I gained 20 pounds in 3 days

ehimass
ehimass Posts: 92 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi,

I weighed myself on Friday night, I weighed 176 lbs. I just weighed myself Sunday night and I weighed 196 lbs.

I have been on a diet roller coaster the past week during a business trip I had a binge day on Monday, didn't eat anything at all on Tuesday or Wednesday to try and make up for it, then I caved big time and basically binged non stop Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I ate a lot of candy, chips, and did breakfast buffets with lots of bacon, sausage, eggs, pastries, etc. I did not log all the things I ate on these binge days because it was so much it was impossible to track. I'd estimate I averaged 5000+ calories each day though, and probably 10 grams of salt per day.

So.....will this weight come back off fast when I go back to my regular diet and exercise now that I'm back home? I honsetly am shocked that I gained this much weight in a 3 day period. I definitely feel bloated as all get out, look bad, and my clothes are tight. I guess the damage is done and there's nothing I can do about it now. I feel like confining myself to the house gym only as I really don't feel like seeing anyone or doing anything as I am right now. Any advice is appreciated.
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Replies

  • kiwitechgirl
    kiwitechgirl Posts: 145 Member
    Water weight. Sounds like you ate a lot of sodium-heavy foods, so you'll be retaining water due to that. You have to eat 3500cal over maintenance to gain a pound - and so unless you ate 70,000 calories over maintenance in three days, you won't have gained 20 pounds of fat. Drink lots of water and it should come off.
  • servilia
    servilia Posts: 3,452 Member
    I'm guessing some of that is water weight so some of it should come off pretty quickly. I would avoid starving yourself in the future so that you don't end up binging like that again. Good luck!
  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    1. It would be impossible to actually gain 20 lbs in 3 days.

    2. I hope you learned your lesson that after a bad day starving yourself for the next 2 days isn't going to be a successful plan. You should have instead ate your calorie goal on Tues & Wed with plenty of healthy foods. One bad day won't do a much damage. A whole week of the nonsense you did likely will - but not 20 lbs worth.

    Just jump back on track. Don't be so hard on yourself.
  • KellyJannine
    KellyJannine Posts: 56 Member
    change the batteries in your scale, or get a new one... that is false, even for water weight!
  • ThePlight
    ThePlight Posts: 3,593 Member
    Are you like.. Really constipated, too? O.o
    Not trying to pry, just curious lol.
  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 10,093 Member
    Hi,

    I weighed myself on Friday night, I weighed 176 lbs. I just weighed myself Sunday night and I weighed 196 lbs.

    I have been on a diet roller coaster the past week during a business trip.

    If you were traveling, can we assume that you used different scales on Friday and Sunday? That could be a big part of the difference.
  • ehimass
    ehimass Posts: 92 Member
    On Friday I weighed on hotel scale, it registered 79.8 kg (176 lbs). On sunday it was my home scale, 196 lbs. When I originally left on the trip the home scale read 175 lbs, but that was 2 weeks ago.

    I'm not constipated.
  • ThePlight
    ThePlight Posts: 3,593 Member
    You know, I would give it a couple of days and get back into my routine and then check if it was me.
    Might want to just jump back and see how much of it is actually water weight and see how you do.
  • AntWrig
    AntWrig Posts: 2,273 Member
    A lot of it is indeed water but you did gain some fat.
  • pinkraynedropjacki
    pinkraynedropjacki Posts: 3,027 Member
    20lbs of water? I doubt that. I'm thinking your scales are broken.
  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 10,093 Member
    On Friday I weighed on hotel scale, it registered 79.8 kg (176 lbs). On sunday it was my home scale, 196 lbs. When I originally left on the trip the home scale read 175 lbs, but that was 2 weeks ago.

    I'm not constipated.

    So you gained 21 pounds in two weeks (the data from the hotel scale is essentially meaningless -- maybe they set them low you'll eat more in their restaurants, from room service, or from the mini bar :laugh: ), of which maybe 5 to 8 lbs is water weight. You don't say what your maintenance calories are, but you guess that you were averaging about 5,000 calories a day, which could account for about 12 pounds of real weight gain over two weeks if your maintenance calories are in the neighborhood of 2,000.

    Go back to your regular routine and see where you are in another week.
  • ehimass
    ehimass Posts: 92 Member
    On Friday I weighed on hotel scale, it registered 79.8 kg (176 lbs). On sunday it was my home scale, 196 lbs. When I originally left on the trip the home scale read 175 lbs, but that was 2 weeks ago.

    I'm not constipated.

    So you gained 21 pounds in two weeks (the data from the hotel scale is essentially meaningless -- maybe they set them low you'll eat more in their restaurants, from room service, or from the mini bar :laugh: ), of which maybe 5 to 8 lbs is water weight. You don't say what your maintenance calories are, but you guess that you were averaging about 5,000 calories a day, which could account for about 12 pounds of real weight gain over two weeks if your maintenance calories are in the neighborhood of 2,000.

    Go back to your regular routine and see where you are in another week.

    Hmmm, well I also weighed on a different hotel scale about 1 week into the 2 week trip and weighed 172 lbs. So I think the Friday hotel scale was probably pretty accurate. It was definitely +/- 5 lbs.

    BMR for me is probably about 1800 cals, TDEE is probably 2300 ish but I exercise most days to get it up into 3000+ range. I haven't been exercising during the past 2 days, but I did an 8 mile run on Friday.
  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 10,093 Member
    I definitely feel bloated as all get out, look bad, and my clothes are tight. I guess the damage is done and there's nothing I can do about it now. I feel like confining myself to the house gym only as I really don't feel like seeing anyone or doing anything as I am right now. Any advice is appreciated.

    Oh, and there's no point to hiding or feeling like it's a complete disaster. If you were 175 two weeks ago, you can get back to 175. It may take two or three months, depending on how much total you have to lose and how much of the gain is water weight, but you can get there.
  • Ithina1
    Ithina1 Posts: 93 Member
    Most of it is probably water. Drink lots of water and it will come off. Just stick to your calorie goals. It may take a few months for the actual pounds you put on to come off. Next time use some self restraint and eat in moderation.
  • astronomicals
    astronomicals Posts: 1,537 Member
    Well, since 1 gram of carbs can retain 4 grams of water, you'd only have to eat 2270 carbs to retain 20 pounds of water. Thats theoretical, though. I've personally seen 11 pound shifts from a heavy carb load, so, I believe it's possible.


    ETA:

    You should get really drunk and see how big of a weight loss sway you can accomplish over night :drinker:
  • ElizabethFuller
    ElizabethFuller Posts: 352 Member
    Stay calm and get back on track. I bet after a week of regular, healthy eating and exercise your weight will have come down to a more reasonable number, you probably have gained some but you can deal with that over the next few weeks. The best thing to do is to get back to logging your food, avoid too much processed stuff for a while and drink plenty of water.
  • sunsetzen
    sunsetzen Posts: 268 Member
    Did you fly on this trip? When I went overseas last year, I gained 20 lbs in two days. I was retaining water from the flight and change in food, constipated from flying, travelling and the food, and god knows what else the problem was.

    You didnt actually do any damage, I'm sure. Just go back to eating properly, exercise and drink a lot of water. It'll be ok.
  • maegmez
    maegmez Posts: 341 Member
    I have to agree about flying, I don't drink alot of water because I have a baby or child with me. 8 hours with one drink isn't enough but I'd rather not have to get up unless necessary. Anyway, I get so bloated and gain but it's gone within a week but its usually just a few ponds. I still watch what I eat.
  • candiceh3
    candiceh3 Posts: 379 Member
    Please don't starve yourself again :(

    It is so unhealthy and it is never the right mind set to lose weight as a lifestyle.

    What is your plan to deal with cravings? What is your mindset towards the next set back (because, there will be many). Who are your support people? What is your exercise plan for the rest of the year?

    Plan plan plan - and get support - for a real change, and not a silly starvation phase followed by a binge phase.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Weighing yourself at night means NOTHING. Seriously, stop. I can gain 4 lbs in one day and it's gone the next day. Weigh yourself first thing in the morning when you get up and after you use the bathroom. And there's probably a ton of water weight in there too.
  • featherbrained
    featherbrained Posts: 155 Member
    Weighing yourself at night means NOTHING. Seriously, stop. I can gain 4 lbs in one day and it's gone the next day. Weigh yourself first thing in the morning when you get up and after you use the bathroom. And there's probably a ton of water weight in there too.

    This is partially true: however, if you consistently weigh yourself at night, you should still get consistent results. I've tested the theory, and I weigh pretty close to the same in the evenings, but it is a few pounds more than in the morning. So, if you weighed in the morning, you would see that you are actually lighter than you think you are! And those days your food choices are less than ideal, you will likely register a spike on the scale.

    Mornings really are better for accuracy. But evening weighings will give you a "trend" reading.
  • HeavenlyBri
    HeavenlyBri Posts: 32
    I honestly don't think it's possible to gain that amount of weight in 3 days, even water weight.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    Weighing yourself at night means NOTHING. Seriously, stop. I can gain 4 lbs in one day and it's gone the next day. Weigh yourself first thing in the morning when you get up and after you use the bathroom. And there's probably a ton of water weight in there too.

    Not exactly.

    as pointed out the CONSISTENCY matters more than the actual time- or even the numbers themselves. If you like weighing at night- fine- just do it all the time at the same time- you should still see the down ward trend.

    I think OP is a bit foolish to weigh on 2 different scales with such a variety of stuff going on and not getting accurate results- but I'm also of the mind unless you are extremely scientific about it- weighing and fretting over numbers daily is also foolish- but I'm a deeply pragmatic person so take that for what it's worth.
  • ThriceBlessed
    ThriceBlessed Posts: 499 Member
    Okay, there are lots of reasons. Weighing yourself on different scales might be part of it, water weight is probably part of it, all that extra food sitting in your gut after a binge might be part of it, and some fat gain might be part of. Get back on track with your diet and weigh yourself on the same scale each morning for a while and you'll get a more accurate weight.
  • Greenrun99
    Greenrun99 Posts: 2,065 Member
    Those all you can eat buffets 3 days in a row for every meal really got ya hey?
  • emartin17
    emartin17 Posts: 123 Member
    Did you notice any visible changes? if so read the following:

    It is actually possible to gain 20lbs in 3 days. My friend did just that over labor day weekend. She found out she has to be on a sodium strict diet, low sodium, because she has a disease in her kidneys. The disease meaning that the kidneys are creating a lot of protein, attacking things that shouldn't be attacked, and thus the reason for unable to dilute the sodium to be absorbed into your body.

    If not- check your scale.
  • RockinTerri
    RockinTerri Posts: 499 Member
    Please don't starve yourself again :(

    It is so unhealthy and it is never the right mind set to lose weight as a lifestyle.

    What is your plan to deal with cravings? What is your mindset towards the next set back (because, there will be many). Who are your support people? What is your exercise plan for the rest of the year?

    Plan plan plan - and get support - for a real change, and not a silly starvation phase followed by a binge phase.

    This. And this poster is right - we all have setbacks. But the damage that can happen from this starving then binging is more than just the initial weight gain/loss - it can cause an eating disorder (or be caused by one). If you've had instances like this In the past, you should speak with your doctor.
  • hseipel12
    hseipel12 Posts: 26
    20lbs in that amount of time indicates organ problems. I have Nephrotic Syndrome caused by Minimal Change Disease, my immune system attacks my kidneys and makes my body lose more protein than it retains. Your body actually retains water because it is malnurished from not enough protein. I was undiagnosed for a long time and had substantial weight gain 10-20 lbs within days. After a stay in the hospital and kidney biopsy later I was diagnosed. I'm on meds and a low sodium diet.
    It is dangerous for your body to hold this kind of water weight. It puts a lot of extra strain on your organs, please check your scale. If there is nothing wrong with your scale go in and have blood/urine testing done. If it is nephrotic syndrome it is manageable, and now that I'm on meds and a restricted diet I'm down to my goal weight. Have the testing done, you should never ignore a 20lbs weight gain in a short amount of time, it indicates an underlying medical issue. Please private message me if you have any questions.
  • rbear713
    rbear713 Posts: 220 Member
    ok so how you got there doesn't really matter - not REALLY. point is you're up in weight , feeling fat and maybe down on yourself because of it.

    LOOK AT YOUR TICKER. You didn't lose 115lbs by mistake. Don't worry about how you gained - its in the past. NOW is your time. You did it once, friend. YOU CAN DO IT AGAIN. Worst thing that happens is you lose 20 (or whatever) slower than you gained...but that doesn't mean you cant lose it! GO AHEAD N GET IT!!
  • ehimass
    ehimass Posts: 92 Member
    Yes, I flew a lot. In fact I fly for a living. I probably spent 20 hours flying (Shanghai-Anchorage-Chicago-Austin) in airplanes over the 3 days where I gained the weight. I was eating a lot on the airplanes too, we get catering for ourselves during the flights with lots of deli sandwiches and other hot foods. Plus I drank a lot of fruit juice (OJ and Grapfruit).

    I'm feeling a bit better because I just slept for 12 hours. My sleep schedules get whacky when I'm overseas during work.

    I weighed myself after the sleep and I was already back down to 190. So I somehow lost 6 lbs of weight overnight. Usually it's just a couple of pounds.

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