Friends, I need your help/advice

I posted this on another site that I frequent, but thought I would post here as well.  You guys have the experience and may be able to talk me off the ledge.

So, I went on a cruise at the end of May. I totally enjoyed it and didn't really watch what I was eating. Came back and was 128.8 pounds. 0.8 pounds above my "allowed bounce amounts". No big deal - I actually expected worse from all the indulging I allowed myself. Back to normal life & the "world would be good again".

The following week was TOM and spiked up to 131.6. Wasn't worried since I am a daily weigher and often see a spike like that when TOM is here. In mid-June, bounced around between 126 and 128.8. Not really worried, but wondered why I was going above 128.

Well ... now it is July 14th. I've been bouncing around 128 to 129.8. Last night I was trying on some shorts for a weekend get-away. some of them felt tight. WTH????

Today, the scale showed 130.0. I am freaking out ... mad ... and really confused. What could be causing this? I'm not doing anything different.

I keep thinking maybe I'm retaining water and the heat could be causing some bloating. But, I'm really concerned. Is my honeymoon over? Am I going to be able to maintain the size 4 body at 126 - 128 like I'd hoped? I have a whole new wardrobe - I've invested a lot of money and I really like the way I look in them. Last night, I felt like a big cow. (Naturally, I know I'm not, but that's what I saw in the mirror and I'm afraid of seeing the "old" me again.)

Anyone have any advice? I'm not sure what to do or if I should do anything at all?

Let me say I know how frustrating this is for you.  My weight has bounced up 3 lbs as well.  I HATE it.  I've decided to step up my exercise and really watch the calories and carbs, which is getting harder as time goes on.  Hang in there, we can do this.
Marie

Do you know what triggered the gain? I was back down after the cruise & haven't changed my eating. I am at a loss for why I snip. I want to nip this in the bud before it goes up more.

I'm pretty sure what triggered me was a vacation.  I was VERY cautious on vacation and lost almost 3 lbs in 4 days.  When I got home, I relaxed, thinking I was safe.  The weight came back.  When I say relaxed, I mean I was eating maybe 1000-1200 calories rather then 700-900.  Most of the extra calories were in nuts and peanut butter (my personal crack).  Plus, I hyper extended my knee and tore the meniscus, so I haven't been exercising.  Perfect Storm.  So I've decided to go back to basics with the eating.  No more then 800 cal 40 grams carbs, over 70 protein.  It's MUCH harder to do this now then it was months ago.  I'm also going to step up the exercise, knee pain or not.  But ya know what, if I can control it now, I won't have to look at losing large gains later.  I'm absolutely terrified of returning to the "old Marie".  I love my size 4 jeans, know what I mean!  I think this is just something we all have to live with.
Marie

I hear you and I understand your frustration.  My bounce around weight has changed from 102-104 to 103-107 lately.  The range is expanding and not in the right direction.  I think this is normal as we "settle in" to our new bodies.  My doctor told me to expect a ten pound weight gain.  This is why I counsel everybody to go to their lower BMI while the losing is easy. 

Now what to do about it?  Well I think it really depends on how uncomfortable you are at this new weight and how nervous you are about gaining another few pounds.  If the anxiety around this is a deal breaker, then it would make sense to go back to basics and reduce calories and carbs to the weight loss program.  For me that means going back to eating under 800 cals and under 40 g. of carbs for a while.  I have not chosen to do this yet, but am watching carefully what my weight will do and will jump on it if it hits 107 again.  Right now it is closer to 105.

The kicker here is that it is no longer easy to go back to basics and that is where real weight regain truly starts.  When I try to eat the way I did in the beginning, I find it so much harder than I did then.  Regardless of how hard it is, I think there are periods where we just have to bite the bullet and make it happen no matter what.  I have friends who have been skinny all their lives, when I share this with them, they tell me that they regularly have to go on a "little diet" for a few days or weeks to get their eating and weight back under control.  Then they go back to doing what they have done before.  It is just how they live. 

I know others have a different plan, they simply chose to abstain from eating carbs and/or fats all the time.  This takes away the worry and anxiety of overeating and regaining.  I am not in this category but I have tremendous respect for the people that chose to live that way.  I guess in the end, this is your call.  You have to decide if there is anything you wish to change about your eating or exercise in order to get this under control.  If there is, make a sincere effort to understand what can be changed and a real effort to change it.  If you want to, you can always call or PM me and we can talk it out.  I will be here for you if you need me. 

For me this happens when I workout less. It's not just that I'm gaining weight because a lot of the time, I'm not. But my clothes start to fit tighter because I'm losing muscle and replacing it with fat.

I care more about how my clothes fit and how I look in the mirror than my weight on the scale because I'd rather have lots of muscles than be a smaller weight.

So what I do is to increase my working out so that I burn fat and also make sure I'm still doing strength training so I retain my muscles. I also will cut back a bit on indulgences if I have to. I never go back to what I was doing early out. I don't think it's really possible to do that any more. My stomach isn't swollen and I do have some hunger now. But I can cut back on the nuts, pizza and ice cream/froyo and make sure I am getting my protein shake every day. Those are the things I get lax on.

Sometimes I think it takes awhile for the effects of an overindulgence to show up. Overeating one day doesn't necessarily show up the next morning on the scale. So what has happened to you may be a combination of things, part of which is water. But don't forget that EVERYBODY BOUNCES. EVERYBODY.  We all do it. No one stays the exact same weight. My surgeon says a 5 pound bounce either way is the time to get concerned and take action.

Having said that I see no reason you can't stay in the range you want. While my surgeon says that while a  5 or 10 pound regain is pretty normal, it is not inevitable. You are just going to have to work a little more to stay in that range. We all see increases in the scale and think there is no way we did anything to cause that gain. and thats because its mostly water, waste or who knows - maybe sun spots and gravitational fluctuations (my favorite theory).  but whatever it is you will feel better about things if you take some action on it which would be to journal food, cut back 100 calories a day, and up whatever your exercise is a small amount. Nothing drastic. A modest gradual change is easy to stick with. And I agree with Elina - I have learned that seemingly naturally think people do watch what they eat and regulate and eat light at one meal if they know a heavier one is in store later and choose smaller portions. People who eat with abandon (like we used to) only stay thin are really pretty few and far between. So nothing abnormal about having to adjust once in awhile. I do it. All the successful maintainers do it. You can too. Diane

I have had a 7 lb. rebound from my final weight, and it happened after quite a long period of maintaining with ease. It was very similar to what you are describing. Over the holidays last year, I bounced up about 5 lbs. I was a bit surprised because I wasn't being that bad, but I thought it would come back off when I returned to normal, if not extra strict, eating. Instead, my weight went UP another 2 lbs. I have spent this entire year trying to get it off. I exercise, both aerobic and strength, so it's not that. I eat carefully, JUST like I did during the first 3 years in terms of WHAT I eat--but maybe it's a bit more in quantity and that's what's causing it. I don't know...I'm sure that if went back to eating NOTHING but dense protein or did all liquids, those pounds would come off, but I suspect they'd come back once I went back to my regular patterns. So it all comes down to motivation! I've found that I'm not willing to be THAT strict. I still fit in my size 4 clothes and I'm fine with how I look. I DON'T want to gain any more, however, so I am vigilant.

So, I really can't offer any words of wisdom, other than, if you want to lose those few pounds and keep them off, you may have to REALLY work at it and diet. Or, it may be temporary--time and your body will tell!!

Lizanne

I soooooo appreciate everyone taking the time to reply and the understanding of my concerns. My journalling has been in my head the last few months with not a lot on myfitnesspal.com. I went in and made my plan for today. I am going to try to be patient and see what happens in the next week without making any major changes. Hopefully something will jump put at me.

You guys are great. Thanks for being there when I needed you. I felt so alone and out of control once I saw that scale this morning.

I think the main point I want to make to you that you are not alone.  You never have to be alone with these type of issues again.  That is the whole point of this group for me.  We are here for you and you are here for us.  I am sorry you are going through this, but I am glad we can all brainstorm this together.