Unexplained weight gain

staceybiomed
staceybiomed Posts: 16 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I am so confused. Somehow I managed to gain 2 pounds since last week and I only went over net calories one day (last Wednesday) while my average net calories for the week was actually just a little below target for losing 1/2 pound. I worked out 5 days and realize that some of it is water weight but 2 pounds especially when I haven't worked out since Sunday??? Has this happened to anyone else? Can someone please explain?

Thanks in advance!

Replies

  • Greenrun99
    Greenrun99 Posts: 2,065 Member
    Did you have a high sodium meal, or a take out meal recently? 2 lbs is really pretty normal fluctuation, just make sure your not overestimating your exercise calories, using a digital food scale and tracking what you eat.
    Give it some time and see if it goes away or what happens next week.
  • reality_girl
    reality_girl Posts: 165 Member
    You are pregnant.
  • mekobaby
    mekobaby Posts: 11
    you answered your own question...
  • Holly_Roman_Empire
    Holly_Roman_Empire Posts: 4,440 Member
    I can gain 2 pounds in a day.

    It's normal fluctuation. Don't worry about it.
  • mccindy72
    mccindy72 Posts: 7,001 Member
    I am so confused. Somehow I managed to gain 2 pounds since last week and I only went over net calories one day (last Wednesday) while my average net calories for the week was actually just a little below target for losing 1/2 pound. I worked out 5 days and realize that some of it is water weight but 2 pounds especially when I haven't worked out since Sunday??? Has this happened to anyone else? Can someone please explain?

    Thanks in advance!

    My weight can fluctuate as much as 3-4 lbs in a day. It's water weight. Higher sodium intake, more intense working out, can cause the body to retain water. It will come off.
  • Love4fitnesslove4food2
    Love4fitnesslove4food2 Posts: 711 Member
    This is COMPLETELY normal. If you KNOW the numbers don't add up then dismiss it and move on, the scale will go back down in a few days.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,989 Member
    Weight loss isn't linear. Neither is weight gain. Different day to day activities and stresses cause regular weight fluctuations regardless of how "perfect" one eats and exercises.

    Explained.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • climbing_trees
    climbing_trees Posts: 726 Member
    Water weighs a lot. A gallon of water (sixteen cups) weighs eight pounds.
    Don't stress about it. Keep going!
  • balletpolegirl
    balletpolegirl Posts: 73 Member
    I gained 2lb last week and I ate 1200 calories net every day.
    I also went to the gym for 4 days and a had a swim one day.

    I was a little annoyed after putting so much effort in all week, but I told myself that I may have gained some muscle, have water retention from working out (and time of the month) and then I took my measurements and I have lost an inch here and there.

    The scales aren't the only thing that can show progress.

    I am continuing with what I have been doing and will see what happens with the numbers on the scales at the end this week.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Natural body weight fluctuations can be as much as 3-5 Lbs or more day to day. You have water retention/release, more/less waste in your system than the last time you weighed in, varying degrees of glycogen depletion/replenishment, food in/out, etc.
  • My_Own_Worst_Enemy
    My_Own_Worst_Enemy Posts: 218 Member
    I lost 6lbs last night while sleeping.


    It was ALL FAT.


    True_story_barney.jpg
  • staceybiomed
    staceybiomed Posts: 16 Member
    Thank (most of) you for your replies. I realize that weight fluctuates but I weighed myself several days in a row since I didn't believe that a 2 pound gain was possible so it made the weight gain seem so real. :grumble:

    I am using a HRM for calorie burns and always use a food scale (with the exception of the 2 meals that I ate at restaurants this past week). Hopefully, I'll see some progress in this next week!
  • chopper_pilot
    chopper_pilot Posts: 191 Member
    have you tracked your normal weight gain and loss due to your monthly cycle? or do you just ignore the biology of your body and only pay attention to food/exercise/other external influences you can control.

    dont ignore the biology - your body does function and change involuntarily and due to things that have absolutely nothing to do with your behavior.
  • Poofy_Goodness
    Poofy_Goodness Posts: 229 Member
    I happened to me this week because of PMS and lots of sodium.
  • just4teri
    just4teri Posts: 1
    ...I've gain 5 lbs in 4 days, so frustrated!!! not over eating, I dont even want to drink anything.. I can't believe this crap, why why why
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    Try weighing yourself once a week, at the same time of day, on the same scale, under the same conditions. Skip the period/PMS week.
  • psych101
    psych101 Posts: 1,842 Member
    ...I've gain 5 lbs in 4 days, so frustrated!!! not over eating, I dont even want to drink anything.. I can't believe this crap, why why why


    ok, hun, calm down and step away from the scale. You won't have gained 5lbs of fat in 4 days, its likely to be normal body functions or water retention etc. keep on keeping on - weigh and log your food, drink water, just keep going
  • wordpainter09
    wordpainter09 Posts: 472 Member
    Try weighing yourself once a week, at the same time of day, on the same scale, under the same conditions. Skip the period/PMS week.

    Great plan. This helps avoid scale anxiety and fluctuations from weekends out, salt, etc.
  • mccindy72
    mccindy72 Posts: 7,001 Member
    ...I've gain 5 lbs in 4 days, so frustrated!!! not over eating, I dont even want to drink anything.. I can't believe this crap, why why why


    ok, hun, calm down and step away from the scale. You won't have gained 5lbs of fat in 4 days, its likely to be normal body functions or water retention etc. keep on keeping on - weigh and log your food, drink water, just keep going

    ^this.^. My weight went up 5 lbs from yesterday morning to this morning. Obviously someone is retaining water.... I know it will be back down in a couple of days.
  • Supertact
    Supertact Posts: 466 Member
    I fluctuate 5 pounds in a day at least
  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    Thank (most of) you for your replies. I realize that weight fluctuates but I weighed myself several days in a row since I didn't believe that a 2 pound gain was possible so it made the weight gain seem so real. :grumble:

    I am using a HRM for calorie burns and always use a food scale (with the exception of the 2 meals that I ate at restaurants this past week). Hopefully, I'll see some progress in this next week!

    There's your answer right there - restaurant food is VERY high in sodium. And it can take quite a few days for that water weight to come off so don't let the repeated days of higher scale weight get you down. If you're not already tracking sodium, start doing that now. It can save a lot of grief!

    If it makes you feel any better, I was down to an all time low weight this past Sunday but due to TOM (time of month, another lovely delivery system for water weight) and a couple high sodium days, I was up 4 pounds yesterday. And I'm still up a couple of pounds today. I won't let it get me down though because I know the cause and that it's NOT fat.

    I'd also strongly suggest that you take progress pictures and body measurements. As you're starting to learn, the scale is not always the best judge of progress, especially as you get closer to goal.
  • donalavery
    donalavery Posts: 1
    Don't add your exercise callories burned

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