I worked SOOO hard this last week, and gained two lbs!

Yes, I was actually AT the gym, had my passes for the Step class and then the Weight Training class right after, two in a row. I stepped on the scale to get my "official" weight for this week and it was actually UP two lbs from last week, I was so depressed about this I actually just left the gym and didn't do any of the classes. I came on to obesity help about three weeks ago because I was gaining weight, and I was pretty sure it was from my excessive drinking and my snacking all day and all night. I was EASILY (now that I've been tracking calories) consuming 4,000 calories a day with those two habits, and I wasn't working out at all. So sure, it was pretty obvious what was causing the weight gain.  So, step number one? I cut out the drinking.. ok so I cut it WAAAAYYY back and I pretty much cut the snacking out completely, after a few days of this I went down a couple lbs...but obviously the scale was just wrong, or it was water loss..etc Cause by the following week I was right back up where I started. So I thought "ok, don't get discouraged, apparently cutting OUT all the bad things isn't enough, so, let's ADD some good things".  So I added a LOT of working out. For example One day I walked 2 hrs at about a 3 MPH pace doing fliers, I then went and walked uphill (very high incline) for 45 minutes at a 2.8 pace (broke a HUGE sweat), then later that day wen****er jogging  for 30 minutes. On another day I did the 45 min treadmill climb, 5 min on the stair climber and a 60 min spinning class. We're talking I'm burning like over 1,000 calories a day. AND since I'm tracking what I'm eating I know I'm around 1,100 and 1,400 total calories a day, except for two days. One day I got up to about 2,000 calories, the other day (last night) actually ate 3,600 (this is how I KNOW I used to eat easily around 4,000 calories because it was pretty easy to eat the 3,600 yesterday, and that didn't include ANY alcohol.)  So for MOST of the days I'm eating about 1,400 or less and burning about 1,000. I was expecting like a LEAST a 3 lb weight loss. I appear to have lost 3 inches from my waist..and 2 inches from my hips, but maybe I just measured wrong last week..I don't know

What is wrong?!!! If this doesn't work then what will? Do I literally  need to cut out ALL carbs and put my body into ketosis like it was the first month out of surgery? Do I need to do an all liquid protein drink diet? Do I need to cut my calories back even more? The only times I've lost weight is when I cut carbs out completley, I mean down to 20 carbs a day or LESS, do you know HOW hard that is to maintain? As soon as I eat more carbs then that the lbs come piling right back on, causing major yo yo dieting.  Or when my calories were under 900 (the first several months after surgery) Do I just have to pretend I'm allergic to carbs and simply NOT touch the stuff? How much harder do I have to work?! And is it worth it? Or should I just eat drink and be merry, cause I'm gonna be fat regardless?

I'm at a loss and just don't know how to continue from here, there are SO many contradictions in how to lose weight, carbs, no carbs, some say you have to eat under 900 calories to lose weight, others say if you eat under 1,200 your body will go into starvation mode...I know SOOO much about nutrition, I've read almost every book about weight loss.. and I have never been so confused as to what to do,

*sigh*

Leslee

Leslee, I haven't posted to you before but have been reading the boards when time allows.  I know right now you are feeling really down but don't give up.  I think you are doing the right things for now, watching your intake and exercising.  Your body is just wanting to be stubborn right now but IF you can keep working like you have the past couple of weeks, I believe you'll see progress very soon. Each of us are so different, some people can eats lots of calories and carbs and still don't gain, others are more sensititve to carbs.  I have to watch mine and right now I'm watching them go in my mouth, ughhh.  Today a group of us on the Texas Message board are going to join forces and get our tails back on track. I do wonder though if you are burning 1000 calories per day and averaging in the 1500 or less range then your body is thinking it is in starvation mode and may not give up the weight, just a thought, hopefully someone that understands this better can elaborate. Good luck,

I wonder about the burning so much and taking in what I am, if my body is doing the starvation mode thing.. I've heard so many contradictions on how to lose weight I'm more confused then ever before! lol..ugh!  Thank you for your post! Leslee

hey leslee first of all dont give up, and the fact that you are posting is a plus. i think you know that our bodies and our scales dont always cooperate even when we are doing the right things. give it some more time, take one day at a time, and each day do the best you can do. eat your protein first, then some veggies or fruit. can the carbs for a bit, and for sure the drinking. chew gum, eat sf hard candy and keep up the exercise when u can.  most of all, dont make yourself crazy.  this is a process and you know that if you do all you shoud. the weight will come off again keep posting too, we will all hold your hand hugs, jacki

Thank you so much for lifting me up...I was actually crying when I left the gym.. I've been So exhausted and sore all week from working so hard...I really wanted to be rewarded for all my hard work ya know? I should give it at least a month with the working out and keeping the calories in a good range.. I know ONE week isn't really a fair assessment of my progress. In the meantime I'm going to cut my carbs way back again. Thanks again for your support. Leslee

Hi Leslee please believe me when I say I've been there, bought the T-shir****ched the video!!  It is soooooooooo discouraging when we have done all we know we should and STILL the scales are not co-operating. I have struggled with this my whole post wls journey.  Sometimes I work my butt off and see no loss, other times I relax and am not so careful and I lose.  There seems to be no rhyme or reason. BUT...the reason I'm going on, is that I've been recently watching biggest loser - couples.  (we get it shown after you guys)  Anyway, one week, everyone did really badly, and at other times people would gain weight, stay the same or only lose 1 or 2 pounds.  This is after working out hard in the gym for 6 hours a day!! See what I'm getting at here.  If those people who have trainers on their case all day long struggle some weeks, why do we think it will be any different for us? We just have to stick with what we know works for our bodies - what has worked in the past.  It will be different for everybody.  I, like you am totally confused with all the different ideas floating around - carbs, no carbs, starvation, no stravation, etc etc etc.  We have to remember what works for us, or, try something new, but stay with it for a least a few weeks to see how our bodies respond to it.  A week is not long enough to tell.  If we start jumping from one eating plan to another we will get back onto the meryy-go-round of yoyo dieting and fad diets.  Not good. Sorry this is such a long reply, but I know you have worked really hard and are determined to get this weight going again, I've been following your posts recently. Be kind to yourself, hang in there and you'll get through this.  Keep posting so we can support you in these hard times. hugs, Ruth

Thanks Ruth, You brought up a good point with the biggest looser, I haven'****ched that in years. Soooo..... I think I'm gonna go back to the gym today! I can't stop now, it's not a fair judgement, based on one week. Thanks. leslee

I have to agree with everyone else here Leslee.. you were basically being "toxic" to your body by feeding it alcohol and snacking a lot.  (please don't take offense to me saying "toxic" b/c I have got the t-shirt myself as far as grazing is concerned) and then you cut back the cals suddenly and added exercise and the body is saying WHOA MOMMA?  WTH is going here?  Give it time.. it needs to adjust.  It may take a few weeks.. yes a few.  Trust me.. I know :)  Just PLEASE do not get discouraged.. remember this is a LIFETIME committment and LIFESTYLE change that will not happen overnight.  You are developing habits to hold on to for the rest of your life and we can't expect miracles in 1-2 weeks even when those one to two weeks seem like a long time and should produce results b/c we are so focused on our changes.  Immediate satisfaction is what we all want but in the end I promise the changes that are made over the LONG haul are what is more important.  I have to resay this.. DO NOT GIVE UP, now is the time you have to make the decision if you will continue or not.. I hope u reach down deep within yourself to continue providing good fuel and movement for that body of yours.. you can do it.  You will see changes soon and I am sure those inches are inches lost.. they go first then the pounds follow.  Always for me.  You are working out too so those muscles are also in freak out mode and sore muscles means more water retention.. its natural.  Hang in there u are doing great! Keep it up!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you Melissa That was very helpful, and I didn't know about the water retention with muscle soreness (guess I don't know everything yet huh? lol) and it makes sense that my body is like "WTH?  Sooner or later it's going to realize I mean business! Thanks everyone! And the "I love you" part, always good... Leslee

Leslee, Don't you give up!!!  Don't do it.  I can't help but think that our bodies do think they are in starvation mode sometimes.  Just don't let up now.  It will show up shortly.  Don't stop.  Have good friends that will be encouraging to you.  If not friends in person, you keep letting us know here on the Board how you are doing.  Gosh, you know everyone here is pulling for you.  I for one will keep looking to see if anyone has some really scientific information for you, I just don't, other than not to give up.