Can you gain 4 pounds in two days!!!?

michellevaldez733

My husband and I went to dinner two nights ago. We went to dinner and had a lot of drinks!!! I had weighted myself that same morning and weighed in at 135.8 (just like every other day). I weighed myself yesterday the day after drinking and weighed in at 137.00. Then, I weighed myself this morning (two days after) and I weighed in at 139!!!! I'm freaking out because it took me forever to lose my weight! I haven't seen those numbers in a really long time.

stevencloser

No.

MelaniaTrump

4 lbs is a lot. Could be a combination of things along with a high calorie day.
A margaritta at some places can have 400 calories each, and salt on the brim.
It could be water weight from a high sodium meal. Alcohol can also cause water weight gain. Even TOM can cause temp weight gain.

samamaof2

I rarely drink, but about a month ago I had like 4 or 5 beers. I weighed like 5 pounds more a few days after. Came back off right away though! Likr 2 days later, i was "normal". Ha ha. You will be fine!

cee134

FYI, for lots of different reason your weight will go up and down about 5 lbs a day. (has to do with water, ect) That's why it's pointless to weigh yourself more then once a week, and at the same time each week.

MommyL2015

Of fat, no. Of water and stuff? Yes. I fluctuate 3-5 pounds daily.

ziggy2006

Yes, but remember that a scale measures more than fat gain/loss. It also measures the weight of fluids and solid waste in your body.

A weight gain of 4 pounds on the scale does not mean you gained 4 pounds of fat.

madammags

Well, technically yes, since you did. Really, you can gain 4 pounds in a couple of hours by drinking and eating a lot.
However, you are likely to lose all (or at least by far most) of it again over the next few days. You haven't suddenly gained 4 pounds of fat.
This weight gain is all due to having more water and food in your system than what you normally do, especially having lots of sodium (often found in large quantities in restaurant foods) will cause you to retain water which can easily stick around for a few days. It should go back to normal within the next few days.

Realistically, you might gain 1 pound or so from a really big eat (if you eat about 3000-4000 calories above your maintenance level), but to gain 4 pounds 'permanently', you'd have to have eaten about 15 000 calories above your maintenance level, which is A LOT (in one go).

Maxematics

cee134 wrote: »

FYI, for lots of different reason your weight will go up and down about 5 lbs a day. (has to do with water, ect) That's why it's pointless to weigh yourself more then once a week, and at the same time each week.

You're spot on with the rest, but I disagree with this. Daily weighing has made many of us aware of any fluctuations we can expect from our bodies due to high sodium days, higher carb days, ovulation, menstruation, etc. If I only weighed in once a week, I may get a high weight and it will not accurately reflect the trend of my actual weight. I would say overall the once a week weigh in thing is easier to do when someone has more weight to lose to begin with and, depending on the OP's height, she may not have that issue.

KatieJane83

This would be water weight. Just like I 'lost' 4 pounds in 1 1/2 hours after my long run on Sunday, which was also water weight, fluctuations like this are normal.

tech_kitten

Fluctuations, especially when you indulge, are normal. Most commonly it's water weight, shark week, or stress. Sometimes it can be partly due to calories, but typically not.

Need2Exerc1se

Oh sure. I once gained 7 lbs overnight. It's mostly water weight, not fat.

JeromeBarry1

Water, some fat. Get back on the wagon. It'll be all ok in a week or two, in time for your next dinner out. Rinse and repeat.

MelaniaTrump

Weighing daily is how I found out how sodium and alcohol affects my weight. Without doing that, I would have never known.
Studies show that those that weigh themselves daily lose more weight.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2016/01/03/weight-loss-scales-daily/77584478/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2015/06/18/cornell-researchers-actually-you-should-be-weighing-yourself-every-day/

jemhh

Yes, I can easily gain 4 pounds of water weight in two days. I can do it in one day. It is no cause for alarm. You know exactly what happened--went out to eat and ate food out of the ordinary. You may even be getting the effects of that plus some sort of ovulation/menstruation water fluctuations. It's the joy of being a woman

kermax39

I lose water weight the morning after too much alcohol and gain water weight the day after a food binge....it evens out after a couple of days though.....youv not gained 4lbs of fat so I wouldnt worry.

brower47

Yes, it is possible to gain 4 lbs in two days.

But it's not fat gain. I'm five lbs heavier after two days of heavy labor in the heat, two meals out and me being at the top of my cycle.

xvolution

It's most likely water weight. 4 pounds is about 2 liters of water.

hokiemom14

Easily, even on a day when I eat really well, I can gain 3 lbs. from first thing in the morning to the very end of the day. I drink a lot of water everyday so I know a good portion of it is that. The next day it's back down again. I don't think it's abnormal to have to take a few days to get back to normal after a heavy night of drinking and food

michellevaldez733

Thanks everyone!!! Your advice and experiences have been very helpful! I'm going to give it couple more days!

heartofplastic

I've weighed 2 lbs more after eating a ton and not pooping, so maybe that's what's going on with you (I weigh 107 lbs)