Argghh im so upset.I dont know what im doing wrong with my diet. Okay so since Monday ive been being very discliplined . For breakfast i eat a bowl of total or corn flakes with skim milk(not alot of cereal)than i eat a weight watchera yogurt (100 calories) and maybe an orange...Lunch i eat a turkey sandwhich just meat and bread (light 40 calories per slice) and a 100 calorie snack pack...than i eat dinner a lean cuisine or something and i have another snack like a 100 calorie popcorn...I excercise to a tape for 45 minutes and i walk about an hour a day and i stepped on the scale yesterday after dinner and it said i gained 2 friggin ounces and than i stepped on it again and it went up 4 pounds...I got frusterated so i didnt step on the scale until this morning before breakfast and it said i lost 12 pounds. How is that possible and what the heck is going on and why did it said i gained ex amount last night and this morning it was down by 12 pounds?This is making me want to quit my diet and i really dont want to....helpppX-(

Don't weigh yourself every day! Your body weight fluctuates pretty heavily from day-to-day due to things like water retention and such. A little extra salt, a hard workout, not working out, etc. can impact your daily weight quite a bit over a 24-48 hour period. Even 12 pounds worth for sure. It takes time to lose fat, and you need think about things in the 10+ day time increment to get a real idea of what your body is doing.

I only weigh twice a week, and only pay attention to the numbers for every 10 days or so. I know that it can be frustrating to see big gains and dips like that, but you need to look at it as a long-term thing. Things change very quickly on the short-term.

Take Care
CFJ

You always weigh more as the day goes on.

Yes..it is Water.

There is a difference between losing WEIGHT and losing FAT. If you feel that you want to weigh yourself everyday you should always do it first thing in the morning. Record your weight each day and then average the readings for the week...then compare that to the next week...and so on. this will give you a more accurate reading. If you want a better way to track your progress get your body fat% measured. This is much more accurate.

Also remember the after dinner weighin includes the physical weight of the food that hasn't been digested yet.

Yes..it is Water.

There is a difference between losing WEIGHT and losing FAT. If you feel that you want to weigh yourself everyday you should always do it first thing in the morning. Record your weight each day and then average the readings for the week...then compare that to the next week...and so on. this will give you a more accurate reading. If you want a better way to track your progress get your body fat% measured. This is much more accurate.

This is very effective, it also helps you determine what foods work against you on a daily basis (while taking into account the other factors mentioned by Cfj). It also helps you to be able to track the downward trend in your weight over the weeks. There will be certain times of the month where a gain may happen or slowing of weight loss but for me, on my plan if I see an unexcused jump I can look back at the last day or two and determine what I might've eaten that could have set that off. I've learned a lot this way. Another thing, it really helps to have a good scale. Mine is a Tanita and it measures your body fat while weighing you. You have to stand on specific spots. It has been very accurate (and frustrating - LOL) for me.:c(

12 pound difference? Could even be your scale. Try to weigh yourself consistently, every day or every week, same time of day, same clothes, with the scale in the same place on the floor and perhaps you'll get more accurate results.

You lost 12 pounds since monday?!? That is great!!!! I would love to do that! That is all I am needing to lose. Don't weigh yourself every day. Your body does this sliding scale thing and goes up and down the best thing to do is weigh yourself once a week so your body has time to weigh out and you can see the progress. What ever you do do not give up you sound like you are doing great.

12 pound difference? Could even be your scale. Try to weigh yourself consistently, every day or every week, same time of day, same clothes, with the scale in the same place on the floor and perhaps you'll get more accurate results.

I agree, the scale is probably the problem! My scale is also quite off. I can step on it 3 times in a row, and get 3 different weights!

But since I'm too lazy (cheap) to buy a good scale, I just step on it 3 times in a row & take the average. And I only step on it first thing Monday & Thursday mornings after getting out of the shower. My weight can vary by 5 lbs in one day, but I usually weigh the same in the mornings when I get up, before having breakfast. I know they say to only weigh once a week, but I'm the cat that curiosity got-- only twice a week is a milestone for me!

P.S. And way to go on your efforts, I'm sure you've lost fat & just need a better scale to show how great you are! :dn

One thing that helps increase my weight loss is drinking lots of water--12+ glasses per day. Makes me feel full, gives my body the work of passing it, and keeps my body from retaining it. I also take a weight-loss multi-vitamin. It seems to have help. Doesn't have any caffeine or speed type stuff in it, but seems to help some.

I do the weight average thing--weigh myself every morning before I get dressed and write it down in a notebook I keep beside my bed. At the end of the week I do an average for the week.

I have also found wearing a pedometer helpful. It tells me how active I have been during the day. I try to average 12,000 steps per day (again, I average weekly). I keep that in the notebook too.

The scale might not really be "off" ... even a good scale is not going to weigh with 100 percent accuracy every time you step on during the day and your weight is also going to fluctuate widely in any given 24-hour-period, so as everyone said, don't pay attention to this or get on everyday ... or if you DO get on each day, do so only once and either record an average for a one- or two-week period or just record once for whatever period you choose ... which can be a week, two weeks, a month, six months ... or just weigh in when you go to the doctor (who should be supervising your diet). :)

Under no circumstances should you take weight fluctuations seriously enough to even consider not continuing with your weight loss journey. It is infinetely worth doing ... we all face the fluctuation issue ... it's just the nature o' things. You are doing fine, keep a'goin' ... :cheer: