Why am I fluctuating ?!

So,my goal is to gain 1-2 lbs per week. I’m happy with 1 lb but 2 is even better! I was making shakes twice a day, but life gets in the way sometimes so I make up for my night time shake with 2 ensure plus sometimes. (Just easier). It’s a lot of calories short from my shake, but still reaching my daily calorie goal by a long shot. The first week I literally gained 2.5 lbs!! I promised myself I would only weigh & record it ONCE a week. But I couldn’t help but step on to check in without recording it. I was so happy I weighed 105.8 on Wednesday.... it’s now Sunday and sometimes I’m st 104.6 104.8 105.0 WHAT THE HELL?! Maybe just because it’s different times of the day? It’s really getting me down 😞 I felt great on Wednesday with my gain, now my next weight recording is Wednesday and I have a feeling I’ll be less or maybe exactly the same as last Wednesday! I’m bypassing my calorie intake by far... should I be weighing at the same time of day? Is it normal to fluctuate a whole LB at first ? I need to gain this weight STEADILY before I give up like last time.


Advice? Help?

Replies

  • Tankiscool
    Tankiscool Posts: 11,105 Member
    Take a deep breath and try to relax. Its normal for your weight to fluctuate 1 to 2 lbs. daily. Hell I've fluctuated 5 lbs in a day. My recommendation is to weigh yourself daily at the same time and track it, there are many apps or just put it in an excel spreadsheet. Take your average over a week and that's what your weight is. Also are you measuring yourself? I'd start there too and pics as well.
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    Because fluctuations are 100% normal whether you’re losing, gaining or maintaining. For a variety of reasons.
  • ceebrawl2018
    ceebrawl2018 Posts: 29 Member
    edited October 2018
    I have a scale that tracks it all and connects via Bluetooth to my phone! I love it- but I only let it LOG my weight on Wednesday. So I can see the weekly progress. I haven’t thought to measure- I’m literally going by how a pair of jeans fits ! Ha! Bad idea. It’s just like aggravating.... I’m drinking shakes, doing this doing that - then I weigh myself and I’m a LB lighter ?! 😩 ugh.
  • ceebrawl2018
    ceebrawl2018 Posts: 29 Member
    How**
  • ceebrawl2018
    ceebrawl2018 Posts: 29 Member
    Ugh. I think I’m just mad at fluctuation. Like- WHAT DO YOU MEAN I LOST A LB?! I JUST DRANK 1700 CALORIES?! 😂😩
  • kami3006
    kami3006 Posts: 4,979 Member
    Because weight consists of many things besides fat and muscle. It comprises food in your stomach, water throughout your body, waste in your bowels, etc. It's always going to fluctuate regardless of what you're doing. It's perfectly normal and something you just have to accept. Trends over time matter.
  • nutmegoreo
    nutmegoreo Posts: 15,532 Member
    Ugh. I think I’m just mad at fluctuation. Like- WHAT DO YOU MEAN I LOST A LB?! I JUST DRANK 1700 CALORIES?! 😂😩

    How many calories are you aiming for? 1700 isn't a lot if you are trying to gain, unless you are short, older, and sedentary. You probably need more calories. Fluctuations happen for a number of reasons. Sodium, hydration status, TOM, exercise, food inside the body, time of day, etc. Chill on the fluctuations, you're going to drive yourself nuts.
  • Tankiscool
    Tankiscool Posts: 11,105 Member
    Ugh. I think I’m just mad at fluctuation. Like- WHAT DO YOU MEAN I LOST A LB?! I JUST DRANK 1700 CALORIES?! 😂😩

    Yeah I know it can take a toll to not see progress but Rome was not built in a day. It takes time and patience. Definitely think you should buy some cheap measuring tape so you can measure your body. A pair of jeans isn't the best idea because where people gain and loose weight first is different to each person.
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    Ugh. I think I’m just mad at fluctuation. Like- WHAT DO YOU MEAN I LOST A LB?! I JUST DRANK 1700 CALORIES?! 😂😩

    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10683010/the-weird-and-highly-annoying-world-of-scale-fluctuations/p1
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    edited October 2018
    Fluctuations are normal when gaining or losing weight.

    Why are you aiming to gain 2lbs per week?
  • latestarter75
    latestarter75 Posts: 50 Member
    Always weigh in same time of day ideally first thing in the morning before any food or fluid, but even so weight gain or loss isn’t linear it will always fluctuate slightly down to a few factors including,sleep,holding water,stress levels and obviously if your female periods so just relax and look at the weight trend over a longer period rather than just weigh in to weigh in.
  • ceebrawl2018
    ceebrawl2018 Posts: 29 Member
    nutmegoreo wrote: »
    Ugh. I think I’m just mad at fluctuation. Like- WHAT DO YOU MEAN I LOST A LB?! I JUST DRANK 1700 CALORIES?! 😂😩

    How many calories are you aiming for? 1700 isn't a lot if you are trying to gain, unless you are short, older, and sedentary. You probably need more calories. Fluctuations happen for a number of reasons. Sodium, hydration status, TOM, exercise, food inside the body, time of day, etc. Chill on the fluctuations, you're going to drive yourself nuts.

  • ceebrawl2018
    ceebrawl2018 Posts: 29 Member
    Haha no 1700 was ONE shake! I have 2 a day! I’m taking in about 2800-3000 a day
  • Chieflrg
    Chieflrg Posts: 9,097 Member
    Anything to do with body weight is not linear. We eat, drink, digest food, use the bathroom, sweat, etc...

    We are not machines with a fixed weight.

    Take the average over a few weeks and adjust if necessary.
  • RMaxwell90
    RMaxwell90 Posts: 36 Member
    If you switched from mostly solid foods to more shakes that can cause some weight drop from less food in your GI tract.

    Short term decreases in sodium, and/or carbohydrate intake can cause weight to drop. Decreases in training volume can cause weight to drop. Anecdotally, I know in prep for a powerlifting meet I lose between 3-5 lbs from lower carbs and less training volume.

    Once I "accidentally" gained/lost 13 lbs in 24 hours with the help of delicious, salty, carb-ey food. 🙄

    What I'm trying to say is 1 lb isn't a big deal in the grand scheme of things. Now if you haven't gained in 4ish weeks then maybe you need to look at your logging accuracy and calories and adjust. Maybe closer to 6 weeks depending.

    There's a lot of factors when it comes to weight. Like everyone is saying you have to watch the trend over a longer period of time. I usually prefer to either weigh daily and look at a 3 day average or not weigh myself at all and go by belt notches. Both work for me, the latter stops me from being so neurotic about daily weights.

    Hope my rambling made some sense!
  • ceebrawl2018
    ceebrawl2018 Posts: 29 Member
    I wish I knew how to respond to each person like under them 😩 but yes . I need to get back to my average weight as soon as possible. Doctor suggested a LB a week.
  • nutmegoreo
    nutmegoreo Posts: 15,532 Member
    I wish I knew how to respond to each person like under them 😩 but yes . I need to get back to my average weight as soon as possible. Doctor suggested a LB a week.

    Hit "quote" directly under the post you wish to respond to, and they type your response right after the ...quote]
  • ceebrawl2018
    ceebrawl2018 Posts: 29 Member
    Thank you all so much for your insight. This is the first time I’ve lost so much weight in such a short amount of time to where the doctor is having me gain to start a medical treatment. It’s so overwhelming ! I’m going to start weighing the same time every week- and not get discouraged over a lb or two!
  • ceebrawl2018
    ceebrawl2018 Posts: 29 Member



    Got it ! Thanks!
    nutmegoreo wrote: »
    I wish I knew how to respond to each person like under them 😩 but yes . I need to get back to my average weight as soon as possible. Doctor suggested a LB a week.

    Hit "quote" directly under the post you wish to respond to, and they type your response right after the ...quote]

  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member


    Got it ! Thanks!
    nutmegoreo wrote: »
    I wish I knew how to respond to each person like under them 😩 but yes . I need to get back to my average weight as soon as possible. Doctor suggested a LB a week.

    Hit "quote" directly under the post you wish to respond to, and they type your response right after the ...quote]

    Typing under the post makes it easier to follow....
  • H0ckeyplaya55
    H0ckeyplaya55 Posts: 44 Member
    You should always try and weigh in first thing in the morning while fasted ... it’s the most “accurate” then since you haven’t eaten for quite sometime... the scale will fluctuate due to water also ... you can’t base your progress only off your weight ... but since you are only concerned with gaining weight I’d start out by only weighing in the morning and try to set your meals up in advance so “life” happening you still have time to get your meals in

    I hope this helped :) I’m new here feel free to add me if you have any questions I’m happy to help