Weight Loss: Does this ever happen to you?

[lindrusso]

It seems like I lose weight in spurts. I'll go for weeks on end, not losing anything and then I'll suddenly drop 2 or 3 pounds. And this often occurs after a few days of NOT working out (like this week - haven't been to the gym yet). Not that this is necessarily bad, but it does get frustrating because I start to think that the drop is NEVER going to happen. Maybe I've found a good pattern for me - work hard for a few weeks and then take some time off. Hmmmm...

I have read about how your body will go into starvation mode (it will work hard to retain fat stores) if you work it too hard or if you deny it too much food, but I don't know that I ever reach that point! I know I don't deny it food to excess - hardly!!! But maybe my body is one of those that goes into starvation mode more easily.

Anyone else have strange patterns like this????

[This message has been edited by lindrusso (edited 05-24-2001).]

[funnybone]

I think its more common in women than men, and I think the culprit is PMS.

I have never suffered from PMS until I went off the pill (to see if my migraines would get better). In the end, I found that exercise helps keep my migraines in control, and what was created was the PMS induced food binging and mood (crankiness). When PMS strikes, there is no losing weight. Luckily no weight gain, but definitely no weight loss.

I'm going back on the pill to help this problem get solved. Hopefully it will work.

[BosunsWife]

I've experienced that, but only after losing say 10 or more pounds. Then my body hits a plateau and it will take a couple of weeks to break and then I lose again. So far I am losing about 1/2 to 1 pound per week. I am perfectly happy with that because I still am getting to eat food that I like, just reduced amounts.

[aggie94]

I've had this happen before -- something comes up, and I'm not able to work out for several days or up to a week or two in a row, and I worry that the next time I step on the scale, I'll have gained 10 pounds. When I do go the gym and weigh myself, and see that I've actually dropped a couple of pounds, my fear is always that I'm losing muscle weight, especially since the clothes never seem to fit any better.

[lindrusso]

aggie94 - That's interesting what you said about it maybe being muscle weight. It's only been since Saturday that I haven't worked out, so I hope I'm not losing it that fast! And actually, my clothes did feel a bit better, so that's what made me curious. I MUST hit the gym today, however, to make sure I don't lose muscle mass!!!

[Lynn B]

This is totally scientifically unexplained or unproven http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif but I have noticed a similar thing and I'm guessing it's probably physiologically normal?! In the past 18 months, I have lost about 26 pounds (and am now maintaining). Looking at the weight loss on a graph, long term, it was a definite downward slant. But within that "slant", from week to week, it would be something like: down a pound; up a half pound; down a half pound; the same; the same; up a pound; the same; the same; down 3 pounds; the same; the same; down a pound; up a half pound...etc. It was weird sometimes -but, like I said, I was generally, basically losing. It's the consistency in the long haul, I guess. ???!
Lynn

[browneye]

Wow, Lynn, you've really done well, may I ask what you did, like WW or anything like that? Or just working out more? I love to hear others' success stories.
http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif