Is this true?
FitnessFreak1821
Posts: 242 Member
Does sore muscles mean you will have some water weight ? Should I wait to weigh in until my musles are not sore?
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Replies
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Yes, weigh yourself after you have had 24 to 48 hours of recovery when you don’t have water weight from DOMS.0
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Yes, it’s true.
If you want to weigh in daily, it’s good to weigh daily regardless of soreness or other reasons. You will learn about your body’s fluctuations.10 -
XoXashleighXoX wrote: »Does sore muscles mean you will have some water weight ? Should I wait to weigh in until my musles are not sore?
Sore muscles usually mean water weight. Water weight from workouts (for muscle repair) can happen even without soreness.
Personally, I suggest weighing routinely. That way, you can understand how your body responds to various conditions, and - over time - intuitively understand what to expect on the scale, and recognize that not everything you see on the scale is fat gain/loss.
However, people who are very stressed or emotional about weight fluctuations may be better off weighing less often. When it comes to weighing routinely, I'm talking mainly about people who can learn to be relatively unfazed by the daily number. (It's the longer term trend that matters, for fat loss. Most big/quick scale changes are water weight or digestive contents. Fat is gradual, muscle is flat out slow. No, slower than that!😆)13 -
I weigh daily and just sort through the fluctuations with a trend weight app. If I waited until my muscles were not sore, or I had a heavy lower day, or if I ate too much, had too much salt, certain times of the month, I would never weigh in!15
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Well I never knew that! You learn something new every day 👍3
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Thanks everyone, I stepped on the scale this morning and I think I'm a couple pounds heavier cause muscles are still sore. I had some alcohol lastnight too and so I must be retaining water big time. There is no way I ate enough to gain. Earlier this week I was 137.4 , I was expecting to be 136 range because I worked so hard but I'm up to 138.4 pounds. oh well I can't stress it happens,5
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Yeah, I'm with everyone else. Weigh daily, don't put a lot of stock in the numbers as long as they're trending in the direction desired over time.
I ate 4000 extra calories in the past three days. You can bet that extra weight will drop back off, but I expect it to stay up for a while.3 -
There are also so many other reasons why your body might hold onto more water, like hormonal fluctuations (ovulation, menstruation, stress), traveling and especially flights, drinking too little, a new workout, more salt, and lots of other reasons. It's just normal.3
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Yes, I agree weighing in daily would be beneficial. I'm still trying to learn not to stress about the number. I'm getting there I'm not as bad as I use to be4
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I didn't see the article below, linked in this thread yet. Some of y'all who are just learning about water fluctuations will get some good, useful info if you read it.
https://physiqonomics.com/the-weird-and-highly-annoying-world-of-scale-weight-and-fluctuations4 -
I personally see 0 benefit in weighing daily. It’s obsessive imo. I weigh weekly on the same day each week before breakfast. I know that if I’m sore, my weight will be up a little and I don’t sweat it.1
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Dogmom1978 wrote: »I personally see 0 benefit in weighing daily. It’s obsessive imo. I weigh weekly on the same day each week before breakfast. I know that if I’m sore, my weight will be up a little and I don’t sweat it.
It's of use to people who are using trending apps. It's also helpful for those of us who are shorter and/or close to goal weight; because of fluctuations, weighing once a week may mean you weigh on an 'up day' but be down a pound or two the next day which you might not see. However, for those that do weigh daily, it's good to be aware that fluctuations are normal.
Personally, I weighed weekly until I was close to goal and then I weighed every few days. Different people find different things helpful.10 -
Dogmom1978 wrote: »I personally see 0 benefit in weighing daily. It’s obsessive imo. I weigh weekly on the same day each week before breakfast. I know that if I’m sore, my weight will be up a little and I don’t sweat it.
If I had a lot of weight to lose I might weigh less frequently. When I was still 50 pounds from goal I broke my scale, and I didn't buy another one until I was trying to lose that last 15- 20. So for several months I didn't step on a scale. I knew I still had a long ways to go because I was still wearing size 14.
8-10 is where I needed to be...
To each their own. I do think that daily weigh-ins help with that over-attachment to the number. It's but one of many possible data points, but it's the one we put too much emphasis on. Weighing daily takes that obsession with the number away (for me at least.)6 -
Dogmom1978 wrote: »I personally see 0 benefit in weighing daily. It’s obsessive imo. I weigh weekly on the same day each week before breakfast. I know that if I’m sore, my weight will be up a little and I don’t sweat it.
I do the same (weekly weighing naked between bathroom activities and breakfast), because I don't see any benefit TO ME in daily weighing. Different people, different needs/values, etc. And obsession is more about attitudes and effects than simply doing something more often than someone else might.
If someone doesn't get freaked out if they miss a daily weighing (e.g., battery died or something upset their daily routine), and if they're not doing things (especially unhealthy things) to try to manage their hydration or digestive system to get desired daily results (which could also happen with someone weighing less frequently), I don't see it as obsessive to weigh daily. Just not my thing.7 -
Something can only be as obsessive as you allow it to be.
Its all in how you choose to react to the information given to you.
I weigh in daily and nightly lol, I simply enjoy the numbers.
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As a daily weigher, here's my two cents on that: it keeps me accountable, gives me accurate trending data, and serves as a reminder of my intention every day.
Back in June (I think) I checked back on the previous two weeks, and fluctuations made it seem that if I had weighed in every Monday, it would have shown a 0.2 lb loss between the two Mondays. If I had weighed in on Thursdays, it would have shown a 3 lb loss between the two Thursdays. I don't remember the exact numbers or weekdays anymore, but the point still stands. I had trend data from my daily weigh-ins, and it showed my weight loss in the last 7 days was about 1 pound.
I don't stress about weighing in when I travel, it doesn't upset me if I forget to weigh in etc. A single weigh in doesn't hold much emphasis because it's really just one point of data in a sea of hundreds. I admit to waiting for a bowel movement in the weekends before weighing in, but the lounging in bed and playing on my iPad while waiting for it to happen is part of my lazy morning routine. If I get hungry or actually want to get up before it happens, I just weigh in, get dressed and get breakfast. No big deal.13 -
Strudders67 wrote: »Dogmom1978 wrote: »I personally see 0 benefit in weighing daily. It’s obsessive imo. I weigh weekly on the same day each week before breakfast. I know that if I’m sore, my weight will be up a little and I don’t sweat it.
It's of use to people who are using trending apps. It's also helpful for those of us who are shorter and/or close to goal weight; because of fluctuations, weighing once a week may mean you weigh on an 'up day' but be down a pound or two the next day which you might not see. However, for those that do weigh daily, it's good to be aware that fluctuations are normal.
Personally, I weighed weekly until I was close to goal and then I weighed every few days. Different people find different things helpful.
Exactly. I weigh daily and use Trendweight. It's incredibly helpful; there's nothing obsessive about it.
I weighed in at 115.6 on July 24th, 119.6 on July 30th, and 115.2 on August 6th. I didn't freak out because, thanks to Trendweight, I know my body loves to hold copious amounts of water weight during different times of the month. If I weighed in weekly or monthly I would be a very confused person or possibly feel defeated depending on the day I chose to weigh in.8 -
If people find it useful sure. I’ve seen MANY users on mfp obsess over daily fluctuations though and THAT isn’t healthy. I was just pointing out that if you are one of those people, maybe you need help instead of continuing on the current path...
The only reminder I need to stay on track is the mirror and my daily calorie entries.6 -
I did daily weigh ins because I loved the stats and found the fluctuations a bit facinating, I’m weird like that. I would try to guess where I would be as the numbers processed based on activity, food, and how I felt. Now I still try to weigh daily (close to goal weight), sometimes I don’t remember, other times I forget to log for a few days in a row so I try to remember (not always successfully so I have gaps), but I don’t stress.2
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Dogmom1978 wrote: »I personally see 0 benefit in weighing daily. It’s obsessive imo. I weigh weekly on the same day each week before breakfast. I know that if I’m sore, my weight will be up a little and I don’t sweat it.
Is it obsessive to brush your teeth every day? Twice even? Just recording a datapoint is not obsessive. If you fret over it and return to the scale several times it might be. Each their own. I use a weight trending app. With it I have an idea what's going on after say 14 days. If I were to weigh weekly then I'd need 14 weeks to get the same data trend. I'm maintaining, btw. With lots of days at the moment where I'm away and have no idea how much I'm eating this is the best tool to figure out where I am.7 -
This bothered me, so I went back to check the last few weeks.
Monday 3rd to Monday 10th (7 days): 3,5 pound loss
Monday 27th to Monday 3rd (7 days): 1,9 pound gain
Especially at a slower weight loss rate, fluctuations can really mess up with perception. I'm currently trending about half a pound per week, so on a once-a-week weigh-in schedule I might have no idea where I'm actually at.10 -
Dogmom1978 wrote: »I personally see 0 benefit in weighing daily. It’s obsessive imo. I weigh weekly on the same day each week before breakfast. I know that if I’m sore, my weight will be up a little and I don’t sweat it.
Is it obsessive to brush your teeth every day? Twice even? Just recording a datapoint is not obsessive. If you fret over it and return to the scale several times it might be. Each their own. I use a weight trending app. With it I have an idea what's going on after say 14 days. If I were to weigh weekly then I'd need 14 weeks to get the same data trend. I'm maintaining, btw. With lots of days at the moment where I'm away and have no idea how much I'm eating this is the best tool to figure out where I am.
One is for hygiene while the other is obsessing over a number so this an awful anology. If it works for you, ok. It seems obsessive to me and I’m entitled to my opinion just like you’re entitled to yours.
😛1 -
I weigh daily. I find the fluctuations interesting. A Chinese meal will put me up 3lb without the slightest problem.3
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I don't see the connection between knowing you might have some water weight and waiting to weigh in. Your weight is always going to be fluctuating. If you're deciding to weigh on a certain schedule, why not weigh on that schedule and accept that -- for a wide variety of reasons -- your weight may be higher on some days.
I weigh the week before my period is scheduled to start, even though I know I will likely have a higher weight. I weigh when my muscles are sore, I weigh after I've been on an airplane, I weigh after a day with higher sodium meals. It's just data. Why not have it?5 -
cmriverside wrote: »Dogmom1978 wrote: »I personally see 0 benefit in weighing daily. It’s obsessive imo. I weigh weekly on the same day each week before breakfast. I know that if I’m sore, my weight will be up a little and I don’t sweat it.
If I had a lot of weight to lose I might weigh less frequently. When I was still 50 pounds from goal I broke my scale, and I didn't buy another one until I was trying to lose that last 15- 20. So for several months I didn't step on a scale. I knew I still had a long ways to go because I was still wearing size 14.
8-10 is where I needed to be...
To each their own. I do think that daily weigh-ins help with that over-attachment to the number. It's but one of many possible data points, but it's the one we put too much emphasis on. Weighing daily takes that obsession with the number away (for me at least.)
..And those close to normal weight won't necessarily see that number go down on a weekly weigh-in (despite possibly trending downward) as typical loss per week will be far less than normal daily fluctuations. (and I think most would find this much more distressing than a single daily weigh in being high).2 -
It does cause water weight.
Funny story when I did my first weight training session years ago I felt super impressed that I'd managed to put in a whole lb of muscle in a single session. I cringe thinking back to that a bit.4 -
cmriverside wrote: »Dogmom1978 wrote: »I personally see 0 benefit in weighing daily. It’s obsessive imo. I weigh weekly on the same day each week before breakfast. I know that if I’m sore, my weight will be up a little and I don’t sweat it.
If I had a lot of weight to lose I might weigh less frequently. When I was still 50 pounds from goal I broke my scale, and I didn't buy another one until I was trying to lose that last 15- 20. So for several months I didn't step on a scale. I knew I still had a long ways to go because I was still wearing size 14.
8-10 is where I needed to be...
To each their own. I do think that daily weigh-ins help with that over-attachment to the number. It's but one of many possible data points, but it's the one we put too much emphasis on. Weighing daily takes that obsession with the number away (for me at least.)
..And those close to normal weight won't necessarily see that number go down on a weekly weigh-in (despite possibly trending downward) as typical loss per week will be far less than normal daily fluctuations. (and I think most would find this much more distressing than a single daily weigh in being high).
THIS.
I checked back, and the Monday, August 3rd weigh-in with the 1,9lb ”gain” was 215,3 pounds. The first record with that exact number is Monday, June 1st. That’s over 2 months betwen them. If I only weighed in on Mondays and didn’t have the trend data, I could easily believe I hadn’t lost any weight in two months. My trend changed 2,9 pounds in that time. The June weigh-in was a new low at the time, while the August weigh-in was a high.
(Yes, I know just under 3 pounds in 2 months isn’t great. Some people lose faster, some slower, and I care more about maintaining any loss I achieve than going quickly in both directions. The point is fluctuations masking the trend.)1 -
SnifterPug wrote: »I weigh daily. I find the fluctuations interesting. A Chinese meal will put me up 3lb without the slightest problem.
My personal best was going cross-country skiing for 7 miles in the mountains and then coming home and eating a giant chicken parm sandwich. Between the water weight from exercise/sore muscles, the large amount of water I drank, and then eating a sodium filled carb bomb, I gained 8 lbs overnight. It disappeared over the next couple days.
But, that is also why I weigh daily. If I only did it weekly, and one of my weekly days had fallen during that high weight period, I would have thought I'd somehow gained, or least not lost, any weight that week. But, doing it daily let me see exactly what that activity did to me and see that I was still on track that week as a whole.6
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