Advice: gain 2lb but lost 2% body fat

bembo1980

Ok so my stats: starting weight 180lb, ultimate goal 140lb, current weight 172lb.

I've seen a steady loss in lbs over the past 3 weeks. I have stuck to my 1200 calories rigidly (except for when I run and I eat 50% back).

I weighed on Tuesday and was 3.5 lb down since the previous Tuesday. However I weighed today and have put 2lb back on !!! I am weighing everything and tracking as I eat.

But, I have gone from 42% body fat three weeks ago to 40% on Tuesday. Today I am 38%.

How can I have gained back 2lb but lost 2% fat?!?!?

dahhhhhling

Water weight? 2 lbs is nothing, I can put on 5 lbs of water weight depending on how much sodium I have or how hard I exercise that day and then it's gone the next morning.

ShammersPink

How did you measure the BF%?

If it is with bodyfat scales (BIA), that is a normal effect of differences in hydration levels. They are highly inaccurate, and water retention has a strong effect on them.

The more water you are retaining, the higher your weight, and the lower your BF% reading. Therefore I typically find that if I have an apparent weight gain, the BF% goes down, and vice versa.

Over a longer period, they do show the underlying trend.

AnvilHead

The most likely issue is that you're using a scale with BIA to determine your bodyfat percentage. BIA (bioelectric impedance analysis) is highly inaccurate and can fluctuate wildly even from day to day. Basically, you may as well throw a dart at a dartboard and use that number as your BF%.

Here's a detailed research review which discusses the reliability and errors of BIA "measurements":
The Pitfalls of Bodyfat "Measurement", Part 4: Bioelectrical Impedance (BIA)

ShammersPink

It can almost be a relief - I look at the scales, and my weight has increased - oh noes! But the BF% reading has decreased - ah, that's ok, that means it's probably just water.

TimothyFish

The body fat reading is probably wrong, but for what it is worth when you gain water weight your body fat percentage goes down.

auranya

Time of the month?

rybo

Weight loss isn't always linear, there are lots of fluctuations.
And the way you are measuring your BF% is likely highly inaccurate, so probably best to not really worry about it that much. At best look for trends over a much longer time period, (months)

VintageFeline

You're not gaining muscle running and eating in a deficit. It's just water and unreliable methods of measuring BF%.

trigden1991

Water