Gained 1.5 pounds overnight...WTH?

luvs2teachincali

So, here's the deal. My weigh-in day is Sunday, but I am a "scale hopper" so I check my weight 3-5 times a week.

Last Sunday I was 178.5. Saturday I "scale hopped" and was surprised to see I was 177 even. I had gone over my 1200 calorie limit by around 100 calories a few times this week and hadn't had as much water as normal. Saturday, my parents invited my husband, kids, and I to lunch. We went to Red Lobster. I logged everything I had and it was around 1300 calories! I skipped breakfast, knowing I would eat a lot at lunch. I also skipped dinner since I didn't have any calories left and was already over, but I did end up having something small and was now over at least 300 calories (around 1500 for the day). I did not get any exercise in, except that I did do laundry, pick up the house, and vacuum...but it was only 30 minutes. I only drank 5 cups of water yesterday and I had two glasses of Diet Coke at Red Lobster.

Anyhow, I step on the scale this morning for my official weigh-in and it said 178.5

I wouldn't be too upset with it, knowing that I splurged a little this week and hey, it's better than a gain... but... since I peeked yesterday and was down 1.5 pounds I can't help but wonder.... how in the heck did I gain 1.5 pounds overnight?

A pound is 3500 calories, a half pound would be 1750 for a total of 5250 calories needed ABOVE what you burn to gain 1.5 pounds. Ugh. What am I missing?

donyellemoniquex3

try flip flopping your workout routine. The body needs to be confused or otherwise, it could get comfortable and you'd plateau. Also, have you been drinking more than 8 glasses of water a day, while watching your sodium ?

Kikilicious84

Sounds like a product of too much sodium.

saustin201

It's water weight. Reduce your sodium.

no1canadianangel

Its just water retention... unless you ate like 8000 calories last night, it is extremely unlikely that it is fat....

SideSteel

Fluid weight.

I fluctuate 2-4lbs in a matter of hours.

Disregard it.


And stop weighing so frequently.

Nerdy_Rose

It's called daily fluctuations. You don't gain OR lose 1.5 lbs overnight, it could be water retention from sodium, muscles repairing themselves, or any number of things. I've had as much as 6 lbs of fluctuation in one day. It's not a real gain. Don't sweat it.

geekyjock76

It's because that lb you gained over night likely did not come entirely from fat redeposition. So unless you actually consumed a surplus of 5200 calories yesterday, then it's not what you fear.

perpetual98

My weight fluctuates a pound or two any given day. Just keep an eye on the trend before you get worried.

Cheryl188

I retain more water than a camel...as much as 9lbs from one day to the next! It's extremely frustrating, but something I've learned to live with.

AllonsYtotheTardis

totally sounds like water retention from sodium - I can put on 3 lbs of water weight overnight if I have sushi for supper. Get lots of water - it will go away over the next few days.

beekuzz

That's water retention. Since you sneak in extra looks at the scale, try weighing and logging your weight every day. It's a really cool roller coaster effect. If you are doing the program - mostly good - you will start understanding your body and not fear that increase. I don't know how to post pictures, otherwise I would send you what my 30-day and 90-day charts look like. There seem to be a million reasons why we retain, including injured muscles (that was new to me), but you need not fear the scale. Take control over it rather than giving up your power to the scale!!! :flowerforyou:

Alohathin

As others have said, it has to do with water retention. People can fluctuate up to 5 pounds a day. That's why it is important to be consistent about what time of day you weigh yourself each week. Usually, right after you wake up, before you eat or drink anything, and after you visit the restroom, is the best time.

The fact that you ate out at a restaurant probably means that you consumed a lot of salt, which is the cause of your water retention. Don't worry. Just drink a lot of fluids, and the pound will come back off quickly.

Also as others have suggested, if you are going to be upset by small "gains" like this when you "scale hop," it is best not to weigh yourself so frequently. Some people can handle the fluctuations, and it drives other people insane. So, either learn to ignore the fluctuations, or only weigh yourself once a week, max. Also, INSTEAD of weighing yourself, you can just take body measurements every two weeks, and base your loss on how many inches you have lost instead of pounds.

secrets_out

Poop :flowerforyou:

luvs2teachincali

Thanks everyone!!

I'm not REALLY upset. I just wasn't expecting it. I mean if I was 177 yesterday, I was expecting to be maybe 178 today... up a pound. But owell. I am in it for the long haul and am learning as I go along. I want this to be a LIFESTYLE CHANGE so mistakes are part of learning, right? :blushing:

Now that I think of it... sodium makes total sense.
The food even tasted very salty.
I had two Cheddar Bay Biscuits for 300 calories. :noway: Dumb-dumb-dumb!!

I look forward to next Sunday's weigh-in.

Alohathin

Thanks everyone!!

I'm not REALLY upset. I just wasn't expecting it. I mean if I was 177 yesterday, I was expecting to be maybe 178 today... up a pound. But owell. I am in it for the long haul and am learning as I go along. I want this to be a LIFESTYLE CHANGE so mistakes are part of learning, right? :blushing:

Now that I think of it... sodium makes total sense.
The food even tasted very salty.
I had two Cheddar Bay Biscuits for 300 calories. :noway: Dumb-dumb-dumb!!

I look forward to next Sunday's weigh-in.

You don't have to constantly deprive yourself of treats that you enjoy, like the biscuits. Just do it sparingly, and incorporate it into your daily logging. I had two large chocolate chip cookies yesterday, and I still weighed less this morning than I did the day before (I am a daily weigher, myself.

If this is going to work, you have to be able to eat foods that you enjoy, or else you will inevitably gain back any weight that you lose. The key is eating MOSTLY healthy food, and treat yourself every once in a while; just don't binge when you do. And if you do binge, so what? Pick yourself up off the ground, and get back on the wagon. One bad day is not going to kill your diet, unless you wallow in it, and continue to make poor decisions afterward. It's not the one bad day that gets you, it's the days after it happens that count.

Graelwyn75

Thanks everyone!!

I'm not REALLY upset. I just wasn't expecting it. I mean if I was 177 yesterday, I was expecting to be maybe 178 today... up a pound. But owell. I am in it for the long haul and am learning as I go along. I want this to be a LIFESTYLE CHANGE so mistakes are part of learning, right? :blushing:

Now that I think of it... sodium makes total sense.
The food even tasted very salty.
I had two Cheddar Bay Biscuits for 300 calories. :noway: Dumb-dumb-dumb!!

I look forward to next Sunday's weigh-in.

You don't have to constantly deprive yourself of treats that you enjoy, like the biscuits. Just do it sparingly, and incorporate it into your daily logging. I had two large chocolate chip cookies yesterday, and I still weighed less this morning than I did the day before (I am a daily weigher, myself.

If this is going to work, you have to be able to eat foods that you enjoy, or else you will inevitably gain back any weight that you lose. The key is eating MOSTLY healthy food, and treat yourself every once in a while; just don't binge when you do. And if you do binge, so what? Pick yourself up off the ground, and get back on the wagon. One bad day is not going to kill your diet, unless you wallow in it, and continue to make poor decisions afterward. It's not the one bad day that gets you, it's the days after it happens that count.

Wise advice ( must remember it the next time I binge and get upset). I too had a large chocolate chip cookie today, lol, with my cappuccino and thoroughly enjoyed it.

kokaneesailor

Bin the scale and use a tape measure.

luvs2teachincali

My husband kept saying, I think you lost inches even if you didn't lose pounds... I was like, "Whatever." He's just trying to make me feel better. LOL. Went shopping tonight. Bought a pair of ****ies and a pair of Jeans. The jeans are size 14 and very comfy!! Yay!! The ****ies are not just 14, they are 14 SLIM. Never thought I'd see the word SLIM anywhere near me. :laugh: The ****ies are a little too snug in my backseat though... I told my husband I will have to wait until I lose another 5 pounds or so to wear them comfortably. He said he thought they made my *kitten* look great and said I should wear them now! :blushing:

I guess he was right. Shhh, don't tell him that! :laugh: I did lose inches. Yay!

Thanks all for the great advice!! :flowerforyou: I love MFP!

PS - I guess I can't the pants by BRAND name? They are d...ick...ies... what's wrong with that? LOL

angieroo2

I gain weight whenever I go to Red Lobster. I'm currently dealing with extra weight that didn't come from consuming too many calories. Drink lots of water to flush it out and it will be gone in a few days.