Unexplained weight gain

Did you have a high sodium meal, or a take out meal recently? 2 lbs is really pretty normal fluctuation, just make sure your not overestimating your exercise calories, using a digital food scale and tracking what you eat.
Give it some time and see if it goes away or what happens next week.

you answered your own question...

I am so confused. Somehow I managed to gain 2 pounds since last week and I only went over net calories one day (last Wednesday) while my average net calories for the week was actually just a little below target for losing 1/2 pound. I worked out 5 days and realize that some of it is water weight but 2 pounds especially when I haven't worked out since Sunday??? Has this happened to anyone else? Can someone please explain?

Thanks in advance!

My weight can fluctuate as much as 3-4 lbs in a day. It's water weight. Higher sodium intake, more intense working out, can cause the body to retain water. It will come off.

Weight loss isn't linear. Neither is weight gain. Different day to day activities and stresses cause regular weight fluctuations regardless of how "perfect" one eats and exercises.

Explained.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

I gained 2lb last week and I ate 1200 calories net every day.
I also went to the gym for 4 days and a had a swim one day.

I was a little annoyed after putting so much effort in all week, but I told myself that I may have gained some muscle, have water retention from working out (and time of the month) and then I took my measurements and I have lost an inch here and there.

The scales aren't the only thing that can show progress.

I am continuing with what I have been doing and will see what happens with the numbers on the scales at the end this week.

I lost 6lbs last night while sleeping.


It was ALL FAT.

have you tracked your normal weight gain and loss due to your monthly cycle? or do you just ignore the biology of your body and only pay attention to food/exercise/other external influences you can control.

dont ignore the biology - your body does function and change involuntarily and due to things that have absolutely nothing to do with your behavior.

...I've gain 5 lbs in 4 days, so frustrated!!! not over eating, I dont even want to drink anything.. I can't believe this crap, why why why

...I've gain 5 lbs in 4 days, so frustrated!!! not over eating, I dont even want to drink anything.. I can't believe this crap, why why why

ok, hun, calm down and step away from the scale. You won't have gained 5lbs of fat in 4 days, its likely to be normal body functions or water retention etc. keep on keeping on - weigh and log your food, drink water, just keep going

...I've gain 5 lbs in 4 days, so frustrated!!! not over eating, I dont even want to drink anything.. I can't believe this crap, why why why

ok, hun, calm down and step away from the scale. You won't have gained 5lbs of fat in 4 days, its likely to be normal body functions or water retention etc. keep on keeping on - weigh and log your food, drink water, just keep going

^this.^. My weight went up 5 lbs from yesterday morning to this morning. Obviously someone is retaining water.... I know it will be back down in a couple of days.

Thank (most of) you for your replies. I realize that weight fluctuates but I weighed myself several days in a row since I didn't believe that a 2 pound gain was possible so it made the weight gain seem so real. :grumble:

I am using a HRM for calorie burns and always use a food scale (with the exception of the 2 meals that I ate at restaurants this past week). Hopefully, I'll see some progress in this next week!

There's your answer right there - restaurant food is VERY high in sodium. And it can take quite a few days for that water weight to come off so don't let the repeated days of higher scale weight get you down. If you're not already tracking sodium, start doing that now. It can save a lot of grief!

If it makes you feel any better, I was down to an all time low weight this past Sunday but due to TOM (time of month, another lovely delivery system for water weight) and a couple high sodium days, I was up 4 pounds yesterday. And I'm still up a couple of pounds today. I won't let it get me down though because I know the cause and that it's NOT fat.

I'd also strongly suggest that you take progress pictures and body measurements. As you're starting to learn, the scale is not always the best judge of progress, especially as you get closer to goal.