Sudden weight issues???

MelanieBreuning

Hey everyone.
I need your help!
I work out 5-6 times a week and I've been counting calories every day the past year. I haven't changed my diet so I should be maintaining my weight.
It's been a stressful time these past couple of months with school, exams and graduation and I've noticed a bit of a weight gain lately which I figured was due to stress and lack of sleep.
Four days ago, I stepped on to the scale for the first time in a long time and I've supposedly gained 4 pounds. However today, when I stepped on the scale again, it told me that I've lost the 4 pounds again? I don't get it.
Is it possible to lose 4 pounds in 4 days? I've been eating around 1300 calories a day since monday, as I of course wanted to lose the weight again. But 4 pounds in 4 days isn't possible right? I still feel more fat tissue around my stomach so I just don't understand how this is possible?

chubby_checkers

Water weight/weight fluctuations

vismal

Try stepping on a scale, record the result, then pick up a gallon of water in a jug and step on the scale and see what happens to your weight. Water weight fluctuates in the body like CRAZY. Stress increases the amount of water retention that can occur. Here is some general advice on weighing yourself that takes away the variance:

Stop concerning yourself with day to day weigh ins. They are meaningless. A million and one things affect day to day weigh ins (sodium, hydration, food in stomach, timing of last bowel movement, etc). A good technique is to weigh daily at the same time each day and record the result (but don't focus on it because it's essentially meaningless). At the end of the week, average the results. At the end of the month, compare the averages. This is where things become much more meaningful. There should be a downward trend (not necessarily a linear drop). If after 4 weeks or more you are consistently maintaining or gaining, consider reducing calories or examine how accurately you are counting them (http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1296011/calorie-counting-101).

Need2Exerc1se

Yep, it's water weight and completely normal.

Unless your scale batteries need replaced.

MelanieBreuning

vismal wrote: »

Try stepping on a scale, record the result, then pick up a gallon of water in a jug and step on the scale and see what happens to your weight. Water weight fluctuates in the body like CRAZY. Stress increases the amount of water retention that can occur. Here is some general advice on weighing yourself that takes away the variance:

Stop concerning yourself with day to day weigh ins. They are meaningless. A million and one things affect day to day weigh ins (sodium, hydration, food in stomach, timing of last bowel movement, etc). A good technique is to weigh daily at the same time each day and record the result (but don't focus on it because it's essentially meaningless). At the end of the week, average the results. At the end of the month, compare the averages. This is where things become much more meaningful. There should be a downward trend (not necessarily a linear drop). If after 4 weeks or more you are consistently maintaining or gaining, consider reducing calories or examine how accurately you are counting them (http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1296011/calorie-counting-101).

This makes so much sense now @vismal I will try to compare my week results instead! I don't know why I haven't thought of this. But thanks so much for your time it was very helpful!