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Does eating a big meal before bed cause a big weight fluctuation the next morning?

gpanda103
gpanda103 Posts: 189 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I’ve been saving up my calories during the day so I can eat a really big meal right before bed, and somehow I’ve gained 4lbs over the span of 2 days. Is this water retention or genuine weight gain?

Replies

  • PAV8888
    PAV8888 Posts: 14,536 Member
    edited April 2021
    Did you poo in the morning? If it's still in you it has weight..

    Are you using a weight trend application or web site?

    Why do you think that creating what **sounds like based on your description** a restrict binge environment is good and healthy and productive for you?
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,462 Member
    "A big meal."

    Are you staying in calories?

    Does the big meal include a lot of salt? That would lead to more water being held in your system. So would the fasting/feasting. Your body might be in a bit of a panic about when the next feed will happen. Stress causes water weight too.


    I find actual weight gain doesn't happen the day or two after I've over-eaten.

    I'm guessing you are holding water.
  • gpanda103
    gpanda103 Posts: 189 Member
    edited April 2021
    cmriverside wrote: »
    "A big meal."

    Are you staying in calories?

    Does the big meal include a lot of salt? That would lead to more water being held in your system. So would the fasting/feasting. Your body might be in a bit of a panic about when the next feed will happen. Stress causes water weight too.


    I find actual weight gain doesn't happen the day or two after I've over-eaten.

    I'm guessing you are holding water.

    High in calories and salt, but within my calorie goal as I am trying to gain some weight
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,462 Member
    If you're within calories then just assume it's stress and salt. It should level out. It's really not important in the scheme of things what happens on a daily/weekly basis. Lots of things affect weight.


    It's
    About
    Calories


  • LisaGetsMoving
    LisaGetsMoving Posts: 663 Member
    The first thing I look for when I read a thread like this is how long has this been happening.

    You've only got 2 days in. That's not long enough to determine anything. Unless you ate (3500*4 lbs) 14000 calories over and above your maintenance level, then it is not a fat weight gain. You would know if you ate 14000 calories, right? So, there's a couple of other possibilities: 1) your scale is not accurate, or it's finicky and needs a new battery or something like that or 2) you're holding onto some water which could be from exercising more than usual or just a fluid balance thing that will work itself out.

    Log your foods & exercise, and only pay attention to the scale on ONE day a week (weigh daily if you wish, but only pay attention to the weight on your official day. ie: mine is Friday morning weight)
  • PAV8888
    PAV8888 Posts: 14,536 Member
    High salt, volume, and stress sort of answers the question.

    If you're trying to gain weight with maximum fat, or minimum fat, or something in between, or even to gain weight at all.... I don't see how one meal a day is your optimal strategy.

    Have you discussed your eating strategies with any professionals? A registered dietitian may be able to help...
  • psychod787
    psychod787 Posts: 4,099 Member
    🤔 uhhh... if you shoved 2 lbs of sand into your pockets and then weighed in, would you weigh more? Think about it. You have more stomach contents and higher glycogen.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    4 Lbs of actual weight (fat) in two days would be next to impossible mathematically and biologically.

    A high volume of food is going to result in additional inherent waste in your system...high sodium and higher carbohydrates are also going to carry water with them.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    As you ate big meals before bed and got a big weight fluctuation the answer is yes, you proved it yourself.

    You must know you didn't eat 14,000 calories over maintenance in those two days so it can't be fat can it?

    Try to develop a much longer viewpoint, your weight will fluctuate for the rest of your lifetime, it's your weight trend over an extended period of time that matters not the peaks and troughs.

    Must say it seems an unusual strategy for someone trying to gain weight to "save up calories" for one big meal.

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