Question:
I've heard of plateaus, but why would I be GAINING weight?

I am 9.5 months post-op and have been steadily losing weight since my surgery earlier this year. I have been on a plateau for a couple of weeks and am just trying to deal with it the best I can, but today I got on the scale and had suddenly gained 2 lbs. It's not my time of the month or anything, so I am completely baffled. I haven't changed anything radical about my diet/exercise, so this just seems like a fluke!! I eat approximately 1,000-1,200 calories per day and exercise 4 times per week (2+ hours per workout). I avoid carbs, drink plenty and am trying my best. What could be wrong???    — [Anonymous] (posted on November 24, 2001)

November 24, 2001
Me too:( I have seen the same thing and being a guy its not the time of the month......:) I think its water weight bounces combinewd with minor scale inaccuries. I would relax, your doing great and its normal for the loss to slow down, I get weighed less because of this frustration.
   — bob-haller

November 24, 2001
Although I am pre-op, I AM a certified fitness instructor so I feel as though I can answer your question. <p>First, your body weight can fluctuate as much as 3-4 lbs. daily, which is why you shouldn't weigh yourself each day! If you MUST, you should write down your weight every day and then take the week's AVERAGE as your "real" weight. (This is the reason I don't own a scale!) <p>Also...as you've stated that your workouts are 2+ hours...you may be losing inches but gaining muscle (fat takes up five times as much space as muscle, this is why people can stabilize weight-wise or even gain and yet STILL lose clothing sizes)...OR, you may be working out so much that you are being counter-productive. "Over-exercising" is a real problem that many people, thin or otherwise, encounter. It occurs when your body is not able to maintain a 65-80% maximum heart rate b/c you are working out SO much and SO hard that your body simply retaliates...it is so used to being "over worked" that it stops putting in an all-out effort to burn fat. When this happens, it's very important that people "switch up" their workouts...sometimes it even means working a lot more on weight training and a lot less on cardio (I'm a cardio addict, so I know how difficult this can be!) <p>Good luck and email me if you'd like!
   — Cristie L.

November 24, 2001
Sounds like a water retention problem...if those 1,000 calories contain a lot of sodium, you could be retaining fluid. Another reason is if you are not getting enough protein, your body will retain water (don't ask me for the scientific explanation, I just know from personal and group reported anecdotes.) Don't sweat it...just keep doing what you are supposed to be doing and keep an eye on things like sodium and protein content of your foods.
   — merri B.

November 24, 2001
Are you transected? Can you eat larger volume? Anything "feel" odd? Still getting in that base 60g of protein supps per day? First rule out mechanical breakdown, then go on to the next group of self-questions.
   — vitalady