WHAT the WHAT?!?!?!?

I went to my Weigh-In on Saturday morning. I was looking forward to it, as I had missed the 2 weeks prior ... and ... I've been working out at an insane pace, so I was really hoping for a decent loss.

I stepped on the scale ... looked at the numbers ... and ...
I had GAINED.

Not 1 ... or 2 even ... but F-I-V-E pounds?!?!?!? WHAT the WHAT?!?!?!?

I was initially discouraged, I talked with the group leader and explained how I've been working my ass off (literally ... ummm, or so I thought) and she said I am probably not eating enough, and with all the weight lifting I have been doing, I am gaining muscle with weighs more ... yahda yahda yahda. I tried to act like I cared ... but I was mad really. I went to sit down for the meeting and then decided to take my bad attitude home.

I logged onto WeightWatchers.com and posted my concern on 2 different groups, the Vegetarian page and the Women's Fitness page. Here is what I posted and how people responded;

Went to my WI this morning, 1st time in 3 weeks, sick kids, blah blah and other reasons ... and I was SHOCKED to see that I was up FIVE pounds. WHAT the ???I am training for an Olympic Triathlon, been doing cardio/weights 3x a week ... swim training 2x a week ... I've not been eating out of control ...
Can this really be muscle weight?!?!?

I am fighting the urge to eat my face off at the moment.
Help.
-Jessica

"You might want to go to the women's fitness board because this question comes up everyday. But if you're earning a lot of activity points you should be sure to be eating them is the gist of the advice.and congrats on sticking to such a tough exercise schedule!!, that's really difficult and more important to your health than the weight!"

"Weight loss and *serious* sports training can unfortunately work at cross purposes to each other. Sports training is very stressful on the body and your body will hold water AND calories to "survive" the ordeals you are putting it through.
For some people you have to choose: be a competitive athlete or have consistent w/l."

"I think you can safely say you truly gaining muscle mass. Another way to gauge yourself is measure your body (I admit I don't do that but a lot of people do). I did also start a more vigorous exercise routine and I eat much of my activity points now bc of it and I find it fine. I am still loosing but just a little slower due to my increase in muscle mass. Anyway don't be discouraged your doing great! Next thing you know your body will reset/balance itself out again to your new exercise regimen and your start going down again!"

"I agree with that. This happened to me when I was training for a half. Make sure you are eating enough to fuel those workouts. I seriously doubt that it is muscle mass. You have to try really hard to build 5lbs of muscle (hours and hours spend lifting weights plus eating loads of protein)."

"I think if you know you've been on plan and you are doing serious training, you need to let the scale go and focus on the truths you know. That number will go down - it is most likely water. Keep on going - it will show!"

"Jessica- Please don't be discouraged- there are a LOT of reasons you could be up 5lbs. First of all, it could have to do with your menstrual cycle- I can fluctuate 3-7 lbs depending on my hormones. Secondly, especially since you are active and training for an event, your muscles could be retaining water. I would pay close attention for the next couple of weeks, making sure you're well hydrated, and if it doesn't go away, then re-evaluate what you're doing in terms of eating/ exercising.
Good Luck and keep up the great work!"

"With all that training, how many AP's are you earning per day/per week? HOw many are you eating? This is a generalization, of course (for we are all different), but often if you are earning 4 or more APs, 5 or 6 days per week, you need to eat half to all of them to continue to keep the metabolism revved. Also to keep the metabolism humming along, try to eat every 2 - 3 hours or 4 - 6 mini meals thru out the day, and be sure to include protein in as many of those mini meals as you can."

"Dont get discouraged or I will need to join you too. I had a bad WI this morning as well and I worked my a** off this week, and felt as though I ate right too. I was bummed at WW today but it is okay, brush yourself off and move on....I am now on a mission for this week to take off that gain and more this week."

"Are you getting in your GHG? Your healthy oils and your not-diary but soy? Are you eating lots of protein? Are you eating all your WP and AP? You can't work your body that hard, not give it what it needs, and it feel safe to release fat. "

It was encouraging to hear from so many people ... AP for those non-weight watcher people means Activity Points ... I have a set point goal for the day, all food has a point value and then you can "earn" activity points on top of your daily goal. I also heard from my race guru, and she told me "I know it's so upsetting. I have a very hard time not gaining when I'm training. A lot of it is your muscles need water to heal. Usually after lifting or a more difficult effort I will see a gain for the next couple days. It's a good sign. Make sure you are eating enough and fueling your workouts, then keep with your plan, it will even out. It can be a drag." I love that she can speak to me with such honesty. It is a drag, but it'll be ok.

So, yes, I did gain, but I am not going to allow that number to derail my efforts ... from tomorrow, I will have TWO months until my 1st Olympic Triathlon. I need to stay focused, I need to trust that my body is reacting to all I am doing, that it is holding water to repair my muscles after 3 days of weight lifting. I know how I am feeling, how my arms look, how I am getting muscle definition in my arms and legs ... it all works together for good and I will just again surrender this entire journey to the One that makes it all possible.

Lord, Thank you for this day. For 60 degree weather in March, for an amazing swim workout, for the endurance that I am building, for the run training and jog through the CU campus, to look up and see the blue sky and the Flat Irons ... Your Grace is sufficient for this day. The number on the scale I surrender to You. For the gains and losses to come Lord, prepare my heart, help me to stay focused on my goal, and continue to use my body to glorify You. I am Yours. Amen.