A bit discouraged...3lb gain???

I was really good today, doing 40 minutes on my bike today and eating really healthy, though I did have a bit more cheese today than I should have, but it's not any more calories than I should have had, and then I had a Chocolate Chip Vector bar to help me keep my energy during my lessons tonight.  I teach music privately. Well, when I stepped on the scale this morning, it was 1lb more than yesterday, and then when I stepped on it after exercising it said I'd gained 2lbs. THEN...after work, I went to Starbucks and had a 130 calorie Grande Skinny Mocha Latte with Hazelnut shot.  It's 2:25am here and it's still keeping me up. I stepped on the scale yet again...and it said I'd gained 1lb more...and I was like..."WHAT!?"  I had such a good day today, and I gained 3 lbs? Well, needless to say, I did 800 leg lifts today to compensate for it, and I might even do some crunches before bed...maybe my stomach was just full of water.  I had a large honey-lemon tea from Horton's that my student buys me and I usually take that without sugar.  I had 1/3 of a cup of dried cranberries too, spread throughout the night.  Would that have made a difference? Anyway...that's my mini-rant for the day.  I just hope my scale is right...or I haven't lost as much weight as I thought.  We've had the scale for 10 years, I think...so it's time to get a new one.  I'm thinking of one of those WW scales that are glass...so it reads quite accurately to the 1/2lb.  That would be much more accurate than what I have now. My parents, to make things worse, don't think that getting a gym membership would be worth it.  They tell me that I should just keep doing what I'm doing and I'll lose the weight.  I just need to walk more.  It's just too cold in the winter, but I love shopping...I do need a new pair of jeans...I hope a size 14 or 12 beckons.  I can see I'm a bit smaller...I'm not sure if I'm just gaining muscle instead of losing fat? I am not going to give up, that's for sure, but it's just a bit disappointing to step on the scale...as I do so quite a few times during the day and seeing a HUGE fluctuation.  Some days it's been 3-5lbs...so I'm wondering if it is in fact my scale, or if I am eating more in a meal than I should. Am I being too paranoid? ~Barbara~

My opinion and take it for what it's worth. Firstly, you're weighing WAY too much because it's upsetting you.   It's best to pick a particular time in the day and weigh yourself at that same time each time you weigh, be it weekly, monthly, or daily. If you're okay with weighing yourself several times a day then by all means go ahead. It's educating to see what exercise and food we eat does to our weight throughout the day.  But what you are describing is not a education relationship with the scale, it's more of an emotional relationship. Secondly, exercising and then weighing yourself in the same day is most likely going to show a gain, especially after consuming anything. Exercising makes you retain water for a couple of days.  It usually takes me 3 days before I see the results of exercising and healthy eating. During those 3 days my weight will go up 1-3 lbs and then come back down 5lbs for a 2lb loss. Sometimes its more, sometimes it's less, sometimes it's no change at all.  Point is.. don't freak out over a 1-3lb gain in one day.. or even 3 days.  If that gain stays with you for 1-2 weeks then start worrying about it. As for the gym membership you have to ask yourself why you want it.  I personally don't like gyms. They bore and cause anxiety for me.   Are you wanting the membership because you want to be healthy and strong or is it because you think the gym membership is going to make you skinny and hot?  You also need to look at how long you've been working at losing weight on this go-round.  If you've been at this for 3 months straight then the gym membership my be a viable option. If you've been doing it for 2 weeks then it's likely that the gym membership is an emotional decision.  Your parents are trying to protect you from being stuck with a contract to a gym you're not using.  Perhaps they see something in you that you aren't willing to admit. "Am I being too paranoid?" Yes, and you're weighing too much!  Weight is not really the best way to judge your success. Try measuring your arms, legs and waist as well.  That's a good way to judge your success in addition to your weight.  Remember that exercising builds muscle and muscle weighs more than fat.  Weight can be deceiving if it's your only measurement of success.

I agree with Chris that you are weighing way to much!! And you say a lb or two and even three and it upsets you..try weighing less :) Also, I have always heard myself that muscle weighs more then fat.. I think too that you are being way to paranoid...i have heard of many people go up and down those few lbs. I have a friend actually that would weigh and it would show that she has gained 10 lbs and she was weighing every morning..and then one day she may have lost 5.and then she'd be up again..and it was really upsetting her so she went to the doctor..so take a deep breath and don't be paranoid over those 3 lbs..sounds to me that you are working yourself really hard...stop weighing in so much :) Just my opinion!

Yes, you are being paranoid. We had a discussion months ago about how much water in your body actually weighs, I'd have to look waaaay back to see again, but as I recall, if your body is 60% water and you weigh 200#, that is 120# of your body that is water. Water weighs~8# a gallon, so 120# = 15 gallons or water/fluid in your body. Water can do whatever it needs to...who knows, your muscles may be retaining more this day, or your lymphatic system needs to fight hard due to a cold????  My body has been known to hold on fiercely to water wieght right before a consdierable drop on the scale. btw, the scale...stay off it if it upsets you!  You are doing good...perhaps a little obessive, but hey, we've all been there 1-30x in this life.

Thank you for your help and support.  I will try not to weigh myself as much...I know it's normal to fluctuate, but that much just threw me for a loop. Hopefully after an invigorating workout tonight things will be back on track. ~Barbara~