Fluctuating Weight

My weight fluctuates by about 4lbs depending on water and if I've had too much salt. Of course there is that time of the month and that adds a few more pounds of water weight. Also, what I'm learning from here is that if you're working out and you really work your muscles they will store extra water to healing purposes. You also have to take into account digestion and if you're "cleared out". SO MANY factors when it comes down to a few lbs!

Fluctuating weight is why I weigh most days, even if I only write it down on occasion. My weight goes up and down by a few pounds. I look for a downward trend over a few weeks: if I don't see that, it's time to reevaluate how I'm eating and exercising.

Other things: different scales will give different weights. Using the same scale on different flooring will give different weights. "A pint's a pound the world around" so drinking a glass of water (or being even a little dehydrated) will cause fluctuations. So will weighing after a shower if your hair is long and wet. Time of the month for women. Clothes vs no clothes. Etc.

The point is that lots of things will cause your weight to fluctuate. Don't get too excited if the fluctuation is down; don't get depressed if it is up. Look for the trend.

Well, as an example, Sunday morning at 4am I weighed in as soon as I used the restroom.

I ate some food and drank some water. Curious and bored since the hubby was still asleep, I weighed back in at around 7:45am and I was 2lbs heavier.

Went for a run, continued the curiosity and weighed in as soon as I got home, around 10:05am, I was now 4.2lb lighter than when I'd weighed in at 7:45am.

Took a nap, did some laundry, sat on the couch watching TV with the hubby, and then went out for a big dinner for a belated birthday celebration for the hubby with the in-laws up in San Francisco. Where I had dessert at the restaurant, a scoop of salted caramel ice cream made to order up the street and three French macarons from our favorite little shop, ate my last bites of food around 10pm.

Weighed in when I got home, weighed 8lbs more than I had at 10:05am.

Went to bed, woke up and weighed myself at my normal, daily time this morning, around 7:15am, and I was 1lb less than I was at the 4am weigh in yesterday.

So, the answer is, a lot.

I know that weight fluctuates but how much should it fluctuate? I had a Doctors appointment on Friday and I was at 247 and then on my weigh in day on Sunday I was down to 245. That's two pounds in only two days and I haven't been active. Then this morning I weighed myself just for ****s and giggles and it had said that I was 243 which is another two pounds in not even a day. I just wonder if I am actually loosing the weight or if the scale that I am using isn't working properly. Any ideas?

You should try and throw out your scales, seriously, and get a tape measure.

I've seen a fluctuation of eight pounds over a day. ~chuckles~ Thankfully, only once.

First, don't compare weight from one scale to weight from another scale. All scales are not calibrated the same, nor are they all the same accuracy.

Also, only compare weights from the same time of day, we tend to gain weight over the course of the day and lose it over night (at least in my experience.

Edited to add: I don't trust tape measures any more than I trust scales.

These answers make me feel like I am normal. I weigh more after working out. I retain water on these hot,humid days. I try to not let the scale get the better of me,but it does. I focus on my clothes fitting,feeling better and getting compliments that I have lost weight. It is a battle everyday but I am up to the challenge! I like to see the numbers going down and they don't always cooperate for me.

Yeah I weighed 171 on a friday and cheated and weighed myself on the next sunday, i was excited, and i was at 170. The the next day 167. Then the next friday (actual weigh in day) I was 169.5. I only count my official weigh ins. And inches. I measure once every 2-4 weeks I find the number fascinating, but I know it's not reliable!

Check out my profile pic: same time of day, same scales, same place. Some leaps I can explain, some I can't, but I know I didn't suddenly eat an excess 3500 kcal, so it can't all be fat! Also note that it goes down slowly, usually, in my case.

I'm not trying to lose right now, but I am trying not to gain, so the jumps up can be unnerving, but as was said above, I'm looking for trends, not my weight on a particular day.

My mum's weight is super stable, but she is beyond TOM and on diuretics, so it makes sense that her water weight doesn't fluctuate.