Undeserved vacation weight gain - help!

[jasmine02]

So, I went away for 4 days and the scale today shows I gained 5 lbs! I was VERY careful and stayed LC except for 8 miller lites over the 4 days and 2 small cookies. I ate a salad with deli meat for each lunch, eggs for each breakfast (1 morning, 1 piece of bacon), hamburgers without a bun EVERY time (sometimes over salad), when we went out to dinner I had broiled scallops, double broccoli and the salad bar. I did eat some pepperoni with cheese a few times, but I was very careful and now I'm totally bummed! Can anyone give me a clue here? The only thing I know I didn't do is drink nearly enough water (tap water was gross) so I drank diet soda most of the time and I did eat 2 hotdogs (no bun). I did also get 2 walks in, one for 3 miles and one for 1.5. Can this possible be water gain or am I doing something wrong here?

[Pompom2]

Sounds like water gain.

Just take it a day at a time. It will start falling off you again.

[thindreams2reality]

It's probably just water weight gain from the extra sodium. I'm sure you'll lose the weight fast now that you're back on plan.

[MsWoods]

I ate like crap (and by crap I mean mostly processed foods, still LC) and didn't drink much water yesterday and I gained .8 of a pound. I just didn't feel like cooking and I'm feeling it today. I would say get back on track (and stay away from the processed foods and diet soda) and you should see the results in the next few days.

[jasmine02]

Thanks guys - I think I reread the book to refocus ...

[thestreets]

sounds like water weight gain from the booze and the carbs in the cookies. Any time you deviate you will gain lots because the glycogen stores are filled back up. Should come off in a few days of clean eating.

[DressageLover]

If I drink alcohol, I'm up 5 pounds virtually overnight. It comes off with 3-4 days of lc eating.

[Jennifer]

I tend to retain water after flying or sitting in the car travelling, so that may be an issue for you too. Because of this I never weigh for a few days after getting home even if I ate 100% on plan. And since you didn't drink as much water as you normally do, your body is hanging on to it.

[CurlsNCuffs]

Originally Posted by jasmine02

So, I went away for 4 days and the scale today shows I gained 5 lbs! I was VERY careful and stayed LC except for 8 miller lites over the 4 days and 2 small cookies. I ate a salad with deli meat for each lunch, eggs for each breakfast (1 morning, 1 piece of bacon), hamburgers without a bun EVERY time (sometimes over salad), when we went out to dinner I had broiled scallops, double broccoli and the salad bar. I did eat some pepperoni with cheese a few times, but I was very careful and now I'm totally bummed! Can anyone give me a clue here? The only thing I know I didn't do is drink nearly enough water (tap water was gross) so I drank diet soda most of the time and I did eat 2 hotdogs (no bun). I did also get 2 walks in, one for 3 miles and one for 1.5. Can this possible be water gain or am I doing something wrong here?

There it is!

[peanutte]

I don't know what your plan is or how long you've been on it, but beer and cookies doesn't fall under what I would consider "being very careful".

But the good news is, if you get back to eating clean, the weight should come right off again.

[JoSkids]

Curls bolded some potentially problematic food, but I added some (underlined). You ate a fair amount of processed meats that all contain sodium - my vote is for water gain. Get back on plan with some plain old cooked meat and fluids and you should be rid of that extra weight in no time.

Originally Posted by jasmine02
So, I went away for 4 days and the scale today shows I gained 5 lbs! I was VERY careful and stayed LC except for 8 miller lites over the 4 days and 2 small cookies. I ate a salad with deli meat for each lunch, eggs for each breakfast (1 morning, 1 piece of bacon), hamburgers without a bun EVERY time (sometimes over salad), when we went out to dinner I had broiled scallops, double broccoli and the salad bar. I did eat some pepperoni with cheese a few times, but I was very careful and now I'm totally bummed! Can anyone give me a clue here? The only thing I know I didn't do is drink nearly enough water (tap water was gross) so I drank diet soda most of the time and I did eat 2 hotdogs (no bun). I did also get 2 walks in, one for 3 miles and one for 1.5. Can this possible be water gain or am I doing something wrong here?

[peanutte]

Why do we all cling to this idea of "water weight gain" as if that negates the consequences of our poor food choices? I see it an awful lot around here and it sure sounds like rationalizing to me.

If someone overeats or eats badly, they can expect to see the consequences of that. It's a reality check. Hopefully they will be annoyed about it and make better choices the next time.

[CurlsNCuffs]

Originally Posted by peanutte

Why do we all cling to this idea of "water weight gain" as if that negates the consequences of our poor food choices? I see it an awful lot around here and it sure sounds like rationalizing to me.

If someone overeats or eats badly, they can expect to see the consequences of that. It's a reality check. Hopefully they will be annoyed about it and make better choices the next time.

Amen!

[Houston Heather]

What was eaten at the salad bar? The salad bar dressings are LOADED with sugar. Deli meats have added carbs generally, too.

Regardless of how you gained it, you know it'll come off with clean eating.

[Jennifer]

I don't think pointing out that weight gain is most likely water negates responsibility for poor food & drink choices at all. It's a fact that when you consume higher carbs when your glycogen stores had been depleted you will gain water weight. And for some people (me!) sitting for hours on a plane or in a car will cause water retention and water weight gain no matter how closely I stuck to my plan. The OP has gotten her reality check and it is now up to her to get back on plan and to decide how she is going to handle vacations and other special occasions going forward. The reality of 5 lbs on the scale may make her realize that vacation food/drink does indeed count (darn! ) and isn't worth it, or she may decide the opposite, but she now knows what to expect. Her choice, her responsibility.

[jasmine02]

I used a small bit of ranch ... thanks for all of this advice; I'm still learning!

[peanutte]

I don't think pointing out that weight gain is most likely water negates responsibility for poor food & drink choices at all. It's a fact that when you consume higher carbs when your glycogen stores had been depleted you will gain water weight. And for some people (me!) sitting for hours on a plane or in a car will cause water retention and water weight gain no matter how closely I stuck to my plan.

Oh, of course this is true, Jennifer. Water retention is a fact.

[Mulelover]

I think the idea of a water weight gain helps explain how fast it can come on. It isnt like you probably gained 5 pounds of fat that fast, but we all know you can gain a lot with fluid retention