Weight gain over Christmas....

[Witchonastick]

I’ve been slowly losing weight since May and got down from 14st 6 to 12st 9 the day before Xmas eve.
Got on the scales today at 13st 3!!

How is it possible to put that amount on over just a few days?
I didn’t stuff myself at all, but have been inactive, but still, this is a lot of weight in just days.

Back on track today. Loads of water, just salads for a bit and am going to get out for some good long walks.
I don’t suppose it’ll come off as quickly as it went on though will it?

[ScreamingValentaMySantaExpress]

Most of it will probably be fluid so it should come off quickly - if you stick strictly to your diet for the next week, you'll probably find your true gain is only 2lb or so.

[saythatagain]

I seldom post these days, but having just returned from a visit to our (rarely stood on) scales, I can confirm I have added a further 9lbs to my already bulging frame within the last four days.
I can say categorically that I have made no real effort to eat any more than usual over the festive period. This leads me to believe that some serious internal talking to will be happening in the new year.
I managed to lose two stones a couple of years ago and remember thinking I will never let that happen again........
I’ve already popped two rammed bin bags of clothes into the loft with a heartening label of ‘clothes that don’t fit’ on.

I already know that moving more and eating less is the route to take.

[Witchonastick]

2lb would be more acceptable!

I shall definitely stick strictly to plan (apart from New Years Eve)
Excuse me being thick, but how to you gain so much fluid over a few days?

[ScreamingValentaMySantaExpress]

Not an expert, so feel free to correct me, but my understanding is that you hold some glucose-type fluid reserves, which are the first to go when you start a diet (hence on a new diet you can often lose 1/2 a stone in the first week, sometimes more if you're very overweight). When you overeat on rich Christmas food, with lots of carbs, your body replenishes these reserves. Once you go back on your diet, your body uses them up again, providing you do stick strictly to the diet and ensure you're taking in less than your body actually needs.

I'm writing from experience and internet research, not medical knowledge, so am prepared for my understanding to be corrected!

[Witchonastick]

Ah yes, I think I have read something like that before.
I really don’t think I went mad on the carbs though. Definitely ate more sweet stuff and drunk more alcohol.

I’ve had 2 holidays during my weight loss period where I’ve managed to maintain. So was hoping to do similar over Xmas.

I’ve now got to resist the Xmas cake that’s sitting in the kitchen waving at me every time I pass

[PostNotInHaste]

What ScreamingValenta said though I'm also not an expert.i have found my weight loss does correlate pretty well to the 3500 cals lose a pound so ok at it like this. To gain 7lb of fat you would need to eat 24,000 calories over and above your maintenance calories which would be very hard work in a few days.

Also if you have eaten more there is more temporaily in your stomach and if you have eaten more salt than usual this will make you retain more fluid. Horrible to see on the scales when you've worked there but hang in there and it will come off. There's some evidence that taking a 'diet break' every so often is helpful and resets Leptin and possibly gremlin levels as well which apparently is helpful longterm.

[ScreamingValentaMySantaExpress]

The sweet stuff and alcohol are effectively carbs as far as your body is concerned, because they're packed with sugar - if anything, they're easier to gain with than, say, potatoes or rice because your body doesn't have to break them down to access the sugar.

I feel your pain regarding a house full of food. My very skinny DH has left a tube of Pringles on the coffee table right in front of me, which I'm trying to pretend isn't there; and as for the kitchen, it's full of hazards!

[Witchonastick]

Yep, the effectively booby trapped!
Cake on the kitchen worktop, mince pies lurking in the cupboards, chocolate lurking in the living room.

Obviously there’s salad in the fridge also.....

[ScreamingValentaMySantaExpress]

You're doing better than I am - my fridge is full of sausage rolls bought for my dad, who now has a tummy upset and can't eat them!

[PostNotInHaste]

I have a larder as of the 23rd Dec and a Christmas shelf. In hindsight this was a terrible plan and i hadn't calculated that people would give us things to add to it.

Not feeling well but have made it downstairs to shove turkey and veg into InstantPot to make soup.

[EmmaGrundyForPM]

We went on holiday for a week in tje summer and I came back 9lbs heavier. However, after another week I was only 1lb over my starting weight.

I've actually lost weight over Christmas due to having a really bad cold and not being hungry. First time ever.