So disappointing

Weights fluctuate. I can swing up to 4lbs with water weight. You can't freak out over daily fluctuations.

One of my big ah ha moments was reading the post of a gentlemen who was sharing his 100# plus weight loss journey. He weighed himself every day and relayed that his weight went up from the prior day fully 1/3 of those days.

The MFP progress reports are great as they will graph progress over the long haul. Will be spikes but if we're doing the right things, we'll see progress.

I weight myself daily but only post or log every Monday.

Weight fluctuates. Not just day to day, but hour to hour. I weigh more at the middle of the day than the beginning, even when I'm on track calorie-wise. That's just what the body does. It's probably water weight, which isn't anything to worry about. That's why it's recommended to only weigh yourself once a week, at the same time.

Also, there will be weeks when you weigh a little more, despite being careful with calories. That's normal too. What you need to look for is a TREND in your weight over time. Give it about three months of weighing once a week and see what the graph looks like. It won't be a smooth line, it will have peaks, but if the line is gradually going down, you're doing good.


Edit: This is what I mean by a trend. My weight loss has slowed down since I'm near my goal, and I forget to weigh every week (it's usually every other week when I remember), but this is my past 6 months. You'll see some peaks, but the general trend is going down. That's what I'm talking about.

jacobsbride wrote: »

I set a goal for myself to reach a target weight by end of this week before my vacation. I woke up and weighed Monday morning after a weekend and couldn't believe it! I was on track.

So Monday I was so good. Ate well and exercised, excited to get to my goal. And somehow I wake up this Tuesday morning and the scale flies up 2.8 pounds. What's going on? I'm thinking my Monday reading was false and I'm so disappointed and discouraged.

What could be happening?

Lizzy622 wrote: »

Number 1 question: Did you poop? This is my main reason for daily fluctuations. You may have also eaten something that caused bloating or water retention. Don't fret too much over day to day changes instead look at your over time(about a month) changes.

THIS. It does make a difference.

moyer566 wrote: »

lol
I heard someone call it intestinal retention

HAH! Sounds quite serious...

For all of the above reasons it is hard to set a specific weight goal. But a goal to stay under your calories, burn x amount of calories each day to be at a specific calorie deficit it a measurable goal. So no matter what the scale says you will know you accomplished something that week. I understand completely the temptation of making those by vacation goals, but keep being disciplined this week and working hard and you will see progress, whether the progress is measured by better fitting clothes, more energy, or a number on a scale there will be progress.

I can't help weighing myself every day- it helps me stay on track. But, I do notice a 1 day lag- if I eat poorly on Tuesday then I notice it on the scale Thursday. But as long as I was healthy on Wednesday then Friday I'm back down. Fluctuations are totally normal and the end goal is a months to years kind of change, not a week long one. Keep at it!!