What the hey? Scales

I'm very bamboozled by my scales at the moment. On Thursday I weighed in for the first time (1 week after starting), and it reckoned I'd lost a whole kilo. The next day, it said I had only lost 0.2kg! And once again today, 1kg. I've tried weighing around the same time, too. As I'm only trying to lose 5kg to start with, it's confusing to see such as difference over 24 hours. Any suggestions/advice?

Replies

  • It's never good to weigh yourself daily and your body can go or down a lot from water in take, gas etc.

    Once a week is more ideal, and you notice the difference.
  • Dewymorning
    Dewymorning Posts: 762 Member
    Weight fluctuates, both during the day and from day to day. It just happens.

    If you are going to weigh daily (or even weekly) you need to be aware of this.

    I use an app called Libra which shows your weights trend, which helps you to see beyond the fluctuations.

    It is the overall trend that matters.
  • mzbek24
    mzbek24 Posts: 436 Member
    Day to day changes-chances are it's due to water fluctuations and is quite normal.
    Same thing happens to all of us. Like for instance sometimes I think I had a good day calorie wise, then the next morning it's gone up from the day before by 1kg or 500g.

    Plus it will be different day to day depending on whatever food may be in your digestive tract still, whether or not you've had a bowel movement recently or exercised (less water, so lower weight on the scale) Also depends on how much sodium and how many carbs you ate (they can make you store more water which may increase weight shown on the scale)

    "Weight fluctuation is normal, but if the scale rises five or more pounds for longer than a day or two, chances are it’s more than simply water weight and it’s time to make some adjustments"

    Source:http://www.shape.com/lifestyle/mind-and-body/when-your-weight-fluctuates-whats-normal-and-whats-not
  • daw0518
    daw0518 Posts: 459 Member
    Yeah, unfortunately weight loss isn't linear. Weight fluctuates daily, & it can be a real mind *kitten*. When I first got a scale, I was weighing myself weekly on Monday's, & after 3 weeks had not lost AT ALL according to my scale. That final week, I weighed myself every morning for several days, & the rest of the days beyond Monday were about 4 lbs below the original number. Weight is just weird like that.

    Either I just have really steady weight, or a really good scale [probably the latter], but I rarely see fluctuations upward. If anything my scale will stay at the EXACT SAME weight for days/weeks on end before changing, & it drives me insane. Recently it was 204.6. I'm pretty sure I will remember that number forever. I personally would rather see fluctuations, because that seems more 'normal'. When the scale stays at the exact same number forever, I get nervous that it's broken!

    I think it's just all about knowing how your scale reacts to your body. I usually notice clothes fitting differently a few days before I actually see changes on the scale.
  • Shropshire1959
    Shropshire1959 Posts: 982 Member
    Also .. how good are your scales? .. If you stand differently on them or lean forward/backwards etc.. do you weigh' more or less?

    Often a 'better' indicator is "do your jeans fit better" .. do you need a belt and cinch up (or down :noway: ) a notch.

    Good luck with your goals.
  • LexyMaree
    LexyMaree Posts: 6 Member
    Thanks for the advice everyone! I'll try not to read too much into fluctuations. As long as it looks like it's going down, I'll be happy!