Having trouble losing

[Spookykat]

Most days, I make my step count goal. I stay within my calorie limit. I've been conscious of drinking more water (although I use Mio packs). I measure my portions. I've been doing everything right that I know to do, yet I am consistently not losing. I lost two pounds a week ago, then gained one back. My clothes are fitting better and I know I've lost inches. Even went down several notches on my surge band! I had a hysterectomy a year and a half ago and am wondering if that has something to do with it. Help!

[JenniferM40]

Sorry to hear that it is frustrating.  I have been in the fitness world for 20yrs never had a weight issue until I had my 4th child 5 yrs ago and after kept gaining more weight after.  2 dr told me just eat better and workout and it would come off so I started running and doing crossfit 6days a week (4yrs ago) I lost a little but never felt good always tired.  Finally found a dr that checked my Thyroid Antibody and found the reason.  The reason I write is sometime there are hiding issues.   Good luck and keep working.  

[sketchdoll]

@Spookykat, Sorry to hear you are having difficulties losing! I just started keeping track of my weight and what I've been eating and I noticed my weight likes to fluctuate.  It's almost like I take two steps forward and then one step back. I'm losing but I know the number on the scale bounces around some.  I think the best way to indicate loss is measuring and as you said your clothes are fitting better so that means progress! Last year I went gluten-free for 30 days and I noticed weight dropping immediately. Sometimes the foods we eat causes inflammation and that can be depicted in the scale. You might try eliminating gluten and even dairy and see if that helps. 

As far as a hysterectomy goes, I'm afraid I can't really help you there. I do know hormones play a pretty big role in our weight though. Are you taking any medications as a result of your hysterectomy? If you are, you may want to mention difficulty losing weight to your doctor and see if that could be a possible side effect.  I know I take bio-identical progesterone during half of my cycle and it can cause some bloating and weight gain. I have to remember not to get discouraged when I take it 🙂

Wishing you best of luck!

[shipo]

I'd like to make just one comment about fluctuating weight.  Speaking strictly for myself, the more active I am, the more wildly my weight can fluctuate; from morning to morning to morning I've seen my weight drop as much as 16 pounds between Day 1 and Day 2, only to rebound to nearly Day 1 levels (or even higher) on Day 3.

In my case at least, it is water weight; in the "Day 2" scenario above, I had gone on a long run the evening before on a very hot and humid day, and was unable to drink enough in the evening before bed to catch up.  Needless to say, I felt like crap when I got on the scale on Day 2, however, by pushing water and tea all day, I was back to normal on Day 3.

[Spookykat]

My thyroid gets checked every six months because I also have a mechanical heart valve due to a congenital heart defect. The doctor has never indicated I have a thyroid problem. Blood-sugar is sometimes boarder-line diabetic, but last time I was within normal levels.

[OCDOC]

@Spookykat

"My clothes are fitting better and I know I've lost inches. Even went down several notches on my surge band!"

You are winning! As others mention, the scale can be a dirty liar regarding progess, especially the first while. Your fluid balance, glycogen stores, bowel contents etc will be all over the place. I experimented one day w my new scale, and I was bouncing up and down all day by +/- 3 pounds. 

Your clothes don't lie; your scale does 🙂  Keep up the good efforts!  R

[SunsetRunner]

Don't fret over a few pounds day to day, look for the longer trend, say over 2 weeks. As others have already mentioned there are many factors that can cause your weight to fluctuate from day to day.

If you can avoid it try to weigh your self just once or twice a week at most, trying to chase your weight day to day could lead you to do things that cause more harm than good in your efforts to loose weight, (i.e. fasting, not taking in enough fluids, pushing to hard in a workout)

[SunsetRunner]

Weigh yourself everyday.  Average the weight over the week.  Do the same every week and compare the weekly averages.

If the weekly averages aren't moving after 2-3 weeks, you need to eat less or burn more calories.  So adjust your plan based on the results.

More data is better.  Don't weigh yourself once a week and compare, what if you're bloated that day?  Water weight fluctuations are real, and can be higher the more you weigh.