Скачать или смотреть Hell Week, Water Weight, and the Three Mistakes I Made · Day 20

Today is day 20, and my scale and body scan numbers are up. With my period here, my “hell week” with endometriosis, this happens every month. I retain a lot of water, my inflammation rises, and my body feels heavier. The numbers do not represent fat gain, but they still shift how I feel. I am aware of it, I understand the physiology behind it, and I am choosing to look at it clearly rather than emotionally.

I also made three choices in the past few days that directly influenced today’s data:

1. I took a no track day.
On Friday, I decided to go out for sushi with my friends. I did not track anything and I enjoyed the evening. I ate more than usual because I treated it like a free for all. It was fun, and I am glad I had that moment, but from a fat loss perspective, it pushed my intake well above my target.

2. I had a dessert I have not eaten in years.
It was not planned, and I let myself go overboard. Hormones influence hunger during my period, but ultimately, it was still a conscious choice that added more calories than I intended.

3. The follow up the next day.
I ate chocolate, specifically Turrón, which is a Spanish chocolate that I love. It was something I knew I did not need. It was an unnecessary extension of an already high calorie day, which made it even more calorie dense. I was not at maintenance. I was definitely in a surplus. I knew it erased some of the deficit I had built earlier in the week.

These choices, combined with my cycle, explain the increase on the scale and in my scan stats. This is not discouragement. It is awareness. Even after five years on this journey, seeing higher numbers brings up emotion, but the numbers are simply reflecting my inputs. Fitness is honest that way. Nothing changes without consistent structure, and this week highlighted that clearly.

Looking at the data from the past 20 days, there is a slight downward trend when you zoom out, but it is minimal and almost unnoticeable. And the reason is straightforward. I did not fully prioritize my fat loss phase in the first two weeks. I prioritized work, responsibilities, and other people. I stayed aligned enough to maintain, but not enough to create meaningful change.

Week three went well, and tracking was helping tremendously, until my period arrived. Between hunger shifts, inflammation, and emotional sensitivity, my consistency dipped again. It makes sense. It is normal. But it is still data I can learn from.

As I move toward week four, my focus is clear:
• consistent daily tracking
• accurate portions
• mindful choices
• returning my attention to my deficit and my macros

Weight loss takes time, but it accelerates with precision and accountability. “Eating healthy” is not the same as measured eating. A balanced macronutrient profile inside a calorie deficit is what drives fat loss.

I also shared something that may surprise people. I am comfortable losing a bit of muscle. After five years of training, I have built more muscle than I personally want. My goal now is to feel lighter and look leaner, even if that means reducing some of the muscle I have accumulated.

Day 20 is a reminder that progress reflects consistency, not intention. And now that I see exactly where the gaps were, I know how to move forward with more clarity and alignment.