Well, it wasn't unexpected and it makes sense, but it's still ugly: I gained 2.8 pounds this week.
3/1/12 247.2
1/4 177.2
1/11 175.4
1/18 176.8
1/25 177.0
2/1 178.0
2/8 177.4
2/22 178.0
3/1 178.0
3/8 178.0
3/14 176.6
3/21 176.2
3/28 174.6
4/4 177.4
The scale was unfriendly all week, so I knew it was coming and had plenty of time to consider the reasons why.
In order of probability:
1. We always refer to "that time of the month", but for me, there are actually two times of the month that affect my weight. Lucky me! I always gain when my period starts, and I often gain two weeks later, when I ovulate. I've been charting my temperatures for the last couple of weeks, so I can tell you without a doubt that I ovulated yesterday (don't you love having this super personal info?). Looks like this was one of the months where that factored in.
2. I volunteered to take over lawn maintenance this summer, seeing as I'm working far fewer hours than my husband, and I got a little carried away and decided to try my hand at gardening! After a little digging around, literally (in the ground) and figuratively (online), I discovered that we have pretty ideal soil and that the timing was right to start some spinach seeds outdoors and tomato seeds indoors, so I got going! Thanks to a nice surprise gift from my Mom, I'm also going to try green beans and squash, and a flower bed in the front yard.
3/1/12 247.2
1/4 177.2
1/11 175.4
1/18 176.8
1/25 177.0
2/1 178.0
2/8 177.4
2/22 178.0
3/1 178.0
3/8 178.0
3/14 176.6
3/21 176.2
3/28 174.6
4/4 177.4
The scale was unfriendly all week, so I knew it was coming and had plenty of time to consider the reasons why.
In order of probability:
1. We always refer to "that time of the month", but for me, there are actually two times of the month that affect my weight. Lucky me! I always gain when my period starts, and I often gain two weeks later, when I ovulate. I've been charting my temperatures for the last couple of weeks, so I can tell you without a doubt that I ovulated yesterday (don't you love having this super personal info?). Looks like this was one of the months where that factored in.
2. I volunteered to take over lawn maintenance this summer, seeing as I'm working far fewer hours than my husband, and I got a little carried away and decided to try my hand at gardening! After a little digging around, literally (in the ground) and figuratively (online), I discovered that we have pretty ideal soil and that the timing was right to start some spinach seeds outdoors and tomato seeds indoors, so I got going! Thanks to a nice surprise gift from my Mom, I'm also going to try green beans and squash, and a flower bed in the front yard.
What does this have to do with gaining weight? Well, gardening is one of those stealth-exercise activities where you're getting a workout and don't even realize it. I got really involved in digging up weeds and working the soil and carrying heavy pots and other equipment around, and I felt totally fine while I was doing it and even right after. But that night into the next day, the muscles in the backs of my thighs were just on fire! Whenever you're working muscles in a brand new way, the muscles tear before they become stronger, and your body holds onto some water to help do some internal repairs. So I was definitely retaining some liquid, which can cause a huge gain.
3. I've been slacking to some degree for the last few weeks... really, since I finished my Simple Start experiment. I definitely haven't been going overboard, or I would've already been gaining much more than this! I just haven't been careful about counting points for dinner and snacks, and my water intake has been inconsistent. I can do better. And just as good behavior can take a while to show up on the scale, so can questionable behavior. And that is one of those truths that is REALLY hard to live with. It's hard during the frustrating period of being a diet rockstar but not losing weight, and it's hard during the confusing period where you're half-assing it but still dropping pounds, because you can't stop thinking "Hey, what was I killing myself staying on track for last month? This is so much easier!"
So any ONE of these factors could've caused the gain, but I think all three of them chipped in a little bit for that nice big number. I think factors 1 and 2 are the most likely culprits, cause this morning I jumped on my scale at home and I was down a pound and a half from what it said yesterday- and this morning, I'm all done with ovulation and my legs aren't sore anymore. If I were feeling more fragile about the whole thing, I could've run to a Weight Watchers scale this morning and had it validated. But I'm just rolling with this particular punch and hoping for a nice payoff next week!
3. I've been slacking to some degree for the last few weeks... really, since I finished my Simple Start experiment. I definitely haven't been going overboard, or I would've already been gaining much more than this! I just haven't been careful about counting points for dinner and snacks, and my water intake has been inconsistent. I can do better. And just as good behavior can take a while to show up on the scale, so can questionable behavior. And that is one of those truths that is REALLY hard to live with. It's hard during the frustrating period of being a diet rockstar but not losing weight, and it's hard during the confusing period where you're half-assing it but still dropping pounds, because you can't stop thinking "Hey, what was I killing myself staying on track for last month? This is so much easier!"
So any ONE of these factors could've caused the gain, but I think all three of them chipped in a little bit for that nice big number. I think factors 1 and 2 are the most likely culprits, cause this morning I jumped on my scale at home and I was down a pound and a half from what it said yesterday- and this morning, I'm all done with ovulation and my legs aren't sore anymore. If I were feeling more fragile about the whole thing, I could've run to a Weight Watchers scale this morning and had it validated. But I'm just rolling with this particular punch and hoping for a nice payoff next week!