Scale went up!!

candacebattle2012
candacebattle2012 Posts: 61 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi, I've been doing the calorie count app for about 2-3 weeks now and at first my weight was dropping steadily every few days or so...now when I get on it actually went up close to 2 lbs..I don't understand why it stopped moving. It's very frustrating! Any suggestions?

Replies

  • mlclark86
    mlclark86 Posts: 33 Member
    It isn't abnormal for your weight to fluctuate a couple of pounds. It probably means nothing. Things like ovulation or that time of the month or holding on to water weight can make that 2lb difference in the scale. I would say wait it out and see if the scale moves back in the right direction. If it continues to rise then perhaps an adjustment is needed in diet/exercise, but I don't think you should let it concern you too much right now.
  • coreyreichle
    coreyreichle Posts: 1,031 Member
    Water.

    Your day-to-day weight can fluctuate about 5 lbs. Don't sweat individual data points, you need to look at trends.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    Are you ovulating?
    Are you about to start your period?
    Did you have a high sodium meal, like chinese take out, or sushi?
    Did you have a lot of carbs?

    or did you overeat by 7,000 calories?
    I'm guessing one of the former, rather than the later.
    Drink water and wait it out.
  • reddeament
    reddeament Posts: 51 Member
    coreyreichle wrote: »
    Water.

    Your day-to-day weight can fluctuate about 5 lbs. Don't sweat individual data points, you need to look at trends.

    What he said.

    Also could be due to monthly fluctuations.
  • zoeysasha37
    zoeysasha37 Posts: 7,088 Member
    My weight can fluctuate wildly. Its best to pay attention to the overall trends over time and not stress about the small daily- weekly fluctuations.
  • neohdiver
    neohdiver Posts: 738 Member
    Weight loss is not linear. I tend to have 2-4 days of "loss" and then 3-5 days of bouncing up from my most recent low, then 2-4 days more "loss," etc. Your weight will go up and down.

    In addition,you tend to lose a lot of retained water in the early days following a change in diet - so a steady , disproportionately large, downward movement in the first couple of weeks is normal - then your body adjusts and the drop slows (and typically starts bouncing up and down on a daily basis). What shows up on the scale at any given time depends on how long since you last ate or drank, what you last ate, whether it has all passed through your body/been processed or is still in your GI system, whether you are retaining water, etc.

    My weight varies as much as 5 lbs from day to day (although more typically only 1-2 lbs). What you are looking for is a downward trend.
  • xcalygrl
    xcalygrl Posts: 1,897 Member
    Water weight from eating more carbs than normal (glycogen replenishment), water weight from a higher sodium meal, extra food waste in your digestive track (if you need to poop), ovulation, the week of your period. I could go on. A sudden jump up on the scale is usually not fat gain but rather water weight. Keep doing what you were and it'll fall off soon.
  • candacebattle2012
    candacebattle2012 Posts: 61 Member
    Thanks everyone for your replies. It probably is water weight/retention. I'll wait it out a couple more days to make sure and continue to stay on track. ☺️

  • WendyLaubach
    WendyLaubach Posts: 518 Member
    It makes you crazy, though, doesn't it? Here are a couple of things I've done to keep the inevitable ups-and-downs from shaking my motivation. (1) Take a bunch of measurements, all over the place, bust, waist, hips, arms, thighs, you name it. Often when I'm plateaued, some measurement somewhere will show progress. (2) Try weighing daily, but keeping a running 7-day average. As long as the 7-day slope is in the right direction, you won't be as bummed out by a daily fluctuation. (3) Consider that what you weigh today may have more to do with what you were doing 3-4 days ago that what you did yesterday. So concentrate on doing the right thing today, so that in 3-4 days you'll be pleasantly surprised. Never let a little weight bobble throw you off track for today's plan! If anything, let it be motivation to cut 100 calories or add a few minutes to the workout.
  • candacebattle2012
    candacebattle2012 Posts: 61 Member
    Thanks Wendy! Really appreciate your advice. Ok I will give it a try ☺️☺️
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    These two posts might be helpful reads:
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10084670/it-is-unlikely-that-you-will-lose-weight-consistently-i-e-weight-loss-is-not-linear

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10196160/scale-stress-syndrome/p1

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