Fluctuating Weight

[jillianne1]

I lost 9 lbs in one week and immediately gained it back over the next day or two. I didn't change anything in my diet. I exercised and kept a good calorie count. What could be causing this big of a change?

[carl669]

water retention/loss can make your weight fluctuate quite a bit.

[bella74]

The same happened to me. In 4 days i put on 700g. I was mortified. I have not changed my eating in any way so i don't understand it. It is very disheartening. Why put in so much effort to get such a bad result?!

[Heybales]

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@jillianne1 wrote:

I lost 9 lbs in one week and immediately gained it back over the next day or two. I didn't change anything in my diet. I exercised and kept a good calorie count. What could be causing this big of a change?

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For one thing, watching sodium better, and eating less.

Retain water weight drop.

Starting a diet, you deplete your glucose stores is muscle, along with the attached water, and your diet doesn't top it off, so always depleted. Eating even less carbs makes the effect even bigger.

Had some cooler days or less exercise and dropped some retained water related to repair or more blood volume for cooling.

Invalid weigh-in days, and maximizing the water fluctuations that always happen with the body and exercising.

Only valid weigh-in day to try to discern something.

Morning after rest day eating normal sodium levels, not sore from last workout.

Were your 3 days seeing those weight changes all valid days?

[altaclip]

My weight fluctuates 3-5 lbs ever day. I've weighed myself prior to a 4 mile run and immed after. On average I sweat off 4 lbs of water,etc. on a run. 

Try not to weight yourself too often but when you do try and do it at the same time of day, conditions, etc. I prefer first thing in the AM and/or in the AM immed after my run.

[Algenon · Accepted solution]

1.  Do not weigh yourself every day.  Once a week at the same time of day is fine.  This gives you a better picture.  I would avoid weighing after a meal.  

2.  Our bodies are 60% water.  Because of this, your weight can go up or down depending on how hydrated you are.  If you drink less or eat a lot of salt, your body will want to hang on to more water to maintain the balance causing your weight to go up.   If you are female, you will retain water at certain times of the month.

3.  Measure yourself.  Muscle weighs more than fat but takes up less room.  Are your clothes fitting better? 

4.  Do not give up!  It took about a month before I saw a weight change because my body had to adjust to the different diet, exercise etc.  But I have gone from a size 18 to a size 10 .