Why oh Why does this happen?

[Julie01]

Ok so i've gone 3 weeks without losing any weight. And then boom all of a sudden i drop 3.5 lbs? How? Why?

Is there anything I can do to drop the weight evenly over 3 weeks? I know I know I am asking for a miracle!!

I eat healthy, but I do not count calories. I will tell you that I drink water only (sometimes unsweet tea) I don't eat dairy (allergic), I eat a lot of veggies, no sweets (except the occasional), I eat 4 times a day lots of fruits, veggies, fish and chicken.

Do both cardio and weight training. Though recently I have upped the cardio because I wasn't seeing the scale move. I used to do 20 min a day of cardio. I am now doing 45 minutes cardio (running/biking) 30 min running and 15 min biking. Plus an hour and 15 in weigh training (my gym is quite busy when I go so it's not a straight hour and 15min weight training).

Any ideas?

Julie

[aznprincess]

i think the obvious answer is that "you don't count calories". therefore you have no idea where you stand.

losing weight isn't a matter of "eating healthy"... (although i'm not saying that this is a bad thing) and doing cardio.

it's about eating consistently, persistently, & patiently under maintenance.

you don't know for sure what you're eating from day to day so your cals are probably bouncing here and there and everywhere.

[Heracles_Rocks]

Julie01, your body is in a constant state of homeostasis. Your body will resist change and try to maintain the status quo. So in regards to fat/weight loss, and muscle/weight gain, your body doesn't do it in a linear fashion, you may plateau for awhile, and if you stick with it, provided that you are eating properly and exercising and doing all those sort of things right as aznprincess stated, then with patience you will start to lose weight and/or see differences in the mirror or tape measure.

If you are low enough in calories this may explain it, if not, and your calories vary somewhat around maintenance leval, then it is what azprincess said. You need to know what you're eating day in and day out as pertains to calories.

[sun_burned]

Julie01, your body is in a constant state of homeostasis. Your body will resist change and try to maintain the status quo. So in regards to fat/weight loss, and muscle/weight gain, your body doesn't do it in a linear fashion, you may plateau for awhile, and if you stick with it, provided that you are eating properly and exercising and doing all those sort of things right as aznprincess stated, then with patience you will start to lose weight and/or see differences in the mirror or tape measure.

If you are low enough in calories this may explain it, if not, and your calories vary somewhat around maintenance leval, then it is what azprincess said. You need to know what you're eating day in and day out as pertains to calories.

this

[DanceDiva]

Julie01, your body is in a constant state of homeostasis. Your body will resist change and try to maintain the status quo. So in regards to fat/weight loss, and muscle/weight gain, your body doesn't do it in a linear fashion, you may plateau for awhile, and if you stick with it, provided that you are eating properly and exercising and doing all those sort of things right as aznprincess stated, then with patience you will start to lose weight and/or see differences in the mirror or tape measure.

If you are low enough in calories this may explain it, if not, and your calories vary somewhat around maintenance leval, then it is what azprincess said. You need to know what you're eating day in and day out as pertains to calories.This.

And you also might have just experienced a whoosh (http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/of-whooshes-and-squishy-fat.html).

You don't have to count calories to lose weight, but you do have to be in a deficit. However, when you have either a stall or are not losing weight, the first thing people are going to suggest to you is to count and know as accurately as possible what you are consuming. Weight loss, especially for women, can be very non-linear. But when you're not counting calories, the answer is usually consuming too much.

[yelserp2]

This.

And you also might have just experienced a whoosh (http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/of-whooshes-and-squishy-fat.html).


^^This. I very rarely experienced linear loss on the scale during my weight loss, but the average weight loss did reflect my daily deficit, if that makes sense. Reading about "wooshes" was reassuring as that was very much my experience with weight loss, especially as I got close to goal. I sure wish this little nugget was common knowledge with women dieters (even though it is only theory).

Good luck!

[Julie01]

Thanks all.. I really really do not want to count my calories. But I will tell you that I am eating below my maintenance levels. I am for sure of this. I excercise about 2 hours a day 5 days a week and 1 day a week I take latin dance classes.

aznprincess - Working a normal 9-5 jobs allows me to eat consistently. I normally have a fruit/ hard boiled egg for breakfast. Lunch is either a salad w/ no sodium turkey or chicken breast w/ a non fat dressing or grilled chicken/ veggie burger/ with veggies. And then I have a snack around 3 pm normally some no salt mixed nuts or another piece of fruit. Dinner is fish/chicken/red meat (not often) with a salad and a veggie. Sometimes I eat another snack around 9.. something small like grapes or cherries.

DanceDiva- This seems to happen to me everytime. Maybe I retain water... I do drink ALOT of water..

I do notice myself getting leaner.. I have dropped my pantsize from a 12 to a 9/7 It depends on the maker. Plus I have a big butt... And I have lost 19lbs. I have 12 more lbs to go until I make my goal weight. It's just that it takes me FOREVER to lose a POUND... It kind of makes me discouraged sometimes...

[aznprincess]

Thanks all.. I really really do not want to count my calories. But I will tell you that I am eating below my maintenance levels. I am for sure of this. I excercise about 2 hours a day 5 days a week and 1 day a week I take latin dance classes.

aznprincess - Working a normal 9-5 jobs allows me to eat consistently. I normally have a fruit/ hard boiled egg for breakfast. Lunch is either a salad w/ no sodium turkey or chicken breast w/ a non fat dressing or grilled chicken/ veggie burger/ with veggies. And then I have a snack around 3 pm normally some no salt mixed nuts or another piece of fruit. Dinner is fish/chicken/red meat (not often) with a salad and a veggie. Sometimes I eat another snack around 9.. something small like grapes or cherries.

DanceDiva- This seems to happen to me everytime. Maybe I retain water... I do drink ALOT of water..

I do notice myself getting leaner.. I have dropped my pantsize from a 12 to a 9/7 It depends on the maker. Plus I have a big butt... And I have lost 19lbs. I have 12 more lbs to go until I make my goal weight. It's just that it takes me FOREVER to lose a POUND... It kind of makes me discouraged sometimes...

hmm... if you know for sure that you're eating under maintenance, then yeah, i'd say it's the non linear thing and you're well on your way to your goal! don't get discouraged by the scale. eating in deficit works. just be patient :-)

[Amanda76]

Julie - where in your menstrual cycle are you? When I'm losing fat at a rate of about a pound a week or slower (which is a good rate), I won't see it on the scale until about 3 days after my period is over. I'll start noticeably holding water about a week prior (gaining up to 5 pounds during that time), so it makes sense that I spend most of the month unable to tell whether or not I'm losing scale weight.


This.

And you also might have just experienced a whoosh (http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/of-whooshes-and-squishy-fat.html).

You don't have to count calories to lose weight, but you do have to be in a deficit. However, when you have either a stall or are not losing weight, the first thing people are going to suggest to you is to count and know as accurately as possible what you are consuming. Weight loss, especially for women, can be very non-linear. But when you're not counting calories, the answer is usually consuming too much.

Great article...one thing I've noticed when I'm losing fat is that my body goes through phases of looking squishier and jigglier before tightening up for "no apparent reason." The difference between what's being stored in fat cells could be an explanation for that, for sure!

[jbonsall]

Julie - where in your menstrual cycle are you? When I'm losing fat at a rate of about a pound a week or slower (which is a good rate), I won't see it on the scale until about 3 days after my period is over. I'll start noticeably holding water about a week prior (gaining up to 5 pounds during that time), so it makes sense that I spend most of the month unable to tell whether or not I'm losing scale weight.


*ding* that's my lightbulb just turning on. LoL.... I've been just starting to notice a trend like that for me but just didn't put it all together yet.... Ask and ye shall recieve... :D

[halcyonnwar]

Julie - where in your menstrual cycle are you? When I'm losing fat at a rate of about a pound a week or slower (which is a good rate), I won't see it on the scale until about 3 days after my period is over. I'll start noticeably holding water about a week prior (gaining up to 5 pounds during that time), so it makes sense that I spend most of the month unable to tell whether or not I'm losing scale weight.



Great article...one thing I've noticed when I'm losing fat is that my body goes through phases of looking squishier and jigglier before tightening up for "no apparent reason." The difference between what's being stored in fat cells could be an explanation for that, for sure!

this made me feel much better. I've been sort of stalled on the scale (even a little heavier!) though I've stuck to my diet/deficit. I was starting to get worried. It is the TOM but I'm hoping I'll notice a drop again soon.

Do you find that during the TOM/water retention that you *look* less lean? Does water retention cause this? (sorry if these are dumb questions)

[juliacheh]

this made me feel much better. I've been sort of stalled on the scale (even a little heavier!) though I've stuck to my diet/deficit. I was starting to get worried. It is the TOM but I'm hoping I'll notice a drop again soon.

Do you find that during the TOM/water retention that you *look* less lean? Does water retention cause this? (sorry if these are dumb questions)

That always happens to me around TOM. I think it is due to water retention.

[halcyonnwar]

That always happens to me around TOM. I think it is due to water retention.

Thanks, I just needed to hear this lol.