sodium in your foods this past week which would account for a little fluid retention?  Good luck.. Keep to the plan.  It will balance out and get moving again.  Pam

Thanks Pam, I've been getting at least 64 oz of water, usually much more. It's been hot and I've been drinking a ton of water. My sodium intake hasn't been terrible, usually between 1400-2000 g of sodium a day. I shoot for 1500 or under, but most of the things that have been tasting good to me are higher in sodium, like lunch meat. So it could be fluid retention, I've always been sensitive to sodium, but until now haven't noticed any extra water retention. I'm going to try and eat lower sodium foods, drink more water and make sure I get at least 60 mg of protein a day and see if that helps things. :-)