30,000 calories in one day!

Beeingthin

I’m in the maintenance phase but I’ll admit I wasn’t super diligent for Thanksgiving. For the most part I’ve still been healthy, within my limit, and doing the same at the gym. I keep constant tabs on my weight as well. On Thanksgiving morning I woke up 153 which is within my acceptable range. All in all for the day, I only went over 600-800 calories and I planned on doing that. My sore shoulder and back from chopping firewood a few weeks ago was still nagging me. When I was in the shower that night those muscle went on a total spasm and I was in a lot of pain, could barely move. When I weighed myself in the morning the scale read 159! What??? I had my husband weigh himself and it was normal so it wasn’t a broken scale. Now, I know I didn’t eat 4500 calories the previous day much less 30,000. I ended up having to get muscle relaxers and took them ever 6 hours for 2 days then I was well enough to stop and just take ibuprofen. But my weight is still hovering at 157-159 in the mornings. If it was a gain from inflammation, wouldn’t it be gone by now? This can’t really be a real weight gain can it?? Someone please explain this to me. For reference, I’m not menstruated or ovulating and not retaining water in the usual ways.

MikePTY

As you said, you know you didn't overeat enough calories to gain 6 pounds of fat. So no, it's not a permanent gain. It is water retention. Could be from one of any factors, including your injury and your body holding onto more water to help repair that.

RelCanonical

It can sometimes take a while for inflammation to go down, especially with an injury! Normally when we say a few days for water retention, it's for salt intake or minor exercise soreness. A spasm like that might take a while to fully heal, so the inflammation's going to be there for a bit.

NovusDies

A good clue that your inflammation is still there is that your shoulder is still sore. When the pain is completely gone you may still be looking at another week for the water weight to be completely gone.

LivingtheLeanDream

Its not real gain, inflammation easily causes a few pounds gain for me until it goes, my weight will stay higher - have seen it hang around for a few weeks because I was taking Ibuprofen.

If you're in maintenance you should be aware by now how much the scale fluctuates for a host of reasons.

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10634529/why-did-the-number-on-the-scale-go-up-this-week-heres-why#latest

pjwrt

Beeingthin wrote: »

I’m in the maintenance phase but I’ll admit I wasn’t super diligent for Thanksgiving. For the most part I’ve still been healthy, within my limit, and doing the same at the gym. I keep constant tabs on my weight as well. On Thanksgiving morning I woke up 153 which is within my acceptable range. All in all for the day, I only went over 600-800 calories and I planned on doing that. My sore shoulder and back from chopping firewood a few weeks ago was still nagging me. When I was in the shower that night those muscle went on a total spasm and I was in a lot of pain, could barely move. When I weighed myself in the morning the scale read 159! What??? I had my husband weigh himself and it was normal so it wasn’t a broken scale. Now, I know I didn’t eat 4500 calories the previous day much less 30,000. I ended up having to get muscle relaxers and took them ever 6 hours for 2 days then I was well enough to stop and just take ibuprofen. But my weight is still hovering at 157-159 in the mornings. If it was a gain from inflammation, wouldn’t it be gone by now? This can’t really be a real weight gain can it?? Someone please explain this to me. For reference, I’m not menstruated or ovulating and not retaining water in the usual ways.

Your husband slipped calories into your drink. What a joker!

(I weighed 5lbs over my target last night. Freaked out, yeah. This morning it was an acceptable 2lbs.)

Beeingthin

It makes me feel a little better to hear it can last a week. But I still don’t like seeing it on the scale. I come from a family who made me feel so small for being overweight as a kid. Psychological damage like that doesn’t go away over night and this has really put me in a dark mood. 😔

missysippy930

As others said, water retention from your shoulder. Maybe you had higher sodium foods as well, on Thanksgiving?

NovusDies

Beeingthin wrote: »

It makes me feel a little better to hear it can last a week. But I still don’t like seeing it on the scale. I come from a family who made me feel so small for being overweight as a kid. Psychological damage like that doesn’t go away over night and this has really put me in a dark mood. 😔

Unless a person is underweight and trying to gain weight I doubt many people like seeing upticks on the scale. Even when I am fairly certain of the cause it is not my favorite thing. A long time ago I kept doing the calorie math to assure myself it could not possibly be fat or at least totally fat weight. It helped me to keep pushing the irrational thoughts/fears back with the rational ones.

If it helps at all the increase in your weight due to water is healthy for you. It is helping you to recover so you need that scale to say what it says right now.

panda4153

I can’t remember where I read this, it was a few years back, so I can’t be sure if the source, but I do remember reading that Ibuprofen can cause some water retention as well. That may be a factor for you as well.

cheryldumais

Probably a combination of water retention and extra food in the digestive tract from Thanksgiving. It will pass. Hang in there and don't let the scale dictate your mood. I know easier said than done.

quiksylver296

http://physiqonomics.com/the-weird-and-highly-annoying-world-of-scale-weight-and-fluctuations

lorrpb

None of us EVER like seeing that. Don't get down on yourself because you don't like the number. Just try to accept such fluctuations as reality, remind yourself of the meaning, and keep focused on your eating and fitness plan. If I can do that, I'm happy.