Question about gain

[Reign7780 5]

I'm still new here & still reading some of the stories and still pretty new to the surgery part (I had surgery on August 3rd).

I had a really hard time early on with food, and even still some days I find it very hard to eat anything without feeling disgusted. My weight loss has been steady (it has slowed but my dr said that that is normal). That being said I have worked at eating better, and being 4 months post-op now it is much easier on me as far as eating goes.

Has anyone experienced a gain of just a few pounds despite not changing anything eating habit-wise? I had a small gain (3 pounds, give or take), and I figured at this stage is abnormal. I have recently begun exercising daily (walking on my treadmill, using weights). I have an autoimmune disorder that causes pain/stiffness in my lower spine/hips/knee that makes it so I cannot do strenuous workouts, so I have to stick to walking. Could the adding of exercise cause such a small gain? I'm sorry if it seems trivial, and I suppose to a lot it might be a petty thing to worry about, but in my mind 2 or 3 pounds can (and has) turned into 5 and 10 pounds if you get the idea.

My next appointment isn't until February so of course, I will talk to my doctor about it, but what are some of your experiences at this stage?

Thanks for any info/advice!

[Tracyringo 503]

You are still early out so I doubt its re gain. Fluctuations of a few lbs are normal during weight loss. Your menstrual cycle, body holding Water, ect have a lot to do with those fluctuations .

Exercise is only 10% of weight loss is what I have read and I myself did not exercise to lose my weight because of my lower back. Sticking to your plan will get you to the weight you want to be at. Good luck

[Jaelzion 1,127]

An autoimmune condition alone can be responsible for a 3 pound gain. I have rheumatoid arthritis and when my joints flare up, that means extra Water retention and (temporarily) extra pounds. Many people use 5 pounds as their "emergency alert" so as not to over-react to those normal small fluctuations.

Edit to add: oh I see you're exercising with weights. That can also cause gain in 2 ways: muscle is heavier than fat, so as you add muscle, you might see a gain, even though it's because you're actually in BETTER shape. Also, the day after a workout, my muscles carry more water but that only lasts a day or two.

Edited December 10, 2020 by Jaelzion

[Reign7780 5]

1 hour ago, Jaelzion said:

An autoimmune condition alone can be responsible for a 3 pound gain. I have rheumatoid arthritis and when my joints flare up, that means extra Water retention and (temporarily) extra pounds. Many people use 5 pounds as their "emergency alert" so as not to over-react to those normal small fluctuations.

Edit to add: oh I see you're exercising with weights. That can also cause gain in 2 ways: muscle is heavier than fat, so as you add muscle, you might see a gain, even though it's because you're actually in BETTER shape. Also, the day after a workout, my muscles carry more Water but that only lasts a day or two.

Thank you!

[catwoman7 11,214]

menstrual cycle, Water retention, "bathroom backup" (i.e. Constipation or full intestines) can all cause weight to fluctuate by a couple of pounds. And strength-training can also cause a slight gain (muscle weighs more than fat), but that's usually temporary, too. So to answer your question - a gain of 2 or 3 lbs here and there is not abnormal. As long as you're sticking to your program and the general trend is down, you're good!

[GradyCat 3,695]

Any time you change things up on your body (new food, more food, less food, new exercise) it's going to react until it's certain what you're doing to it.