blueeyedbutterfly's Journal, 10 January 2016

Which diet?  

Hi Blue, you might be doing nothing wrong - sometimes, inexplicably our weight fluctuates. It has happened to me. I have gained 6 lbs (while strictly dieting) in 4 days, and freaked. I called my doctor because I thought there was something possibly really wrong with me, health wise. She told me to avoid the scale for 1 -2 weeks and keep up the good work, and the weight will follow. It eventually did. I hit a plateau for 3 months - talk about brutal (750 cals per day, zero carbs other than veggies and green apples, zero processed foods + swam every day - ZERO WEIGHT LOSS for one month). Then went on Atkins for 2 months (started at phase II as I figured my prior diet qualified for the "induction phase) clearly increasing my calories and carbs, and still lost zero weight. Oh joined a health club and started working out faithfully for 3 times per week - no change. Now it finally appears as if my plateau broke. - YAY! It happens - it sucks but it happens. Please know it is not you and if you keep up the good work, it will start to drop again - and it is worth it. You are worth it! 

im not on a specific diet. i watch my calerie intake. limit my sugars and fats.  

thank you madeline. ill keep trying what im doing and see what happens. 

I'm sorry to be discouraging, because it takes a lot of effort to count calories as you have been. But in my opinion -- informed by a lot of failed dieting in the past and a lot of research now -- I don't think you will ever lose weight and keep it off eating as you are now. You are eating a high carb diet with a lot of prepared and fast food, and until you rid yourself of all this high sugar high sodium stuff, you will struggle. Start reading about low glycemic diets and how you can eat well without loading up on simple carbs, and I think you will start to see results. Good luck.  

Glycogen loves water. So sometimes when you are exercising and drinking water for the first time, you may see this. Unless you are on a ketone-inducing diet, that will happen. It's only a couple of pounds and won't have any long term effect...unless you just have two pounds to lose. ;)  

Google "why the scale lies" for insight in to water weight fluctuations. If you recently started exercising, muscles can retain water to help them heal. You have been eating a lot of processed foods and they can contain tons of sodium. Some people are very sensitive to sodium and it can make them retain water. But it's about progress not perfection. As you progress, you might want to add in more fruits and vegetables.  

thank you all 

try and cut down on the water. this was my mistake in the past. the first thing i do when i get up in the morning is drink a litre of water before i get to work. and then have something to eat after and hour or so. i've also discovered that adding a little bit of lemon and ginger to your water , gives great results. 

i like lemon in my water