how much does your weight fluctuate?
- Thread starter runfree
- Start date
syzygy314
Cathlete
I always go with the lower number! My weight will fluctuate 1-2 lbs. per week. My base weight is 122 and I judge from there whether it's just water, sodium retention or something I have to take control of! So far, it's always come right back down! I'm one of those people who has to weight daily to make sure I'm not gaining because I'm very visual (numbers) and tend to be in denial if my clothes start tightening up!
If you want to really figure out what's causing the fluctuation, you either need to be really aware daily of your food intake - not just what, but the fat and sodium content, etc. - your total calorie intake and output, etc. If you can't keep that in your head, then, unfortunately, you'll have to journal daily for a little while until you find the culprit!
If you want to really figure out what's causing the fluctuation, you either need to be really aware daily of your food intake - not just what, but the fat and sodium content, etc. - your total calorie intake and output, etc. If you can't keep that in your head, then, unfortunately, you'll have to journal daily for a little while until you find the culprit!
SNM Videos
Administrator
Water Retention
Weight fluctuation during the day happens to everyone and is mainly caused by water retention. Water retention may come from eating a high sodium meal (Chinese food for example) or your monthly cycle. Water retention also comes from glycogen that is stored in your body. At your peak during the day you have about 1 pound of Glycogen in your body. Glycogen holds onto about 3 times its weight in water. As you deplete your glycogen stores your weight will drop as less water will be stored in your muscles. As you replenish your glycogen in your body by eating your water weight will increase. This is a major reason why you are lighter in the morning than in the evening.
Weight fluctuation during the day happens to everyone and is mainly caused by water retention. Water retention may come from eating a high sodium meal (Chinese food for example) or your monthly cycle. Water retention also comes from glycogen that is stored in your body. At your peak during the day you have about 1 pound of Glycogen in your body. Glycogen holds onto about 3 times its weight in water. As you deplete your glycogen stores your weight will drop as less water will be stored in your muscles. As you replenish your glycogen in your body by eating your water weight will increase. This is a major reason why you are lighter in the morning than in the evening.
morningstar
Cathlete
For the past year, my weight has fluctuated on a daily basis within the same 5 pounds. So I just consider that my weight is somewhere in between that five pounds.
I have a scale that measures body fat. If I am dehydrated, my weight will be lower, but my scale will say that my body fat is much higher - up to 10% higher than if I am fully hydrated. My scale actually loves it when my weight is up but I am fully hydrated - it says that my metabolic age is lower, that my muscle mass is higher, that my body fat percentage is much lower, that my bone mass is higher, that I have less visceral fat. After a long run without enough hydration, my scale freaks out and gives the exact opposite readings. I think it's actually pretty funny. I only consider readings to be somewhat accurate in comparison to other scale readings taken under the same conditions - same time of day, same hydration level, etc. Only the weight itself is to be relied on with this type of measurement - the rest is way too dependant on my hydration level.
I have a scale that measures body fat. If I am dehydrated, my weight will be lower, but my scale will say that my body fat is much higher - up to 10% higher than if I am fully hydrated. My scale actually loves it when my weight is up but I am fully hydrated - it says that my metabolic age is lower, that my muscle mass is higher, that my body fat percentage is much lower, that my bone mass is higher, that I have less visceral fat. After a long run without enough hydration, my scale freaks out and gives the exact opposite readings. I think it's actually pretty funny. I only consider readings to be somewhat accurate in comparison to other scale readings taken under the same conditions - same time of day, same hydration level, etc. Only the weight itself is to be relied on with this type of measurement - the rest is way too dependant on my hydration level.
spyrosmom
Cathlete
I count my morning after the bathroom, before breakfast weight. It stays within the same pound or 2 range if I'm holding steady. If I start to see a steady change one way or the other I know something is happening. It's been consistently down every morning 2 lbs outside of the norm for the last week, so I'm considering that to be progress!
But as for fluctuation I can easily swing 5lbs up in a day a day depending on salt intake, hydration, time of the month, etc. And I can easily be a pound or 2 down after a long, hot, sweaty workout. Did I lose 2lbs during the workout? Nope! It means I need a drink. I normally end up the day 1 or 2 lbs higher than I started.
Nan
But as for fluctuation I can easily swing 5lbs up in a day a day depending on salt intake, hydration, time of the month, etc. And I can easily be a pound or 2 down after a long, hot, sweaty workout. Did I lose 2lbs during the workout? Nope! It means I need a drink. I normally end up the day 1 or 2 lbs higher than I started.
Nan