3lbs in one day?

Is it really possible to gain 3lbs in one day?

I am I ate a good amount of food at a barbeque yesterday and the scale this morning said I gained 3lbs. Already being stuck at this weight for about a month and not able to break through its kind of deflating.

Replies

  • iwannabinnarnia
    iwannabinnarnia Posts: 179 Member
    Yep.. it could be water retention, too much salt.. etc... my scale has jumped that amount before it usually comes back down in a day or so.. just drink lots of extra water.
  • 1Cor1510
    1Cor1510 Posts: 413 Member
    Nope, you probably had a lot of sodium and are retaining water. My weight fluctuates 3-4 lbs a day, and usually only reach a "low" about once a week. If you ate an extra 10500 calories, then it may be possible. I doubt that's the issue... If you're consistantly eating at a deificit, the weight will eventually come off.

    Edit: You can't gain 3 lbs of FAT in one day.
  • klfaircloth
    klfaircloth Posts: 6 Member
    Definitely possible. My boyfriend and I visited a Brazilian Steak House (all you can eat meat!) and each gained about 3 or 4 pounds just from lunch. It took a few days for him to get back to normal (I only needed one or so), but it went away. If you're at a plateau, change your work outs, drink lots of water, and if you're doing mostly cardio, add extra weight training (or vice versa).

    In fact, I highly recommend that if you're not doing weight training, you do some research on Olympic lifting. It helps tone, helps burn more calories, and being fit is better than being thin! I suggest lots of dead lifts, squats and free weights! You'll be amazed at how quickly you can progress.
  • mxmkenney
    mxmkenney Posts: 486 Member
    Na, it's water retention. Re-weigh yourself in a couple of days and it should even out.
  • kgreenRDLDN
    kgreenRDLDN Posts: 248 Member
    Most adults can fluctuate in weight by as much as 4 pounds throughout the day. It has to do with water weight, clothing, hormones, and all that. You did not gain 3 lbs of fat though if that what you are thinking.
  • DeltaZero
    DeltaZero Posts: 1,197 Member
    I just ate 3lbs for one meal. Plus water weight? no big deal.


    Buy a food scale if you are "stuck"

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants
  • scarrletti_girl
    scarrletti_girl Posts: 479 Member
    agreed. it's just water weight. it happens to me all the time but it goes away with extra water intake and "out" take lol
  • klfaircloth
    klfaircloth Posts: 6 Member
    I just ate 3lbs for one meal. Plus water weight? no big deal.


    Buy a food scale if you are "stuck"

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

    I LOVE my food scale. Definitely puts things into perspective for me. Had no idea how much I was eating before!
  • Ratrap
    Ratrap Posts: 153
    awesome thanks everyone. I appreciate it a lot.

    Whats the benefit of using a food scale?
  • conqueringsquidlette
    conqueringsquidlette Posts: 383 Member
    I can go up and down by at LEAST three pounds on the scale as a daily weigher. It's because I eat out too much and drink a bunch of diet sodas and therefore ingest a crapton of sodium without getting in enough potassium or water to flush everything out. It's just water retention. Depending on your rubs, sides and your sauce, BBQ has a lot of potential to be up there in sodium too.

    ETA: The food scale is used so you're not approximating your intake more than you have to. For instance, the nutritional data for a grilled chicken breast from KFC was for something like 152g and the one I ate the other night was 224g. It's a big jump. Also had cereal this morning that is supposed to be 2/3rd of a cup for 53g. In reality, the 53g was actually a fair bit over 2/3 cup so I got to eat more. I like eating more. Generally it works the other way around, though, where measuring a serving by weight doesn't even come close to taking up as much volume as the label says it should.
  • DeltaZero
    DeltaZero Posts: 1,197 Member
    awesome thanks everyone. I appreciate it a lot.

    Whats the benefit of using a food scale?

    Accurate logging and tracking of intake.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    awesome thanks everyone. I appreciate it a lot.

    Whats the benefit of using a food scale?

    Liquid measure is pretty accurate, but dry measure can fluctuate wildly. Google calories in a cup of flour.....big swing there.

    This thread is very helpful

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1234699-logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide
  • Wonderob
    Wonderob Posts: 1,372 Member
    3lbs is about 10,000 EXTRA calories so doubtful you have put that on in fat!

    A one off scale reading means very little really. You could drink 2 litres of water and the scale will register that you are 3lbs heavier. Really though you haven't actually put any weight on
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    3 Lbs yes...3 Lbs of actual fat, no. 3 Lbs in a day is water and excess waste.
  • Chieflrg
    Chieflrg Posts: 9,097 Member
    I just talked to a power lifter at the gym who gain 16lbs in a couple hours. Depending on how much water and food you eat or haven't ate, weight will fluctuate.

    Don't stress a number. Hit your macros & use a food scale and your body will change for a cut/maint/bulk.
  • B32Roden
    B32Roden Posts: 11
    It's most likely bloating / water weight.

    If I eat take-away or something really salty like movie popcorn etc. I can increase and decrease 2 - 3lbs over 24 hours.