Weight fluctuations on a calorie deficit normal?

doctorandrew

Ok so here's the story: I recently started my journey to lose quite a bit of weight. I am following my macros by measuring and weighing everything I consume, probably + or - 100 calories which should still be around a calorie deficit.

Dieting and exercise I was able to lose 2.4 lbs the first day, 1.5 lbs the second day, 0.4 lbs the third. I just weighed myself this morning, on the 4th day, and i gained back 0.4 lbs.

Could it just be, I drank a lot of water? Is it even possible for weight to go up during a calorie deficit?
The math works out in my head, but not my body. What's the deal?

LolBroScience

Don't worry. Your weight fluctuates for a variety of reasons, even while at a deficit. It is best to look at the long term trend. Here is an example of my weight and the fluctuations over the past few months while i've been at a deficit. Notice the average is still trending downward though.

28-Apr 172.6 Start

5-May 171.4 171.40
12-May 171.6 171.50
19-May 171.6 171.53
26-May 171.6 171.55
2-Jun 172.6 171.76
9-Jun 171.2 171.67
16-Jun 172.4 171.77
23-Jun 172 171.80
30-Jun 172.3 171.86
7-Jul 171.6 171.83
14-Jul 169.4 171.61
21-Jul 169.4 171.43
28-Jul 167.8 171.15
4-Aug 167.8 170.91
11-Aug 168.6 170.75
18-Aug 168.6 170.62
25-Aug 166.8 170.39
1-Sep 166.8 170.19
8-Sep 165.4 169.94
15-Sep 165.4 169.72
22-Sep 164 169.44
29-Sep 165.2 169.25
6-Oct 167 169.15
13-Oct 165.2 168.99
20-Oct 165.2 168.84
27-Oct 163.6 168.63
3-Nov 166.4 168.55
10-Nov 165.8 168.45
17-Nov 164.8 168.33

*Edit - I copy and pasted it so the formatting got a bit messed up... First column is the date. 2nd column is the weigh in of that date, 3rd column is the long term trending average. The first few weeks were eating at maint. and then i gradually moved towards a mild deficit.

susannamarie

Yeah, and don't expect to lose weight every day. That way lies madness.

pinkiemarie252

Water, exercise, total calories, how much you pooped...it all plays into it. You can weigh yourself every day but you have to look at the overall trend and not be frustrated by one up day.

cassandraromany

I am having the same issue. When i started back my diet, my weight was 227.9 and in 0ne week it went t0 224.0 and in the f0110wing week it was 224.6 a1th0ugh i exercised 4 days/week, ate hea1thy and drank a 10t 0f water. Is that n0rma1 th0?
.

Cyclingbonnie

I personally only weigh once a week. I try to make all things equal, same time, same day, after certain things have taken place. Your weight fluctuates normally, the important thing is to see the trend. I know it is hard not to weigh yourself in the beginning, if you must then average your weight for the week and the average is more accurate. So to compare your weight loss on a weekly basis only consider the average.