Day to Day Weight Changes

savoydancer
savoydancer Posts: 3
in Health and Weight Loss
I had cut my calories in half and my daily sodium intake a week ago and stuck with it all week last week. Gradually my weight started to drop. I went from 199.4 lbs last Sunday morning at 08:30 to 189.8 lbs on 08:30 Saturday morning. Additionally I had lost 2 inches around my waist which I could feel when I put on my jeans. I wake up this morning and WHAM!! 199.4 lbs again and I can't fit into my size 18 work pants or any of my jeans. My question is how do I accurately measure my progress if my weight keeps changing so drastically from day to day?

Replies

  • AmandaReimer1
    AmandaReimer1 Posts: 235 Member
    Are you near time of the month? Most people will say day to day weighing isn't a good idea. I do it, but I don't stress about it and look at the overall loss of the week. Weight easily flucates.
  • mariebmcd
    mariebmcd Posts: 16 Member
    I'm sure other people will be able to respond more intelligently, but from my own experience the first weight you lose is often water weight. Especially when you cut sodium your body seems willing to shed some of the extra water that is held in by that. At a certain point (normally about a week after you've made changes) your body wises up and realizes that you might be starving and decides to hold on to more weight. The weight changes you'll see are not you losing fat- not at first- if you keep it up it will eventually come off. The first week is often inspiring, and the second week is the hard one (ever watch Biggest Loser and you'll see the first week they lose a lot of weight and the second week they often gain some of it back). Stick with it and it will work. Although, one last note- check your calorie intake per day. Cutting in half may be too drastic for your body to accept readily. I don't know your calorie intake but it may be worth checking what you should be eating calorie wise for healthy weight loss (1 to 2 pounds a week).
  • Tabby1216
    Tabby1216 Posts: 56 Member
    Wow! You lost almost 10 lbs in a week?!

    Did you maybe have a bit too much sodium yesterday? I find that excess sodium really makes me bloat and gain, especially if I also slacked on my water intake that day.

    Just keep plugging along. Be mindful that you may have cut your calories too much. What is your NET calorie intake?
  • herblackwings39
    herblackwings39 Posts: 3,930 Member
    You cut your calories in half. What were they originally? My guess is that with the lower sodium your body let go of some water weight. Weight fluctuates naturally. You'll need to track it, possibly weekly, for several months and should see a downward trend throughout those months. Just make sure you're eating enough.
  • savoydancer
    savoydancer Posts: 3
    My calories were at 3,800 give or take and my sodium was over 5K a day. My doctor recommended I cut my sodium.
  • savoydancer
    savoydancer Posts: 3
    I think you are right. I bet it has to do with my cycle. Ah well I expect water weight to fluctuate I just didn't expect such a jump especially since I have been keeping my sodium intake at a reasonable level. I will keep it up and see what happens. Even if I haven't lost a pound I feel fantastic since I made these dietary changes. Thanks everybody for your help! :happy:
  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
    My calories were at 3,800 give or take and my sodium was over 5K a day. My doctor recommended I cut my sodium.

    3800 a day? Yeah, you'll definitely lose if you cut that in half!
  • aprilgal412
    aprilgal412 Posts: 17
    My weight fluctuates from morning to night. I weigh myself daily, just so i know where I am. It helps motivate me, and works for me. If I eat more sodium foods the day before, I pump more water as I bloat from too much sodium - also if I drink any diet soda, I bloat. Are you exercising? I find for me that increasing my calories along with exercising is keeping my weight from bouncing back up each day. I try to mix it up a bit so my body doesn't get use to the same thing - some days I exercise more and eat more, when I don't exercise as much, I eat less. Not sure if that helps with your question - I guess i would try adding more calories and keep sodium levels down. I too look at my overall loss for the week as my goal. Good luck

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