Sudden Weight Gain After Recovering From Sickness?

hakdlem
hakdlem Posts: 8 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I am currently 5’1.5/156 cm and 100 lbs/45 kg. A few weeks ago, I fell really sick and lost to around 95 lbs/43 kg (which is actually my goal weight...) Not even a week after I got better, I shot all the way up to where I am now. BEFORE I was sick, I weighed 97 lbs/44 kg. I thought the 3 extra pounds I gained would come off but it’s been a whole week and it’s not budging. This is extremely frustrating since it’s very difficult for me to lose weight, since my metabolism is naturally slow and my calorie intake has to be very low. Losing those 3 pounds from 100 —> 97 was EXCRUCIATING. Since recovering, I have NOT BINGED, NOT EATEN MORE THAN NORMAL (I eat 1200-1400 calories a day, with excercise), AND HAVE MAINTAINED A STEADY EXCERCISE ROUTINE. Is there an explanation (that may have to do with my being sick) for this weight gain that won’t go away??

Replies

  • Courtscan2
    Courtscan2 Posts: 499 Member
    Your metabolism would be slow, as your goal weight is technically underweight....is there a reason you want to be thinner than is healthy? Perhaps readjust your goals or expectations. Also - if you have been ill, your body has been under stress which causes water retention. A week is not long in the grand scheme of things, and nothing will move quickly when your weight is as low as yours is.
  • NovusDies
    NovusDies Posts: 8,940 Member
    edited March 2019
    When your weight fell it was likely due to some dehydration and now you may be retaining some water. Your body weight fluctuates along a range largely due to your water levels but also due to food waste in your system. If you are in a healthy deficit you will continue to lose fat weight even when the bathroom scale doesn't reflect it for a time.

    Here is a good read about weight fluctuations:

    http://physiqonomics.com/the-weird-and-highly-annoying-world-of-scale-weight-and-fluctuations/

    ETA: I didn't pay attention to your stats or realize you may be trying to lose below your normal healthy range.
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  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    You were dehydrated when sick and now your body is returning to a more normal fluid balance. This is likely water weight, not fat. You are so close to your goal. Most people allow a 5-10 lb range for normal fluctuations during maintenance. Surely your weight fluctuates normally and is not exactly the same or decreasing every single day?
  • PAV8888
    PAV8888 Posts: 14,260 Member
    edited March 2019
    The downward extension of normal BMI to 18.5 (from the previous 20) was done to accommodate and include in the healthy weight range vertically challenged individuals and, in particular, to accommodate Asian females.

    I note that the cut-off chosen was 18.5
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  • NovusDies
    NovusDies Posts: 8,940 Member
    hakdlem wrote: »
    lorrpb wrote: »
    You were dehydrated when sick and now your body is returning to a more normal fluid balance. This is likely water weight, not fat. You are so close to your goal. Most people allow a 5-10 lb range for normal fluctuations during maintenance. Surely your weight fluctuates normally and is not exactly the same or decreasing every single day?

    It was a stable 97 lbs for three weeks straight every day only fluctuating maybe 2 lbs per day. Now I gained 3 lbs after being sick
    :/

    Did you read the article in my post? It is perfectly normal to show weight gains even when you are trying to lose. It is temporary but it could take a few days to a week or so to go back down.

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