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Is it possible to gain over 8 pounds from water weight in a week

linneasbg
linneasbg Posts: 5
in Health and Weight Loss
Ok so last week I weighed 366.5 but this week the scale is telling me I am 374.4 and that freaks me out I have been eating healthy all this week and I drink about a gallon of water a day do you think I am doing something wrong or is it water weight, I am freaking out

Replies

  • daynerz
    daynerz Posts: 227 Member
    For sure, most definately...just as it is possible for you too lose it all tonight... if your drinking or carbing up expect that.... perfectly normal, dont let it throw you off, .... change one thing, from your normal routine, unless you drastically went on a binge frenzy, you have nothing to worry about, sometimes its the scale thats off... even gym ones would throw my body fat % WAY off!!
  • TheSatinPumpkin
    TheSatinPumpkin Posts: 948 Member
    Did you weigh after that gallon of water?
  • linneasbg
    linneasbg Posts: 5
    daynerz wrote: »
    For sure, most definately...just as it is possible for you too lose it all tonight... if your drinking or carbing up expect that.... perfectly normal, dont let it throw you off, .... change one thing, from your normal routine, unless you drastically went on a binge frenzy, you have nothing to worry about, sometimes its the scale thats off... even gym ones would throw my body fat % WAY off!!
    it was a electronic scale
  • linneasbg
    linneasbg Posts: 5
    TheSatinPumpkin wrote: »
    Did you weigh after that gallon of water?
    no
  • dannatona
    dannatona Posts: 101 Member
    There are some random days I get on the scale and I'm 5lbs heavier than I was the previous day. Don't let it that hinder you from reaching your goals! The number on the scale is really just a number... have your clothes been way tighter on you in the past week? If you don't measure yourself, I'd highly suggest it. I feel like I get more satisfaction seeing my measurements change :)
  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    You say you've been eating healthy but does that mean you've been logging all your foods and staying within your calories goals? If you're not logging, you could actually be overeating.

    Did you start working out or increase the intensity of your workouts this week? Have you had a lot of take-out or prepared foods? Either of these will bring on water weight.

    Are you weighing at the same time of day, on the same scale, wearing the same thing?
  • Debbjones
    Debbjones Posts: 278 Member
    edited October 2014
    I know this sounds obsessive but for giggles, on occasion, I weigh myself before and after I eat dinner... (I tell myself it is to "collect data points", the reality is when I do this it is an OCD... but I digress). I consume four bottles of water with my dinner, I see the scale increase by an average of 4-5 pounds after I eat.

    The difference between this weight gain (dinner and drinks) and what you describe is I never had time to "evacuate" or naturally burn off what I just consumed.

    Back to your question, could you gain "8 pounds of water in a week". Anything is possible, a gallon of water weighs 8.34 pounds... so yes it is possible. Especially if your are consuming more salty foods that help your body retain water...

    If your calories are at or under your TDEE it is most likely water... If you are consuming more calories than you burn, you might want to re-adjust your diet.

    This is my opinion... obviously I am just a MFP member and not a health care adviser!

    Best of luck to you! :)
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    edited October 2014
    Did you recently start a new exercise program or change intensity?
    did you eat more sodium or less potassium this past week?
    Both of those would make you retain water
  • pplastics
    pplastics Posts: 135 Member
    8 pounds is 28000 calories. Did you eat three whole triple layer chocolate cakes with buttercream frosting during that week? If the answer is yes, you probably gained 8 pounds; if you ate healthy ( and within your calorie goals) the 8 pounds is probably water weight.

    Sometimes your muscles will hold onto water when you start exercising.

    I also know from my own experience that my weight loss weekly track goes like this: lose a 2 pounds, flat line, add a 1/2 to 1 pound, lose 3, add 1, etc. Never just a straight line down, but over a month, it tracks down.

    Give it some time and see if it falls away.
  • linneasbg
    linneasbg Posts: 5
    MinnieInMaine wrote: »
    You say you've been eating healthy but does that mean you've been logging all your foods and staying within your calories goals? If you're not logging, you could actually be overeating.

    Did you start working out or increase the intensity of your workouts this week? Have you had a lot of take-out or prepared foods? Either of these will bring on water weight.

    Are you weighing at the same time of day, on the same scale, wearing the same thing?
    I gave been tracking everything
  • MsHarryWinston
    MsHarryWinston Posts: 1,027 Member
    edited October 2014
    Oh for sure.
    Sodium = water weight.
    Thirst = water weight
    Carbs = water weight
    Working out = water weight
    TOM (for women) = water weight
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    Absolutely possible! Water retention is the bane of my existence! Stress #1 cause for me
  • AliceDark
    AliceDark Posts: 3,886 Member
    How stable was your weight before this last week? Were you weighing in at regular intervals before now? Nobody has an actual weight -- you have a range -- so that 8 pounds could be within your normal fluctuation range and you might not know it.

    Is your scale in a permanent place (on a level patch of floor, without carpet), or do you have to bring it out before you weigh?
  • linneasbg
    linneasbg Posts: 5
    erickirb wrote: »
    Did you recently start a new exercise program or change intensity?
    did you eat more sodium or less potassium this past week?
    Both of those would make you retain water
    I work out each week
  • grantwashere
    grantwashere Posts: 171 Member
    Using TrendWeight.com is a HUGE stress reducer for this very reason. It has really helped me figure it all out.
  • vismal
    vismal Posts: 2,463 Member
    I've gained 8 lbs in a day before. As others have said, pay attention to how your weight trends over the long run, not how it fluctuates in the short term.
  • FitOldMomma
    FitOldMomma Posts: 790 Member
    If you were within your calorie range for the week, yes- you can retain a good amount of water weight. Especially with high sodium intake.
    I've had a 5 pound scale difference in just one day.
    As long as you are correctly logging your calories and are at a deficit, don't concern yourself too much with the water weight.
  • klkateri
    klkateri Posts: 432 Member
    I'm all water weight. I can go up and down 5lbs of water weight. But, that is also why I try to push every drop of pee out before I weigh lol!! Today, I'm up 2 lbs. and I know it is water weight because I had lunch meat and some dried sausage last night when I got home and then drank about 3 glasses of water... O well. Maybe tomorrow i'll pee it out and then I'll count that weight. As long as your general weight direction is down I won't worry to much

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