Question on weight loss patterns

I don't post that often to this site but read all the time.  I have a question for you.  I was wondering if anyone has analysed their weight loss patterns.  I am starting to think I might lose in a pattern.  Yes, you got it, analysing again.  I think I lose quite well 3 weeks in a row and then have a week where the weight loss is either small or stalled.  I wonder if you could all have a look at your weight losses and see if you have a pattern, particularly if you are a little further out.  I am not far enough out to really get a totally clear picture, but I reckon this is feasible. 

Now if we did have a pattern, I think it might help us if we know when we stall or lose only a little that it is our cycle of weight loss rather than that naughty treat we might have had that probably meant nothing at all.

Waddaya reckon?

Anne

I lose for approx one week per month - usually about the second week of the month, literally and menstrually. I usually lose a chunk (5-10lbs now) and then gain back 2 or 3 over the next 3 weeks and then lose another 5-10. It was very frustrating at first but now as long as it continues with this pattern I might not lose my mind!

I think when  you figure out your pattern it is a good thing.  When did you discover yours?  And, my next question is have you tracked what you eat in the variious weeks to see if anything is a culprit.  I read a great post recently on how we lose and the way we move fat from various sections of the body and its effects on water retention.  If I find the link I will come back and post it for you.  Made so much sense.

Anne

Here is the infor I said I would post;

This explanation is courtesy of Diana Cox:

Our bodies use glycogen for short term energy storage. Glycogen is not very soluble, but it is stored in our muscles for quick energy -- one pound of glycogen requires 4 lbs of water to keep it soluble, and the average glycogen storage capacity is about 2 lbs. So, when you are not getting in enough food, your body turns first to stored glycogen, which is easy to break down for energy. And when you use up 2 lbs of glycogen, you also lose 8 lbs of water that was used to store it -- voila -- the "easy" 10 lbs that most people lose in the first week of a diet.

As you stay in caloric deficit, however, your body starts to realize that this is not a short term problem. You start mobilizing fat from your adipose tissue and burning fat for energy. But your body also realizes that fat can't be used for short bursts of energy -- like, to outrun a sabertooth tiger. So, it starts converting some of the fat into glycogen, and rebuilding the glycogen stores. And as it puts back the 2 lbs of glycogen into the muscle, 8 lbs of water has to be stored with it to keep it soluble. So, even though you might still be LOSING energy content to your body, your weight will not go down or you might even GAIN for a while as you retain water to dissolve the glycogen that is being reformed and stored.

 

That is a good explanation for what happens and also a good explanation for why people who didn't do a pre-op diet see more dramatic weight loss for the first few weeks after surgery. Those who do a pre-op diet to "shrink their liver" are doing exactly this - dropping their glycogen stores and the associated water.

Yes I track food, and for the first 8 months or so I tracked basically every day, every calorie. Now I am more lax because I have a better idea how much food is within my "limit" but I still track a few times a month to make sure I'm not drifting into higher calories and lower protein. I haven't seen a relationship between my food and my loss pattern, but you can certainly have a temporary weight gain from the food you chose - salty foods and simple carbs make most of the people on this board at least gain several pounds of water for48hrs or more.  My loss pattern is 100% hormonally related/

I haven't tracked any patterns yet either, but I find Jenn's observation about sleep intriguing - I have noticed that when I get a nice, long sleep I seem to lose afterward. Then I saw this today on Yahoo in a feature about weight loss mistakes:

Get more sleep. After a very short period of time (about 6 nights), studies show that your glucose levels can rise if you get only 4 to 7 hours of sleep each night. New parents are excluded, but everyone else should try to hit the 8 hour mark as often as you can and get to bed BEFORE midnight. Every hour of rest before 12 a.m. is twice as valuable as the hours after midnight: Our cortisol levels are lowest before midnight therefore our recovery is the highest.

Here's the link

I think I'm hitting the rack earlier tonight!

That was extremely interesting and useful.  It makes a lot of sense to me.  Thanks for posting it.  As you see I am one of these people who is intrigues by facts and statistics....got to have some vice and as boring as it is, I think it is mine right now....lol!

Anne

WOW...all the info is very intersting.  The pattern I have so far has been slow and steady...I lose about 2-3 lbs a week...and occassionally I hit between 5-8.....so I am happy with that. No real stalls to speak of so far.  I really haven't started exercising much yet...I hope to start that this week.  That may change up things..we shall see.