You do realize that "gaining a half pound" can be had from as little as drinking 8oz of water, right?! 8 oz IS a Half a pound.... Furthermore, if you have been exercising hard enough to "force yourself to take a rest day"...then likely you are also pushing your muscles. And a fact of nature is that muscles hold more water as they heal---Quite normal, and quite transient.... Watching our nutrition also usually means many of us consume more fiber...and you guessed it, fiber holds water in your intestines while your digestive track takes 2 -3 days to clear food we've consumed.
So very likely... you are doing just fine!!
As to losing 2 pounds in a month: My first question would be... how close to a reasonably healthy weight are you? There is a vast difference if you need to lose 50 pounds...or somewhere close to 10 pounds. Our bodies just don't drop the weight in a linear fashion...and that is especially notable if you haven't got a very large amount of weight to lose. Be patient.... take a deep breath... and check back with yourself in a week or so.
"Ready to start loving myself and treat my body instead of putting it last. To a healthy lifestyle change!".... from your blog. Remember.. a healthy Lifestyle is going to last a VERY longtime. So take a deep breath, and relax. Look to the future and give yourself the benefit of time. Be consistent and patient. It will happen. All the best,
patti
Patti
"The only thing we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us."
Gandalf: Lord of the Rings