weight fluctuations - can't make sense of them

cherys

I started a weight loss programme only last week, so I know there's no chance of a trend yet. But I thought my scales were broken as my weight fluctuated by about 10lbs (mainly apparently gaining during the week, when I was definitely eating far far less than normal. So I bought new scales and weighed myself. Since yesterday afternoon when I got them home, I appear to have gained 6lbs! I just don't really understand this, or how its possible to gauge weight loss when day by day we can add or lose so many pounds. Can anyone help me understand this?

Thanks

kimondo666

mainly water retention and poop weight. Plus scale can have errors in measurement 1lbs plus/minus, not every weight scale measure without errors. Try 10 measurements in one go, you can bet you can get slight different result in some. For example you weight 72 kg. Weight can measure 71.5kg/72/72,5/72/71,5 and so on. It depends how you are measuring yourself on the weight, pressure you are doing on the scale. If scale are on flat surface. Many factors.

cwolfman13

cherys wrote: »

I started a weight loss programme only last week, so I know there's no chance of a trend yet. But I thought my scales were broken as my weight fluctuated by about 10lbs (mainly apparently gaining during the week, when I was definitely eating far far less than normal. So I bought new scales and weighed myself. Since yesterday afternoon when I got them home, I appear to have gained 6lbs! I just don't really understand this, or how its possible to gauge weight loss when day by day we can add or lose so many pounds. Can anyone help me understand this?

Thanks

You need to way yourself at a consistent time of day and under the same or very similar conditions...this is typically first thing in the morning after you've used the restroom and before you have consumed food, and without clothes on, etc. If you're weighing yourself during the day you are weighing everything you've consumed and the inherent waste that comes along with it. Also, if you're weighing yourself in clothes, you are weighing your clothes. None of that has anything to do with your actual body weight or fat.

You also fluctuate naturally due to holding and releasing water and variations in inherent waste in your system...but if you weigh yourself as I noted above, you will get more consistent numbers than weighing throughout the day and in the afternoon and whatnot where you will be weighing everything you've consumed. The weight of your food doesn't just disapear because you ate it...its in your body

lynn_glenmont

Do you keep your scales on a hard surface? Are you moving them between weighing? Are you making sure to check that they're set to zero before you weigh yourself?

earlnabby

lynn_glenmont wrote: »

Do you keep your scales on a hard surface? Are you moving them between weighing? Are you making sure to check that they're set to zero before you weigh yourself?

This ^^^. Pick a place for your scale on a hard, even surface and don't move it. When you have the spot, weigh yourself several times in succession until you get 2 in a row that are the exact same thing (which calibrates the scale). Once you have done this, you shouldn't have to do it again unless you move it.

Unfortunately I have to re-calibrate mine several times a week because I have a 6 month old kitten who likes to push it across the floor. Hope he outgrows that.

cherys

Thank you all. I have been moving them a lot - putting them away then getting them out to weigh. I'll just leave them in one place from now on.

earlnabby

cherys wrote: »

Thank you all. I have been moving them a lot - putting them away then getting them out to weigh. I'll just leave them in one place from now on.

Once you have your scale in its home, weigh yourself a couple of days in a row at the same time (most do it first thing in the morning after the toilet and before the coffee). You should start to see some sort of consistency but keep in mind that in the first few weeks fluctuations are common, just not as extreme as you mentioned in your first post.

scarlett_k

I'm not sure about the calibration comment. Perhaps it depends on your scales? I prop mine against the wall when not in use but weigh in roughly the same spot on a hard level floor and it makes no difference at all.

earlnabby

scarlett_k wrote: »

I'm not sure about the calibration comment. Perhaps it depends on your scales? I prop mine against the wall when not in use but weigh in roughly the same spot on a hard level floor and it makes no difference at all.

Many scales get thrown off when moved but it is not universal. You obviously have one that doesn't do it. Mine does and the OP's might. If the scale is being wonky, the two most likely causes are that the batteries need changing or it doesn't like being moved.

Unknown

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Avidkeo

You need to be consistent.
Weigh at the same time, in the same conditions. I weigh (like most people) first thing in the morning, after going to the toilet, before eating or drinking anything, and naked. I've done the occasional weigh in during the day out of curiosity and I can gain anything from 200 grams through to a couple of kg during a day depending on how much I've had to eat and drink, and how much I've been to the bathroom.

This is my trend over the last 2 months. You can see its mostly down, with a couple of blips - both hormonal and due to a few indulgent days.

Trust the trend!

cherys

@Avidkeo - I don't quite understand that graph. Are the red dots attached to the graph line the fluctuations? if they are, it looks like really wide fluctuations but an overall downward trend. Is that right?

Lietchi

It's not my graph, but yes: the dots are the weigh-ins and the red line is the trend.

Pipsqueak1965

I find not only do i have to put the scales in EXACTLY the same place (lined up with the tiles!), but also i have to make sure i stand on exactly the spot on the scales too! Also the obvious stuff of weighing yourself same time of day, same clothes etc (I find it easiest to do it first thing, post ablutions, with just underwear on.

amtyrell

I suggest you try libra of happy scale to get trend lines. Also weigh same time every day (i do first thing in morning just after bathroom visit) and in same outfit or lack thereof.
Also give it time diet and exercise changes can cause water retention this is a plan for life and that means give it a while.

Also just illustrate this all to yourself once weigh yourself(not for logging) before and after a large bathroom visit. It is nutty how much weight can change.

cherys

This has been so helpful. Thank you all for sharing your tips and knowledge. I'm going with this morning's weight as my official start weight. So 30-35lb is my goal weight loss. Weigh in first thing every morning and I'll try and find an app to do one of those charts that show fluctuations and trends.

Lietchi

Libra for Android and Happy Scale for Apple

cherys

Oh brilliant. Thanks @Lietchi. One for the phone an done for the iPad.

cherys

And @amtyrell - that you for the recommendations. Really helpful.

OAS5

Fluctuations when you weigh daily can be annoying, frustrating and exciting. I get annoyed when I see a number I don't like, I get annoyed and then get excited when I see a number I do like. The key, and its hard, I don't always do this but the key is to keep even keeled. I have lost nearly 75 pounds, just 10-15 to go, so as I say I'm happy but not satisfied. That is just a motivational thing though to get to the ultimate goal weight.
Last Tuesday I weighed in 204.2 and NOT happy, the next day, Wednesday I was 202.2 and Thursday I was 200.8 and that stayed the same for 3 days. Yesterday I was 201.6 and today 203.2 and not very happy. It is, what it is.

threewins

scarlett_k wrote: »

I'm not sure about the calibration comment. Perhaps it depends on your scales? I prop mine against the wall when not in use but weigh in roughly the same spot on a hard level floor and it makes no difference at all.

Same. It's been roughly 19 years since my bathroom scales had their own location, usually they're propped up against the wall due to lack of space. I've noticed day to day variations but usually within +/- 0.5 kg (triangular shaped distribution for those who are curious).

cherys

@OAS5 - are you getting those fluctuations even though you are sticking to your MFP calorie allowance? I've stuck to my healthy eating plan every day except one day for nearly two weeks and not lost any weight at all, which is a bit disheartening when everyone claims you lose loads of water weight at first. Not here! But I feel so much better for cutting out sugar and refined carbs, not eating to excess, so much more in control and heading towards how I used to eat - healthily and sensibly through choice. So I'll keep at it. But some weight loss would be really welcome. I am so sick of being the fattest person in the room. And sick of being invisible.

kshama2001

If you started exercising two weeks ago as well, you could be retaining water from that. I gained 7 pounds of water weight when I started weight lifting.

If you have a menstrual cycle and are ovulating or premenstrual, you could be retaining water from that.

How much weight do you have to lose? From your diary, it looks like you are aiming for 1200 calories - if that isn't enough for you, that is stressful, and stress can lead to increased cortisol, which can make you retain water as well.



https://www.aworkoutroutine.com/1200-calorie-diet/

https://bodyrecomposition.com/research/dietary-restraint-and-cortisol-levels-research-review.html/

Undereating can also lead to this:

yirara

cherys wrote: »

This has been so helpful. Thank you all for sharing your tips and knowledge. I'm going with this morning's weight as my official start weight. So 30-35lb is my goal weight loss. Weigh in first thing every morning and I'll try and find an app to do one of those charts that show fluctuations and trends.

You've got it!
Things just happen and weight fluctuates. Especially for women as changes in hormone levels usually lead to a change in water weight.
Mind you, I'm on a training course this week. Monday; as usual a low weight. Now normally my weight would go up a bit in the course of the week due to having an office job, bit of water in the legs, etc. Then go down again come Sunday. Thus this week:
Monday morning: lowest weight of the week
Tuesday morning: after sitting in a study room all Monday with far too little movement, too little drinking and no pooping my weight jumps straight to the expected Saturday weight.
Wednesday morning: still not been to the loo on Tuesday. Still too little movement. Bit more drinking. Yikes! That's a massive plus on the scale!
Thursday morning: we'll see...

OAS5

cherys wrote: »

@OAS5 - are you getting those fluctuations even though you are sticking to your MFP calorie allowance? I've stuck to my healthy eating plan every day except one day for nearly two weeks and not lost any weight at all, which is a bit disheartening when everyone claims you lose loads of water weight at first. Not here! But I feel so much better for cutting out sugar and refined carbs, not eating to excess, so much more in control and heading towards how I used to eat - healthily and sensibly through choice. So I'll keep at it. But some weight loss would be really welcome. I am so sick of being the fattest person in the room. And sick of being invisible.

I get fluctuations yes, but I have lost 74 pounds with just 15 more to go so I expect all this. I never, ever thought the last 15 pounds were going to be this hard and frustrating. Good luck and you can do it! Sorry I saw this post so late, I apologize.

Psychgrrl

cherys wrote: »

@OAS5 - are you getting those fluctuations even though you are sticking to your MFP calorie allowance? I've stuck to my healthy eating plan every day except one day for nearly two weeks and not lost any weight at all, which is a bit disheartening when everyone claims you lose loads of water weight at first. Not here! But I feel so much better for cutting out sugar and refined carbs, not eating to excess, so much more in control and heading towards how I used to eat - healthily and sensibly through choice. So I'll keep at it. But some weight loss would be really welcome. I am so sick of being the fattest person in the room. And sick of being invisible.

People doing keto lose loads of water weight initially. If you’re eating what you did before, just less of it, that likely won’t happen.

AZSCUBAMOM1

Check out this YouTube video by Jordan Syatt. He totally explains weight fluctuations in a way that is SO understandable. https://youtu.be/7EnY3Ya_soU

yirara

Found another reason for temporary water weight gain: having a stomach bug. Seems like everything I drink ends up in the intestines, to be expelled the next morning/noon of course after the scale visit

cherys

@AZSCUBAMOM1 Thanks for the video link. I'll take a look at that today.

I think I need to stop obsessing on the scales and just check the once a week trend is downward not upward.

Yesterday I felt really hungry. I'd been avoiding carbs, mainly, apart from a small amount of sugar-free granola. But yesterday I had extra granola, a bag of crisps (potato chips) and two small bags of popcorn as my body was shouting for carbs. And I went over my calories - not enough to gain but over by about 300. This morning, I'd dropped a pound! It makes no sense to me.

After the first two weeks of nothing happening, it seems my body has finally worked out it is getting less food and will have to use up the reserves!

amusedmonkey

cherys wrote: »

@AZSCUBAMOM1 Thanks for the video link. I'll take a look at that today.

I think I need to stop obsessing on the scales and just check the once a week trend is downward not upward.

Yesterday I felt really hungry. I'd been avoiding carbs, mainly, apart from a small amount of sugar-free granola. But yesterday I had extra granola, a bag of crisps (potato chips) and two small bags of popcorn as my body was shouting for carbs. And I went over my calories - not enough to gain but over by about 300. This morning, I'd dropped a pound! It makes no sense to me.

After the first two weeks of nothing happening, it seems my body has finally worked out it is getting less food and will have to use up the reserves!

I feel like the body has a mind of its own when it comes to water weight. It's possible to retain water weight when you eat carbs because of glycogen, and it's also possible to drop water weight when you eat carbs if not eating carbs is chronically stressful and cortisol is causing water retention. I just stopped questioning why and how and just take every weigh in at its face value - a single data point in a trend line.

amtyrell

Cherys - can I say how absolutely lovely it is how you are responding to the various members input. It is nice to see someone ask a question and then think about and consider the answers. To then use that information towards determining actions.
It is so nice and makes me feel so happy. Thank you.