As many of you know I've had some interruptions in my life of late and as such have been missing workouts here and there.

I have notice the following:

I weight about 4 lbs more when I'm actively at the gym every day and 4lbs less when I miss more than two days in a row.

WTF

Am I just driving more water into my muscles? I also know I drink at least 500 to 1000ml more water in a workout than I would usually.

Actually, I think that is entirely possible. It's not like you're gaining / losing 4 lbs of muscle during those periods. I've actually noted weight gain after sunburns before as well. When your tissue needs water.. your body retains it to assist in repair. I've even heard that your body can retain 9 lbs of water after surgery.

might be water Al, I personally dont notice a difference from working out or not except in how wobbly i become when I dont work out . serious bingo wing thing going on since I stopped the gym back in september not liking it on bit. My weight did tend to hovver a lot when I was at the gym though with my trainer telling me I was putting on muscle and loosing fat so not to concentrate on pounds alone but BF too and water %

I am definitely gaining some muscle but as scott says no way its 4 lbs in less than a week. I have added some inches to my legs in the past month and they are rock solid where once they were hard under extra flab. I have also gained functional strength as evidenced by my ability to lift more weight more times etc.

I feel really bad if I get up again for the weigh in for the challenge, I'm the challenge master and I'm dropping the ball, what kind of example is that?

I've always been ok with this weight hovering thing but for some reason i'm finding it extra frustrating, probably because I have that 280 milestone to cross again

Hi Al - I am having EXACTLY the same problem as you!!! It's driving me mental. I know I'm not watching my food intake as much - but I am working out like a maniac and my feeling is weight should be going down, not up...WTF! Al - we will get there with perseverence, and sometimes even though you feel you are doing everything 'right', the scale does not go down.
I do think stress, lack of sleep, and various other changes make a difference...

Most importantly you are leading a healthier life and coping with the crap - and still maintaining to be our GREAT LEADER!!! On top of that you are being a loving husband and dad.

Let's just re-focus our week and keep going.

Thanks Catherine,

I am going to weigh in tomorrow, I've bee peeing like crazy, so I think I may be dropping some water now.

I am not going to fail my obligations to the tribe, not for my mate and offspring or for my traineo tribe either.

Al, I once read somewhere that the very fact you are tearing muscle fibres causes through lactic acid etc for the muscles to become inflamed and retain water for a very short period.

And Al, many of us don't respect you or be inspired by you because of your ability to shed fat (er, that's my bag)but because of your wit, compassion, strength-physical, mental and emotional- and your dedication to not only your immediate faamily but your traineo one.

Thanks Stephen, that is quite a compliment, and since I'm moving away from self deprecation I'll just take it.

Speaking of fat shedding being your bag, maybe we should get one of our most successful traineolies to share some of the basics of your diet and fitness routine with the rest of us.

(I've been under the impression you eat clean and controlled all week, have a cheat meal, and then workout almost every day of the week) I can see that you've been dropping steadily for many months with a small holiday blip. I bet we could find all of the information in your posts but maybe we should get a recap from the man himself.

Al, keep your head up this is a minor thing remember muscle weighs more then fat!

Al, are you taking a day off to let your body recover??

I've noted the same thing as well. It's water plain and simple.

yes im taki g lots of days off right now forced ones

its a

good point though recovery is key but i do always.leave at least two.days betwen heavy lifti g sessions im at the hospital again tonight with my mum did i say that yetshe seems to be ok.though angie i hope.you are rightim goi g for a lower.weight tomorrow!

this is messed up from my phone

Ok I'm back from the hospital, that was not fun.

I am really stoked to try for one full week with no medical issues starting right now!

I am really stoked to try for one full week with no medical issues starting right now!

I need that too! My MIL is in the hospital now for 3rd time since Christmas. My GB attacks and removal. Now my daughter is home because she is having trouble with her asthma and my wife stayed home with a NASTY stomach bug that began overnight. My wife actually asked me this morning why it seems we are cursed, medically, so far this year. I really just want 1 full week without all the medical issues and hospital visits.

It's really not that much to ask.

I was a bad man a very very bad man at the fuelling station today. I got dark chocolate! yikes