Water weight, etc. in relation to actual weight.

beardena5746

I hope this makes sense. I understand that weight fluctuates everyday and that we will not always have a precise weight, but if you’ve been maintaining a deficit that a higher scale
Number could be the result of anything from water weight to waste, but when the number on the scale drops to a lower number, is that indicative of what your actual weight could be or at least Closer to it than what the scale says when you’ve got some extra funk going on in your body?


Please don’t chew my head off...

janejellyroll

I'm not completely sure I understand, but are you asking if the lower weight is potentially closer to your "actual weight" than the higher weight?

None of us have an "actual weight." Your body is always going to have varying amounts of water, food you're processing, etc.

A lower weight *could* be due to several factors and isn't necessarily "more actual" than a higher weight. This is why lots of people choose to focus on trends instead of what the scale says on any particular day.

beardena5746

Yes, that’s what I’m asking. Ok, thanks. I’m trying to focus on the trend, and I see that my clothes seem to fit better and that overall, I’m pretty sure that I’m losing, but a couple of weeks ago, I had a few consecutive days of 174 lbs, Then I had hit a low of 173, then all this week it has consistently been 177. I’m like dang... which am I actually
Closer to? But thanks, I’ll keep that in mind.

PAV8888

If you had the runs yesterday, is today's weight more accurate than yesterday's?

If you went out for a harder than normal run yesterday, one that you magically managed to fully fuel and hydrate by having anchovy pizza, salt and cayenne pepper wings, and a dozen Ceasars, and you can barely walk today, you're in so much pain, is your weight more accurate today than yesterday?

If you stick a line through your weight ins this past month and see how that line had changed.... is that, perhaps, more accurate?

Libra, happy scale, trendweight, weightgrapher and their ilk all stick lines through weigh ins! If you're a girl... compare your weight to your weight during the same time last MONTH... cause girl stuff!

cwolfman13

beardena5746 wrote: »

I hope this makes sense. I understand that weight fluctuates everyday and that we will not always have a precise weight, but if you’ve been maintaining a deficit that a higher scale
Number could be the result of anything from water weight to waste, but when the number on the scale drops to a lower number, is that indicative of what your actual weight could be or at least Closer to it than what the scale says when you’ve got some extra funk going on in your body?


Please don’t chew my head off...

You don't really have an "actual" weight. Your weight is what it is at that particular point in time. In maintenance I'm typically about 180 Lbs on the average...but I can be 177 one day and 183 on some other day that week depending on a myriad of factors.

jefamer2017

I have often wondered myself. Just look at the trend. It keeps me from feeling frustrated.

cheryldumais

I feel your pain. I go by my rings when it comes to water weight. If my rings are loose and the scale is up then I assume either my digestive system is full or I've gained fat. If my rings are tight and my weight is up or the same I assume I am holding on to some water. If my rings are normal and the scale is down then I assume I have actually lost some weight! It's really frustrating but you have to eventually do like everyone says and just go with the trend. When you are at a higher weight at the beginning of the journey the trend seems to be a more sure and steady reduction in your weight but as you get closer to goal these silly up and downs happen alot. At least that was my experience. Try not to let it get to you just be consistent and you will get there.

garystrickland357

Someone posted recently that when you see a new low on the scale it's a "sneak peak" of what's coming. I like that because that's how it works for me. I agree there is no "actual" weight. I consistently have a calorie deficit but my weight loss is certainly not linear. I'll see a new low on the scale one day - the next day I'll be up a pound - the next day down 1/2 pound - it will stay there 4-5 days - or maybe up another pound - then I'll drop 2.5 pounds to a new "sneak peak". On average I've been losing 1-1.5 pounds per week.

beardena5746

I know we don’t have “actual” weight and that in the grand scheme of things, a couple of Pounds up or down does not mean anything, I just thought I’d ask if anyone can make better sense of the question running through my head.

beardena5746

I like that! Look at it like it’s a sneak peak. Thanks all who have answered. I completely understand that nothing is linear and that we will have ups and downs. It was just something I’ve always wondered.

CarvedTones

While losing when I am absolutely sure I am in a calorie deficit every day, I ignore anything other than a new lowest weight. I know body mass is dropping everyday and it is hopefully mostly fat. I found that easier that trending. I tend to have small swings though.

svel713

I weigh myself daily every morning. My "real weight" is whatever the lowest number is that month. If that number goes up or down, I consider that a legitimate weight change.

PAV8888

svel713 wrote: »

I weigh myself daily every morning. My "real weight" is whatever the lowest number is that month. If that number goes up or down, I consider that a legitimate weight change.

Would you do that with the highest number instead?

No, right?

Not only because it would be a higher number to internalise but also because you probably recognise that the highest number is quite likely to be an outlier.

The lowest number is also quite likely to be an outlier. I mean a trend line might serve you better, but at the very least consider either the mean or the median as your "steady weight" for the month as opposed to the highest or lowest outlier.

CSARdiver

When monitoring weight you want to limit variables. This is why the best time to weigh oneself is first thing in the morning after a voiding. Your sleep cycle is one of the natural "detoxes" your body goes through and helps you remain consistent.

16 oz of water weighs ~1 lb and the human body is ~55-65% water, so massive variability is inherent.

What you are actually attempting to track is fat loss and muscle gain, so you want to limit the influence of water weight.

happytree923

It might help to think of your weight the way you would think about your temperature, blood pressure, or pulse. There is an average range but the number's going to move around based on a lot of different factors. There's not an 'actual' number being obfuscated by your salty lunch or a recent sprint around the block, that is your actual reading at that particular point in time.

AnnPT77

I figure I don't have an actual weight. Instead, what I have is a current range, and a long-term trend.

The weight I see on the scale is a random point in the current range, up a little because I just drank a pint of water, down a little because I just worked out and sweated, up a little because I ate a low-calorie but very high fiber meal, down a little because I just slept and didn't eat anything for the past 8 hours, etc.

If I track the daily scale weights over a period of weeks to months, I'll see the number jump around from day to day, but over time the bumpy jumps are on a downhill trend if I'm losing, horizontal if I'm maintaining, or uphill if I'm gaining.

There is no "true weight", just the short-term range, and the long-term trend.

Thinking this way, IMO, is very helpful when one reaches maintenance. Weight is going to vary up and down through a few pounds' range, and that has to be OK, or it'll drive you nuts.

Jadub729

garystrickland357 wrote: »

Someone posted recently that when you see a new low on the scale it's a "sneak peak" of what's coming. I like that because that's how it works for me. I agree there is no "actual" weight. I consistently have a calorie deficit but my weight loss is certainly not linear. I'll see a new low on the scale one day - the next day I'll be up a pound - the next day down 1/2 pound - it will stay there 4-5 days - or maybe up another pound - then I'll drop 2.5 pounds to a new "sneak peak". On average I've been losing 1-1.5 pounds per week.

this is how it has always been for me. I'll be steady at one number for a days, then a new low, then back up a couple pounds...soon that new low is my steady number, then a new low again.