TOM causes drop in weight? Confused

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sej29@cornell.edu - 07 Mar 2005 03:30 GMT

I've heard of TOM causing an increase in weight because of water
rentention/bloating. But this week-- the week of my period-- I've been
weighing in about 2-3 lbs less than I was the week before. Could this
be because of my period, or something else? Like, why would it all of a
sudden go from reading 114-115 consistently to reading 110-112
consistently (6 days now)? I'm not eating any less, at least I don't
think I am. I had perceived the 114-115 lbs as a "gain" but now I don't
know what to think.

Sara

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Matthew - 07 Mar 2005 13:28 GMT

> I've heard of TOM causing an increase in weight because of water
> rentention/bloating. But this week-- the week of my period-- I've been
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> think I am. I had perceived the 114-115 lbs as a "gain" but now I don't
> know what to think.

Sara,

I really think you are fretting yourself silly with all this concern over
2-5 pounds of weight loss and weight gain. The overall trend of your weight
is more important than the daily variations. Try to pay more attention to
the trend of your weight over a month or so. Track the 30 day moving average
(or something similar) to bring less volatility, and hopefully less
fretting.

I realize that you do not want to eat "unhealthy foods" but remember in your
effort to gain weight that fat is your friend. Especially the fat found in
fish, nuts, and avocados.

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Matthew
"It is going to take years" -- Arthur Lydiard
To reply by e-mail, heat things up a bit.

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sej29@cornell.edu - 08 Mar 2005 04:44 GMT

> Sara,
>
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> (or something similar) to bring less volatility, and hopefully less
> fretting.

I know. It's just that 110-112 was my original starting weight. When it
reads the same way for 6 days I begin to wonder what's going on. How
would I track a 'moving average'? Just average the weight for each
week?

> I realize that you do not want to eat "unhealthy foods" but remember in your
> effort to gain weight that fat is your friend. Especially the fat found in
> fish, nuts, and avocados.

I do eat a lot of nuts/legumes (organic peanut butter and raw almonds,
mostly) and a moderate amount of fish, as well as olive oil in my
stir-fry and pasta primavera and whatever else needs the frying pan
(tonight I had whole-wheat couscous with feta cheese, olive oil, yellow
squash, chicken, and broccoli-- sounds balanced, no?) I don't eat much
avocado but that's because I don't really know how to eat it outside of
maybe salad or homemade guacamole. Any easy suggestions for using
avocado when cooking? Maybe a good sandwich with chicken and avocado
and red pepper?

Sara

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Matthew - 08 Mar 2005 14:53 GMT

> > Sara,
> >
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> would I track a 'moving average'? Just average the weight for each
> week?

Moving averages are used a lot in technical analysis of stocks. I'm not a
huge fan of technical analysis, but I will always consult a moving average
chart before making a buy or sell decision. I'm not great at teaching but
I'll try my best to describe it. And I would be happy to make a spreadsheet
for you (Excel 2000) if you would like.

To begin you need 30 days of data points from your "weigh ins." Take the
average of the 30 data points. The next day you include that day's weight
but not the first day's weight when calculating the average. Each day, the
new "weigh in" data is included in the average, and the oldest is thrown
out. Over time you can graph the moving average, and you will find that it
has less volatility than a graph of daily weight changes.

> > I realize that you do not want to eat "unhealthy foods" but remember
> in your
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> (tonight I had whole-wheat couscous with feta cheese, olive oil, yellow
> squash, chicken, and broccoli-- sounds balanced, no?)

Sounds balanced and delicious!

> I don't eat much
> avocado but that's because I don't really know how to eat it outside of
> maybe salad or homemade guacamole. Any easy suggestions for using
> avocado when cooking? Maybe a good sandwich with chicken and avocado
> and red pepper?

Avocados are best fresh and I would never cook one. But like you say, they
can be used the same way you might use mayo in making a sandwich. The
avocados I have bought lately have been flavorless, but I like to use them
for breakfast sandwiches with egg, tomato, and salsa.
--
Matthew
185/177/160
To reply by e-mail, heat things up a bit.

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jake - 13 Mar 2005 17:01 GMT

Any easy suggestions for using

> avocado when cooking? Maybe a good sandwich with chicken and avocado
> and red pepper?
>
> Sara

I once foudn a recipe for avocado soup and liked it when I made it. It
was easy to make. I don't have the recipe in writing anymore, but I'm
sure there must something around online.

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JayJay - 07 Mar 2005 14:15 GMT

> I've heard of TOM causing an increase in weight because of water
> rentention/bloating. But this week-- the week of my period-- I've been
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> Sara

When did you consider the 114 - 115 as a gain?

PMS is generally when you find water retention and bloating. For me, it
was always those few days (to week) before the period started. That's when
the hormone levels are changing in order to cause the period to start.
Once my period had started, then the water retention would go away by the
2n'd or 3rd day of the actual period.

Although - its been over 6 yrs since I've had one... :) But the hormones
I'm on that prevent them also cause their own messed up hormonal situations
and bloating and stuff.

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