I have been steadily losing weight since I started in January of this year.  But when I weighed myself on Monday morning, after having done some light weightlifting, the scale said I gained 2 pounds!  And it has stayed at that same weight throughout the week.  Now I am not on my period so I know that can't be it and I couldn't have possibly gained that much overnight so what gives? 

 

Your muscles hold on to water when weight training.  Give your body a few hours to recover from the weightlifting before you weigh yourself - you may see a difference.  Also, remember that muscle weighs more than fat.  Consider if your clothes fit the same - you may have lost fat but gained muscle.  Most of all - don't give up!!!!  You can do everything right and still have small gains - this too shall pass!

Cutiepi3131:

I have been steadily losing weight since I started in January of this year.  But when I weighed myself on Monday morning, after having done some light weightlifting, the scale said I gained 2 pounds!  And it has stayed at that same weight throughout the week.  Now I am not on my period so I know that can't be it and I couldn't have possibly gained that much overnight so what gives? 

Take a look at your Nutrition Logs and see if you had more sodium than usual the few days before you weighed in.  Sodium tends to retain water and that will show up as a (false) weight gain.

If you are doing light weights I doubt there's enough muscle development for two pounds, but the Fitness Specialists are the experts on that.  You can post on their message board if you like.

In addition to the sodium take a look and see if there are any meals/snacks where you might have underestimated some calories -- that's really easy to do.

I hope this helps.  Let me know if you need anything else.

Pat Baird, MA, RD, registered dietitian