My scales moved this morning. Five days ago I hit my all-time low of 147.6 pounds. Then for four days my weight just fluctuated up and around a pound or two, finally settling back at 147.8 today.
This is the reason it’s recommended to only weigh once a week, or monthly even. There are SO many fluctuations from day to day.
When I first woke up this morning, I still weighed 148.6 and I had this whole conversation in my head about it.
I’ll share that conversation with you, because I’m sure you’ve had the same one (or one very much like it) and may just find this helpful…
I had a restless sleep last night, and slept less than 5 hours. I kept waking up startled, having that dream where you fall – over and over. It was about yesterday’s hike lol, and I kept falling over the waterfall or falling off the cliff. 😛 I finally just gave up and got up.
I’ll share the hike with you in my next post. You’ll LOVE it. 🙂 This was my most adventurous and ambitious hike yet!
I thought: Maybe that’s why my scales didn’t move AGAIN today. Not getting enough sleep always affects my weight loss.
Then I thought… maybe it’s muscle recovery. I’ve had two BIG workouts two days in a row, and that’s known to cause a “stall.” Or maybe it’s this sore throat I woke up with two mornings in a row. I might be coming down with something, and I never lose weight when I’m sick.
Hmm. Maybe I need to switch things up, even though these same foods worked just fine for me in the past (for weight loss). But I’ve been so busy lately that I’ve been really lazy and just eating a lot of nuts, cheese & cream cheese. Those are always the first things to cut, or cut way down on.
You can speculate a lot, but bodies will do what bodies will do. I’m not one to take drastic measures to force the scales to move, but I do believe in evaluating your lifestyle to see if there are healthier choices you could make – or considering any healthy changes that might be beneficial.
If you are not losing weight – or not losing as fast as you feel you could, read these two posts:
Not Losing Weight Eating Low Carb?
Mysterious Weight Gain or Stalls While Eating Low Carb
It’s funny too that we might work out once or twice, or have a really good food day, and just expect the scales to move immediately – as in, the next morning. 🙂
Funny as in – almost comical. It takes our bodies 48-72 hours to process food completely. And as we all know, exercise is all about the long game – and much more about toning and overall health than actual weight loss.
I decided to do two things: Have eggs for breakfast this morning, instead of my usual “nuts & berries cereal” – and to sleep more. I went back to bed for a couple more much-needed hours… and woke up to see that loss on the scale. 🙂
Read the two links above if you’re struggling and think you may need to make some tweaks. There are some great (healthy) suggestions there that don’t include starving yourself or living off of eggs alone. I’m a BIG believer in a healthy balanced low carb diet, and in healthy weight loss – and weight loss mindset.
The bottom line is this: Consider what you can change and improve. Always be improving. But don’t get yourself in a tizzy about it, or damage your health over it.
This whole health thing is a journey, not a race! 😉
Here is my Low Carb Food Diary for Day 31 of the “Get Lean For Summer!” 90 Day Low Carb Challenge. It’s not too late to join us if you haven’t already!
Day 31: Wednesday’s Low Carb Meals
For breakfast yesterday I had 1/2 cup pecans, 1/4 cup Daisy brand cottage cheese, and 4 small diced strawberries = 5 net carbs and 85% healthy fats.
I headed out early for an adventurous hike, so I packed a large coffee thermos and plenty of low carb snacks: turkey, cheese, almonds, pecans and bottled water.
I just had a block of cheese on the trail, and plenty of water, then we ate the snacks on the way back. I was wiped out so just had some turkey & cheese and a few nuts.
We did stop at the store for fresh drinks, and I bought these ******* thinking I really wanted them. I rationalized the whole pack was only 35 carbs, it wouldn’t kill me, yada yada yada. But then by the time I got back in the truck… they didn’t appeal at all. And there they sat, straight in front of me, for almost 60 miles.
That was an interesting experience. The freedom of CHOICE is empowering. Being in control of my choices… even more so.
I was completely exhausted after hiking, so for dinner I just heated up two zero carb Oscar Mayer Smokies and called it an early night. 🙂
Here’s My MyFitnessPal Diary for Wednesday:
Macronutrients: How & What I Track
How I Get Net Carbs in MyFitnessPal
Calories: 1360
Net Carbs: 13
Total Carbs: 22
Protein: 56 Grams
80% Fat, 16% Protein
Exercise: Ambitious Hike! 🙂
FitBit Steps: 10,508
Water: 40 ounces
See my Fitbit stats? That hike was an AWESOME workout! 45 Floors, lol. There were tons of hills, including rock climbing and scaling what looked like an impossible mountain. 😛
I mentioned yesterday that my weight has only slightly fluctuated for two full weeks now. It was nice to see a pound disappear this morning, almost back to my all time low weight.
Like I said, I’m not one to do anything drastic to force it. I want to respect my body and do what’s healthy.
I was actually planning to go out for sushi yesterday after hiking. It was a tentative plan at least, to have a healthy off-plan (higher carb) meal. But once again, when it came down to it… it just did not appeal. And I ate my meat, cheese & nuts instead.
It’s nice to have the choice, and not just “eat on a whim” like I used to. It’s also nice not to WANT to eat what’s sitting right in front of me on the dash for almost a full hour – even though I gave myself full permission to eat it if I DID want to.
This is what 30+ days of being super consistent has done for me…
And I like it! 🙂
Tonight I’m planning to go to the local carnival. If my body can handle it after pushing myself SO hard the last two days. I’m surprisingly not sore this morning (wait until you SEE this hike I did!!)… but I bet that hits me tomorrow. 😛
How are things going on your end?
I look forward to hearing from you!
Best,
Lynn Terry,
aka @LowCarbTraveler
Lynn, thank you for your posts taking ownership of the good and the bad – you are SO inspiring to me. Your website has helped me with my LC journey more than you will ever know and I have been able to help my husband keep his blood sugar in the good levels and have a better handle on his diabetes!! For that alone, I can never thank you enough. He and I have a long way to go with our weight but you are making it easier than it’s ever been before and though I know it’s going to take a long time, we feel that we’re on a journey, not a diet. Warm personal regards, Judy
Wow Judy – thank you… that really makes my day!! π *hugs* Kudos for taking control of your health, and together! So many people just live in sickness… you’re doing such a GREAT thing!
Thanks for this post Lynn boy I think we can all relate to the scale fluctuations and rationalizing the reasons. Been there and done that so many times as I was reading your post I thought wow I am not the only one who feels like this! Enjoy your posts everyday and can’t wait to hear of your adventures. I was wondering what the item on the dash was you didn’t eat. I can’t quite make out the package. I am glad you resisted and it’s a wonderful feeling knowing we have choices and the ability to make good ones is so rewarding. I am losing not as fast as most but after struggling for over a year with my Hypothyroidisum I have finally found a woe that will help me feel better and lose some weight. Have a wonderful day and look forward to tomorrow’s update.
It was nutter butter cookies, a package of 4 for 35 carbs. π I left them there on the dash when I got dropped off after the hike, and said “Give these to your niece.” π I was REALLY pleased with myself over that one!!
It really is a wonderful feeling. Even more so to be at a point where I feel in CONTROL of those choices – for a change.
I have been losing super slow too ever since my hysterectomy just over three years ago, so I get it. But wow… it’s been SO worth it to stick it out!! π
Congrats on one pound down!
I had been reading up on stalls. It said that when our fat cells release its tryclicerides and has burned the fat, the fat cells fill with water temporarily. Usually after a few days fill then the cells release the water and we can see a big weight loss overnight. We just have to wait it out and not feed get discouraged and go off plan
Its like the cells fill with water after b using the fat in it in case it needs to fill it up with fat again
I know i am the kind of person that holds on to water weight. If i eat high sodium foods then i will stall every time
Good for you on resisting v that snack……i cannot figure out what it was either. π
lol I didn’t want to make it obvious – the snack – because it would be a temptation for some people. π haha. It was just peanut butter cookies. I’m SO glad I didn’t eat them.
I’ve read that too. It’s so cool how our bodies work. π I love science!
Thank you so much for your inspiring posts! I just started LCHF way of eating on March 1st, I am down 35 pounds. I love how you show us how to eat low carb while traveling. My family has several mini road trips scheduled this summer and I am confident I can get through them without any problems after reading your blog. Love your Instagram posts also! I have been overweight my entire adult life and for some reason, this way of eating just clicked with me and I haven’t had the urge to cheat in 10 weeks…
WOW, Bren – congrats on losing 35 pounds so fast, and for taking control of your health! π π Kudos!!
I love traveling. There are so many new and fun food adventures, and low carb foods to enjoy along the way. π That’s exactly how I look at it: like a low carb scavenger hunt, lol. Have fun!!
Thank you so much for continuing to post. i just started as well at the beginning of April. I’m down 15.6 pounds and am very motivated to keep going. Every time my mind trys to convince me that i need a non keto friendly food item, I read your posts and your Instagram to keep staying on course. I just have to say a big thank you! You are so inspiring and congratulations on all your hard work. Thank you for sharing your journey.
Thank you, Connie. π π And WOW – that’s great progress in short time!! I still get those thoughts. Almost daily, sometimes several times a day. Sometimes I’m more tempted than others. But the longer I stick this out, the less appealing any of it sounds. π
Thank you Lynn for the words of encouragement and being such an inspiration. I am already enjoying my regular 3 mile walks. I just need to be better about calculating my carbs every day. It really does make a difference when you track. Thanks Girl.
I agree Kathy. Tracking is what helped me really start losing consistently again. It was a serious eye opener! π
Thanks so much for the inspiration, as always! Keep up with what you’re doing. π
Thank you, Tammy! π I love having such an awesome community to do this with, and alongside. It inspires and motivates ME – so much! *cheers*
I have loved seeing what you post all the time. I have started doing the cottage cheese, nuts and berries for my breakfast. LOVE IT! I usually try to do leftovers if I have them for dinners. I love seeing what you are able to go out and about. It helps me so if I am out and have to eat I know what I can and cannot get. Love the pics also always looks yummy.
Thank you, Kathy – I’m so glad it’s helpful! π That is my favorite breakfast… it’s so crunchy/sweet, and very filling! I started making that because I missed Special K Fruit & Yogurt cereal (an old favorite) and would even go off plan sometimes just to enjoy it. Now I don’t have to – ever again. π
Hi Lynn,
I finally resolved to get serious about doing this woe. I have really enjoyed reading your posts. I joined the challenge when it started, but didn’t really follow anything consistently. I was having 1 or 2 ( probably more) servings of some kind of grain or sugar product each day, thinking I’d do better tomorrow. As the days were passing by and I was feeling terrible, I finally got to the point of starting without excuse. Today is day 4-yeah! I started on Monday with making your infamous HFLC cereal. It didn’t sound that good, but I bought the 3 things to make it. It turns out that I absolutely LOVE it! I have had it every morning and I was thinking that I might just have it when I’m looking for a snack because it has all the things that make a satisfying snack! Wonder if I could eat it too much? I have been able to wait till morning. I am down 4 pounds, mostly water I’m sure, but I feel much better than I did a week ago! Now I just have to stay on track especially coming up for the weekend. I’m going to try and read your postings every evening because that seems to be my hardest time.
Anyways, thanks so much for being so candid with your journey! I know first hand how difficult this can be and look forward to achieving a good weight loss for once by sticking with this long enough to see results.
Congrats for getting serious and getting started, Trena π That’s the hardest part! I do love the “cereal” and try to just have it once a day… but even if I have a cup or more of pecans in a day it hasn’t stalled me yet. You can test that for yourself. Pecans are the lowest carb / highest fat nut on the list. π
I’ve lost 9-1/2 lbs since the beginning of the challenge, and a total of 13-1/2 since March 1st. I’ve started a bad habit though. I’ve been weighing too often. If I wake up feeling lighter, I weigh. Mostly that has been okay and the scale shows a loss. I need to stop that because soon I’m sure the losses will slow down. I”m a bit nervous about Mother’s Day. We’ve got a family/friends potluck gathering to go to. I’m bringing your sausage biscuits, but there will not be much else I can eat – maybe a bit a fruit salad and a veggie platter. Wish me luck!
Congrats, Betsy – great loss so far!! π
Don’t be nervous about a holiday or event. Go with the intentions of enjoying the company and conversation. Focus on the FUN instead of the food. Hold a baby for a new mother, scan the room for things to smile about… and eat something before you go. π
Hi Lynn,
I have really enjoyed reading your posts. I joined the challenge two weeks ago and I have lost 8lbs. Your journey is so inspiring and helpful on my journey. Your support means alot. I have no other support so Thank you! I have two questions about low carb food. Where do you find the Oscar smokies? I have looked in my local grocery store and cant find them. Also what other kind of beans do you recommend other than string beans? I have always loved dry beans like pintos etc.I have a longggg way to go but at least at the time Im not gaining pounds!! Thank you!
Thank you Sydell π Congrats on getting started and dropping 8 pounds already! I heard you can get the Oscar Mayer smokes at both Kroger and Wal-Mart. I get mine at the little locally owned grocery store – they are with the smoked sausages, not the hot dogs (at my store anyway).
Beans are high carb. You can read the labels to see. You really want to stick to green veggies for sides – or some squash, zucchini, cauliflower, etc. See: http://www.travelinglowcarb.com/4964/low-carb-vegetables/