This makes no sense
typicallyjazzy
Posts: 41 Member
Ok so I've been working out and have been under my calorie goal by almost 200 for the last couple days. I weigh myself daily because in the past I've noticed a decline every day and it's encouraging to me.
Recently I've been bloated like crazy. I had 3 cheat days last week where I consumed an excess of calories. I went from 121.8 on the scale to 124.8. I doubt I had consumed enough on those days to gain 3 pounds so I was sure this was water weight mainly. Since then I've been under calories and working out every day. But given, it has only been 2 days now. I expected to see some progress on my daily scale reading.
I weighed myself yesterday morning first thing after using the bathroom and I was 124.8. I weighed myself again this morning and was 125. I know the ounces don't matter but why am I gaining period? I've been pretty much starving these past two days making sure I'm under by 200 every day, measuring everything I eat, working out, plus being on my feet for hours at my retail job. I shouldn't have gained anything.
Any idea why this could have happened?
ETA:
My bloating has gone down significantly so it's weird that the scale isn't reflecting that.
Recently I've been bloated like crazy. I had 3 cheat days last week where I consumed an excess of calories. I went from 121.8 on the scale to 124.8. I doubt I had consumed enough on those days to gain 3 pounds so I was sure this was water weight mainly. Since then I've been under calories and working out every day. But given, it has only been 2 days now. I expected to see some progress on my daily scale reading.
I weighed myself yesterday morning first thing after using the bathroom and I was 124.8. I weighed myself again this morning and was 125. I know the ounces don't matter but why am I gaining period? I've been pretty much starving these past two days making sure I'm under by 200 every day, measuring everything I eat, working out, plus being on my feet for hours at my retail job. I shouldn't have gained anything.
Any idea why this could have happened?
ETA:
My bloating has gone down significantly so it's weird that the scale isn't reflecting that.
0
Replies
-
My experience is excess calories (or a calorie deficit) don't tend to show up on the scale for a couple of weeks and looking for concrete changes in a matter of days is an exercise in frustration. Be consistent, skip the "cheats", and wait a few weeks.7
-
You went from eating heavy back to normal (or in your words "starving again").. your body is still trying to deal with the heavy eating, meaning you are still retaining water from that, back to lowering the calories down again..so give this a few days to even back out.
this is why cheat days are just no good for daily scale weighers.
8 -
And if you're going to weigh daily, which is fine, relax and consider it an education in the myriad of ways your body can fluctuate. I've fluctuated as much as 4-5 lbs in a day or two, and obviously it has nothing to do with fat loss or gain.5
-
- ovulation and the premenstrual period are often paired with an increase in water weight. Some women feel this weight (i.e., feel bloated) and some don't
- you may have an increased amount of food in your GI tract
- it can take quite a while for water weight to go away on the scale. It's not unusual for it to take 2+ weeks for me if I go overboard on carbs and sodium one day.
What is your calorie goal?4 -
Yup, you can't expect anything other than water weight to show up quickly or go away quickly. You can easily gain up to 5-6lbs over night just by eating too much sodium or by starting a new strenuous exercise program. I have even lost up to 5lbs overnight by increasing my water intake the two days prior to flush out extra sodium I ate over a weekend. Calorie reduction is something that takes time to show up on the scale. Reduce by 200 calories a day over the period of a couple of weeks and you will probably see an increase in losses, but scale watching never works. Pick one day a week to weigh yourself, I personally choose Thursday mornings. I do that because I tend to eat a lot more on the weekends, and that usually includes high sodium content foods. During the work week I chill out on the sodium, drink more water, and keep my calories in check. Thursdays seem to be the sweet spot for me.
You can watch your weight every day if you want, but just ignore the number except on your chosen day of the week.4 -
- ovulation and the premenstrual period are often paired with an increase in water weight. Some women feel this weight (i.e., feel bloated) and some don't
- you may have an increased amount of food in your GI tract
- it can take quite a while for water weight to go away on the scale. It's not unusual for it to take 2+ weeks for me if I go overboard on carbs and sodium one day.
What is your calorie goal?
Thanks! I didn't consider any of that.
My goal is 1200 calories daily. I've been eating around 1100 and doing a 30 minute low impact work out every day.0 -
This content has been removed.
-
"typicallyjazzy wrote: »
I weighed myself yesterday morning first thing after using the bathroom and I was 124.8. I weighed myself again this morning and was 125. I know the ounces don't matter but why am I gaining period? I've been pretty much starving these past two days making sure I'm under by 200 every day, measuring everything I eat, working out, plus being on my feet for hours at my retail job. I shouldn't have gained anything.
I missed the part about "starving yourself". If you are weighing & measuring what you eat, don't feel compelled to eat under your calorie allowance. By depriving yourself, you are likely encouraging the urge to "cheat". And make sure your weekly weight loss goal is reasonable for your height & current weight.
4 -
Unless you can handle the sometimes weird and inexplicable daily fluctuations, it might be best to change to a less frequent weighing schedule.2
-
typicallyjazzy wrote: »Ok so I've been working out and have been under my calorie goal by almost 200 for the last couple days. I weigh myself daily because in the past I've noticed a decline every day and it's encouraging to me.
Recently I've been bloated like crazy. I had 3 cheat days last week where I consumed an excess of calories. I went from 121.8 on the scale to 124.8. I doubt I had consumed enough on those days to gain 3 pounds so I was sure this was water weight mainly. Since then I've been under calories and working out every day. But given, it has only been 2 days now. I expected to see some progress on my daily scale reading.
I weighed myself yesterday morning first thing after using the bathroom and I was 124.8. I weighed myself again this morning and was 125. I know the ounces don't matter but why am I gaining period? I've been pretty much starving these past two days making sure I'm under by 200 every day, measuring everything I eat, working out, plus being on my feet for hours at my retail job. I shouldn't have gained anything.
Any idea why this could have happened?
ETA:
My bloating has gone down significantly so it's weird that the scale isn't reflecting that.
Salt.2 -
Also...stop starving yourself to be under goal. It'll lead to more and more "cheat days".5
-
typicallyjazzy wrote: »- ovulation and the premenstrual period are often paired with an increase in water weight. Some women feel this weight (i.e., feel bloated) and some don't
- you may have an increased amount of food in your GI tract
- it can take quite a while for water weight to go away on the scale. It's not unusual for it to take 2+ weeks for me if I go overboard on carbs and sodium one day.
What is your calorie goal?
Thanks! I didn't consider any of that.
My goal is 1200 calories daily. I've been eating around 1100 and doing a 30 minute low impact work out every day.
Eat your 1200 calories. I'd also suggest eating a bit more to account for your workout. Your 1200 goal already has the deficit needed for fat loss built into it. Eating below that amount, tempting as it may be, is not optimal for long term health or (mostly likely) body composition. Every person needs a base level of nutrients in order for their bodies to function in a healthy manner, which is why MFP uses 1200 as a lower threshold for calorie goals. You are light to begin with. I am not sure what your height is, but lighter and smaller people should expect to lose weight more slowly than heavier bigger people. It's annoying and I know it's hard to be patient but that's the price paid for being closer to goal.3 -
typicallyjazzy wrote: »- ovulation and the premenstrual period are often paired with an increase in water weight. Some women feel this weight (i.e., feel bloated) and some don't
- you may have an increased amount of food in your GI tract
- it can take quite a while for water weight to go away on the scale. It's not unusual for it to take 2+ weeks for me if I go overboard on carbs and sodium one day.
What is your calorie goal?
Thanks! I didn't consider any of that.
My goal is 1200 calories daily. I've been eating around 1100 and doing a 30 minute low impact work out every day.
Stop under-eating. 1200 also may be far too aggressive for you. Eat the proper calories and quit the cheat days. Work treats into your daily calorie goal. Change MFP so that you lose .5lbs per week, as you have so little to lose.
2 -
I had this problem too .. I went back and averaged 10 weeks .. Found j was loosing 1.7 pounds a week average overall. . So all was good .. just stick to your plan
Good luck0 -
I too was under my cals by 250 daily for last week, I just wasn't hungry. Then on Fri and Sat and I over ate putting me at 1928 on avg a day (1900 is goal so no bigs) anyway I went up 4 lbs. This coupled with starting a longer exercise routine gave me around 4 lbs of bloat. For four days it was saying higher numbers and not going down even though I was no longer bloated. I kept on as normal, had my two rest days and weighed in today at my lowest weight yet.
Sometimes it takes awhile. Normally it takes me 1-2 weeks for bloating/ water/ fluid to go away. In the past I have gotten upset over working so hard only to have the scales say a higher than possible number and let it all go to hell. I know better know. I might only log weight loss twice a month but it IS happening at the rate it should be!1 -
First...why are you trying to eat "under" your goal...your goal is supposed to be the goal, you are supposed to eat at your goal...eating under your goal shouldn't be your goal.
Second....one week isn't enough time to judge progress, weight fluctuations due to things like water retention from excess sodium or lower water intake or increased activity can easily mask weight loss. You should be judging your weightloss on the scale of months, not days.
5 -
My experience is excess calories (or a calorie deficit) don't tend to show up on the scale for a couple of weeks and looking for concrete changes in a matter of days is an exercise in frustration. Be consistent, skip the "cheats", and wait a few weeks.
This has happened to me too...maybe not a whole two weeks later but about a week later.0 -
Aaron_K123 wrote: »First...why are you trying to eat "under" your goal...your goal is supposed to be the goal, you are supposed to eat at your goal...eating under your goal shouldn't be your goal.
Second....one week isn't enough time to judge progress, weight fluctuations due to things like water retention from excess sodium or lower water intake or increased activity can easily mask weight loss. You should be judging your weightloss on the scale of months, not days.
This.
At 124 pounds, how much are you trying to lose?1 -
typicallyjazzy wrote: »- ovulation and the premenstrual period are often paired with an increase in water weight. Some women feel this weight (i.e., feel bloated) and some don't
- you may have an increased amount of food in your GI tract
- it can take quite a while for water weight to go away on the scale. It's not unusual for it to take 2+ weeks for me if I go overboard on carbs and sodium one day.
What is your calorie goal?
Thanks! I didn't consider any of that.
My goal is 1200 calories daily. I've been eating around 1100 and doing a 30 minute low impact work out every day.
Agree. I retain fluid easily, and there are times I can hold on to water retention for 2+ weeks after overeating as well. It can be frustrating, but hang in there. It will level off.0
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 394K Introduce Yourself
- 43.9K Getting Started
- 260.3K Health and Weight Loss
- 176K Food and Nutrition
- 47.5K Recipes
- 232.6K Fitness and Exercise
- 431 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.6K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153.1K Motivation and Support
- 8.1K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.4K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.9K MyFitnessPal Information
- 15 News and Announcements
- 1.2K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.7K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions