Does this sound like water retention? I'm calorie counting.

[flybynight]

Hey there

I'm using MyFitnessPal on the iPhone to help me calorie count (its great!). Plus I do three good bouts of cardio a week. I'm under my target of 1400 cals a day most days and since new year I've lost a steady 1.2 kilos a week. Until this week, when I apparently put 4.5 kilos ON.

I had one day over my calorie score (my 40th birthday - I think a girl is entitled to indulge now and again). I haven't noticed any particular water retention, although my rings are a bit tight. My period has started since the shock weight gain, but the kilos aren't tumbling off.

I'm all confused. What do you think?

1400 calories sounds quite low - if you don't eat enough calories your body starts conserving energy and your weightloss stalls.

However it is very common to have a stall at the 3 week period anyway.

Are you drinking enough water? If your rings are tight you are probably holding onto water. There's no way you would put on that much fat in a week just from one pig out session. However if you have pigged out the effect (of weight gain from water) does not show up for about 3 days.

just keep going, drink plenty of water and it will balance out again.

The problem is that weight loss just isn't linear, esp due to menstrual cycle.

Not possible to put 4.5kg of fat on in a week - that would be like consuming an extra 30,000 calories. Each kilo = 7000 calories. So must be water.

But then 1.2kg is a lot to loose each week - would mean you'd saved equivalent of 8,400 calories. Considering when not on a diet your daily need is probably around 2000, and you are eating 1400, thats 600 saving a day so 4200 a week - so around 0.6kg would be expected each week.

Keep on going, will bounce back down again.

Oh words of wisdom both. Thank you! I don't really like using weight as a guide. It is so subject to fluctuation. My clothes still feel like I'm going in the right direction, so not to panic.

And yes, forever, I did think the initial weight loss was a bit fast...