Weight fluctuations
carnivalnights
Posts: 114 Member
I have a question for anyone here with perhaps a background in nutrition or just someone with a lot of knowledge when it comes to weight loss. I have lost 49lbs so far but it has taken me ten months. Every few weeks, I seem to hit this plateau (all the while keeping within my calorie intake restriction, food tracking every day and exercising most days of the week - both cardio and strength training, mixing it up). I will gain a ridiculous amount of weight very suddenly (I mean weighing myself one day and the next I have gained several pounds somehow), around 5lbs, and I will not be able to work it off for two or more weeks. It's insane. My weight will stay the same and I just cannot kick the pounds, even though normally I lose every week (slowly but still surely). So instead of progressing with my weight loss, I am stuck working off gained weight for weeks on end even though I've done nothing to provoke the weight gain. It is so confusing. I was seeing a nutritionist a while back and even she was confused by it. It is not my period (it has rarely happened anywhere near that time). My thyroid is fine, my blood tests are fine, I have been tested for hormones out of whack, etc. and all tests came back negative. I don't feel like this is just "water weight" but who knows. I know weight fluctuations are normal but it just seems like a lot of pounds to gain practically overnight.
Does anyone know why else this could continuously be happening? It's been happening the full ten months I have been on this journey, usually every month or so. Any insight would be appreciated.
Does anyone know why else this could continuously be happening? It's been happening the full ten months I have been on this journey, usually every month or so. Any insight would be appreciated.
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Replies
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hormones.0
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carnivalnights wrote: »I have a question for anyone here with perhaps a background in nutrition or just someone with a lot of knowledge when it comes to weight loss. I have lost 49lbs so far but it has taken me ten months. Every few weeks, I seem to hit this plateau (all the while keeping within my calorie intake restriction, food tracking every day and exercising most days of the week - both cardio and strength training, mixing it up). I will gain a ridiculous amount of weight very suddenly (I mean weighing myself one day and the next I have gained several pounds somehow), around 5lbs, and I will not be able to work it off for two or more weeks. It's insane. My weight will stay the same and I just cannot kick the pounds, even though normally I lose every week (slowly but still surely). So instead of progressing with my weight loss, I am stuck working off gained weight for weeks on end even though I've done nothing to provoke the weight gain. It is so confusing. I was seeing a nutritionist a while back and even she was confused by it. It is not my period (it has rarely happened anywhere near that time). My thyroid is fine, my blood tests are fine, I have been tested for hormones out of whack, etc. and all tests came back negative. I don't feel like this is just "water weight" but who knows. I know weight fluctuations are normal but it just seems like a lot of pounds to gain practically overnight.
Does anyone know why else this could continuously be happening? It's been happening the full ten months I have been on this journey, usually every month or so. Any insight would be appreciated.
Maybe it is a mid month fluctuation? If it's never around your period-maybe its when you ovulate since it is every single month. I bloat at both times (yay me!) Either way it is just a fluctuation, so you don't have to "work off" the higher weight. You've been at this ten months and have been successful. Just keep plugging along and pay attention to the overall trend.0 -
You can't gain pounds of fat overnight so it has to be water. It takes 3500 excess calories to create a pound of fat. Unless you are having huge binges you aren't mentioning, it's water. My body does the same thing. I gained 18 pounds in 3 days while in the hospital eating almost nothing. My doctors haven't been able to pinpoint a trigger yet, either. Just keep working at it. You're still losing fat if you're eating at a deficit. Over time, your weight will continue to trend downward.0
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^Most likely. Does it happen to occur about the time you would ovulating?0
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hormones.
I might agree. Hormones can swing outside of the TOM, it's just more likely during this time. (This being said, I'm not a medical expert). I typically gain water weight from my TOM a week or even two before it starts (two was more likely before I was on BC). By the time my period actually started, a lot of the water weight would be gone.
On the upside, you've lost 49 lbs in approximately 40 weeks. That's actually a great rate at which to lose for anyone who's not super morbidly obese.
If you have further concerns, I would recommend speaking with a dietician. The term "nutritionist" is not regulated and can refer to someone who took an hour long computer class then printed out a certificate. A licensed dietician has recieved their certification from an accredited body, likely has a four- to eight-year degree in the field of nutrition and exercise, and will know where to look for credible sources of information on the subject.
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Nothing to add except that I do the same thing all the time. My TOM ended days ago and I woke up 3 pounds heavier and cannot get rid of it. It's like lose 5 gain 3 for me every couple weeks. Frustrates the hell out of me!0
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We don't have a specific weight, we have a weight range around which we're hovering at any point of time.
www.weightgrapher.com
www.trendweight.com
Use free fitbit account (whether you have a fitbit device or not).
Enter your daily weigh-ins there.
Connect the account to both the above sites so that it passes your weight to them automatically.
The apps will show you the trend of your weight, smoothing out water variations due to salt, exercise, or hormones.
Weightgrapher can optionally superimposition your previous monthly cycle so that you can more easily compare.0 -
Hormones and water. Also, do you weigh at the same time of day consistently? I fluctuate as much as 3 lbs PER DAY between morning and evening. It's normal.0
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Maybe it is a mid month fluctuation? If it's never around your period-maybe its when you ovulate since it is every single month. I bloat at both times (yay me!) Either way it is just a fluctuation, so you don't have to "work off" the higher weight. You've been at this ten months and have been successful. Just keep plugging along and pay attention to the overall trend.carnivalnights wrote: »I have a question for anyone here with perhaps a background in nutrition or just someone with a lot of knowledge when it comes to weight loss. I have lost 49lbs so far but it has taken me ten months. Every few weeks, I seem to hit this plateau (all the while keeping within my calorie intake restriction, food tracking every day and exercising most days of the week - both cardio and strength training, mixing it up). I will gain a ridiculous amount of weight very suddenly (I mean weighing myself one day and the next I have gained several pounds somehow), around 5lbs, and I will not be able to work it off for two or more weeks. It's insane. My weight will stay the same and I just cannot kick the pounds, even though normally I lose every week (slowly but still surely). So instead of progressing with my weight loss, I am stuck working off gained weight for weeks on end even though I've done nothing to provoke the weight gain. It is so confusing. I was seeing a nutritionist a while back and even she was confused by it. It is not my period (it has rarely happened anywhere near that time). My thyroid is fine, my blood tests are fine, I have been tested for hormones out of whack, etc. and all tests came back negative. I don't feel like this is just "water weight" but who knows. I know weight fluctuations are normal but it just seems like a lot of pounds to gain practically overnight.
Does anyone know why else this could continuously be happening? It's been happening the full ten months I have been on this journey, usually every month or so. Any insight would be appreciated.
Maybe it is a mid month fluctuation? If it's never around your period-maybe its when you ovulate since it is every single month. I bloat at both times (yay me!) Either way it is just a fluctuation, so you don't have to "work off" the higher weight. You've been at this ten months and have been successful. Just keep plugging along and pay attention to the overall trend.
Thanks for your response. That's a good point. I haven't actually tracked the exact time this happens but I never considered ovulation. I'll start tracking the times it happens and maybe I can at least narrow it down. Thanks for your encouragement. 0 -
You can't gain pounds of fat overnight so it has to be water. It takes 3500 excess calories to create a pound of fat. Unless you are having huge binges you aren't mentioning, it's water. My body does the same thing. I gained 18 pounds in 3 days while in the hospital eating almost nothing. My doctors haven't been able to pinpoint a trigger yet, either. Just keep working at it. You're still losing fat if you're eating at a deficit. Over time, your weight will continue to trend downward.
Yes, of course, wasn't thinking it was fat.
I am definitely not having binges and I am always below my calorie goal. I've heard of water weight but wow. Didn't think it would be so drastic and I seem to keep it on for such a long period of time. 18 in 3 days - crazy. Ahh, bodies are silly. Sigh! Thanks for your encouragement. 0 -
shadow2soul wrote: »^Most likely. Does it happen to occur about the time you would ovulating?
Someone else had mentioned that and I am not sure so I am going to start tracking the exact days. Offhand, it honestly seems so random, so I'm not sure. But thank you for the idea. If I can narrow it down, maybe it won't continue being such a shock and annoyance. It just seems to sit there for a week or so and I didn't think that was normal for water weight and the like.0 -
ManiacalLaugh wrote: »hormones.
I might agree. Hormones can swing outside of the TOM, it's just more likely during this time. (This being said, I'm not a medical expert). I typically gain water weight from my TOM a week or even two before it starts (two was more likely before I was on BC). By the time my period actually started, a lot of the water weight would be gone.
On the upside, you've lost 49 lbs in approximately 40 weeks. That's actually a great rate at which to lose for anyone who's not super morbidly obese.
If you have further concerns, I would recommend speaking with a dietician. The term "nutritionist" is not regulated and can refer to someone who took an hour long computer class then printed out a certificate. A licensed dietician has recieved their certification from an accredited body, likely has a four- to eight-year degree in the field of nutrition and exercise, and will know where to look for credible sources of information on the subject.
I have mentioned in a couple replies that it's a good idea if I start tracking when this happens because it seems so random. I just didn't think water weight would just sit there for such a long period of time. I feel like all I've read about it says it comes and goes within a few days. But whatever weight I am gaining, it sits there for over a week and then suddenly poof, I'm down that weight plus 1-2lbs.
It's definitely been easier keeping it off because of how slow I am losing it. Thanks for your advice and yes, you're right about the term "nutritionist." When I get health coverage again I will look into a dietitian. 0 -
Good points. Thanks for that. 0 -
Nothing to add except that I do the same thing all the time. My TOM ended days ago and I woke up 3 pounds heavier and cannot get rid of it. It's like lose 5 gain 3 for me every couple weeks. Frustrates the hell out of me!
Yup, pretty much! And mine will stay for a week or more. Then suddenly those pounds are gone, plus maybe 1lb or 2lbs additionally and I will have officially 'lost weight' again. Annoying! Being a girl sucks sometimes. :P0 -
We don't have a specific weight, we have a weight range around which we're hovering at any point of time.
www.weightgrapher.com
www.trendweight.com
Use free fitbit account (whether you have a fitbit device or not).
Enter your daily weigh-ins there.
Connect the account to both the above sites so that it passes your weight to them automatically.
The apps will show you the trend of your weight, smoothing out water variations due to salt, exercise, or hormones.
Weightgrapher can optionally superimposition your previous monthly cycle so that you can more easily compare.
Yes, I do use a FitBit and it is connected to MFP. I wasn't aware it had such detailed info on weight though - I will look into that.0 -
Hormones and water. Also, do you weigh at the same time of day consistently? I fluctuate as much as 3 lbs PER DAY between morning and evening. It's normal.
Glad I am not alone then! Yes, I am pretty consistent when I weight (and what I am wearing at the time). Doesn't seem to make a difference. I guess I didn't think water weight could be that many pounds (in my mind I always thought it could add 1-2) and last for such a long time (as it takes a week or two to see ANY weight loss again), but reading over this thread, that seems to be what it is.0 -
carnivalnights wrote: »Yes, I do use a FitBit and it is connected to MFP. I wasn't aware it had such detailed info on weight though - I will look into that.
The fitbit doesn't do anything other than pass your weight information automatically to www.trendweight.com and/or www.weightgrapher.com
You then go to the sites and look at the pretty pictures.
This helps you avoid freeking out over water gains and gives you some other useful information about your probable actual deficit.
Example of trendweight: https://trendweight.com/u/94660812e1d749/chart/4w.png
Look at June 16: 182.6 to June 27: 182.7 <--- OMG plateau: 11 days and I've gained 0.1lbs of weight!
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We don't have a specific weight, we have a weight range around which we're hovering at any point of time.
www.weightgrapher.com
www.trendweight.com
Use free fitbit account (whether you have a fitbit device or not).
Enter your daily weigh-ins there.
Connect the account to both the above sites so that it passes your weight to them automatically.
The apps will show you the trend of your weight, smoothing out water variations due to salt, exercise, or hormones.
Weightgrapher can optionally superimposition your previous monthly cycle so that you can more easily compare.
Thank you so much for the link to weightgrapher. I've been looking for a tool like this. I don't care for the graphs/reports at MFP.0
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