Tough little Plateau with a happy ending :)

As usually happens with me, I had a nice last minute drop at the end of September that allowed me to move my ticker down some. Generally I'm one who hovers around a number for a week or two then get a "swoosh" drop over a couple of days.

This past two weeks I've had not only a plateau, but for the first time I actually gained a couple of pounds that didn't disappear for almost a week (what I consider a REAL gain). The weight gain was about 3 pounds (from 150 to 153) and it finally disappeared this morning.

The good news? My body fat has dropped and my muscle mass increased over this time in a "swoosh" kinda way which mathematically makes the increased weight make sense. While I don't think of the impedance test as a very reliable way to monitor one's body fat, I think they do give some helpful trending information. The one I have has separate pads for each hand and foot, making it slightly more reliable than the hand held only or feet only units. I hadn't used it since my initial drop to 150 at the end of September. It has been showing a very slow decrease in my body fat % (from over 50% to 39% since WLS). The 39% was the reading from late September, and last night it read 34%, I got a similar reading this morning. The muscle mass number went from 23% to 28% too.

The underlying factors to this sudden shift could be explained by my recent foray into weight lifting - I'm on week number four now and maybe I'm really building up some muscle? I kept looking at my food diary and even though it reflected some seriously poor food choices, it didn't reflect a calorie level that could explain a 3 pound weight gain. My measurements have also been improving over the past two weeks - but it's so freaking hard to ignore that number on the scale!

Now I'm just hoping to break into the 140s! My surgeon's goal is 145lbs (mine is 115 as I've got a tiny little frame and I'm only 5'3").

FWIW - here's my exercise program:

1. Run 3 miles, 2 to 3 times a week
2. Swim 30 to 40 minutes 2 times a week (non-run days)
3. Bike to work (10 miles round trip)at least twice a week
4. Lift on a trainer designed/monitored weight circuit twice a week (3 sets of 15 - ten machines)
5. Walk the dog at least 45 minutes 2 to 3 times a week

That's awesome!

I also do that cycle... several days to a few weeks up and down but roughly staying at the same weight, and then whoosh 3# come off.

Congrats on the loss and getting a good exercise program going.

Great job on your awesome exercise routine!

Make sure you are taking measurements too. I would trade for poundage for muscles!

Also weight loss for me is never linear. Up and down then about every 2 to 3 weeks will see the scale drop.

I'll try to get measurements this weekend! Yesterday a pair of slacks that had been snug were almost too loose!