Put on a pound...how?!?

cxeex
cxeex Posts: 121 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Last week, I did 50,000 more steps than my usual, stuck to my healthy eating and have put on a pound. How is that possible? Feeling really down about it :'(

Replies

  • Poisonedpawn78
    Poisonedpawn78 Posts: 1,145 Member
    a pound of what?
  • RoxieDawn
    RoxieDawn Posts: 15,488 Member
    edited May 2018
    Increased exercise/activity induced water retention. You can't gain a pound of fat unless you actually went over your calories enough to gain a pound of fat.
  • firef1y72
    firef1y72 Posts: 1,579 Member
    Could be any of a number of things. More exercise than usual can lead to water retention as muscles heal themselves. Time of the month can lead to several pounds gained, both just menstruation and ovulation. A it more salt the day before can lead to water gain. Or you could just have eaten more than you burned, are you weighing and logging everything you eat? Just eating healthy isn't enough, I was eating healthy during marathon training at the start of the year but still ended up putting on 8lb as I was deliberately eating more than I burnt.
  • tiptoethruthetulips
    tiptoethruthetulips Posts: 3,371 Member
    edited May 2018
    Our bodies are not machines, weight loss is not linear, could be due to fluid retention for one of many reasons. Could be hormonal.

    You say you stuck to healthy eating, but did you actually weigh or measure everything that passed your lips? Did you actually count your calories? Those questions asked, its 1lb, its likely to be fluid or hormonal.

    As long as the overall trend is going down you are doing well, it's one little blimp, don't let it be your undoing.





  • TerranandKaylynsmommy
    TerranandKaylynsmommy Posts: 321 Member
    TavistockToad wrote: »
    weight loss isn't linear

    its probably water weight

    ☝️☝️☝️ This
  • collectingblues
    collectingblues Posts: 2,541 Member
    TavistockToad wrote: »
    weight loss isn't linear

    its probably water weight

    This.

    I'm up four pounds from Saturday, and that was *after* losing steadily last week after a med increase.

    The likely reason? A crapton of water retention from that half marathon I ran on Sunday, coupled with the extra sodium and carbs I had after the race, and during recovery.

    If it's still there on May 27 -- I know it usually takes me three weeks for it all to disappear -- I'll worry. But I'd be very very surprised if it is.
  • SuzySunshine99
    SuzySunshine99 Posts: 2,989 Member
    cxeex wrote: »
    Thanks everyone, I hadn’t even thought of that.
    I did two mountain hikes last week plus visited London for the first time and walked 16 miles in one day so water retention would make sense as I was rather achey by the end of the week :D

    After all that I'm surprised it was only a pound. After a week long backpacking trip in the mountains...40 total miles...I came back 15 pounds heavier. It was all gone a week later.
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    Water weight happens for lots of reasons. Learning those reasons can help stop the freak-outs. Yours sounds like unusual exercise, but here are the other reasons so you can be better prepared next time.

    Water can be retained in the muscles for repair, if you've done new-to-you exercise.

    In females, hormones cause lots of water weight issues. Ovulation and TOM usually cause water retention.

    Eating more carbs or sodium than your body is used to will cause water weight.

    Travel/flying can cause water weight. I gain like 8 pounds in one flight.

    Excessive temperatures can cause water weight.

    Sunburns and other inflammatory-type injuries can cause water weight.

    Infections and illness may cause water weight.
  • CSARdiver
    CSARdiver Posts: 6,252 Member
    To add my n=1 my water weight fluctuates ~5 lbs. throughout the day. I can weigh in a 215, run 5 mi and come back at 210, then hydrate and be back at 215.

    Just water weight. Your cells take on water as a defense mechanism to outside stressors. Change in physical activity, hormones, sodium, etc.

    Just hydrate and you'll be back to square in a few days. Takes ~5-7 days normally.
  • layladrew26
    layladrew26 Posts: 111 Member
    edited May 2018
    Patience grasshopper!
    It'll be water retention. Get used to it. I can put 5-8lbs on overnight then it's gone a few days later.
    Also don't concentrate too much on the numbers on the scale. Take measurements and go with how your clothes feel.

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