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Weight fluctuation
If you weigh yourself every morning, you probably notice that the number on the scale can change significantly from one day to the next.
Sometimes the reason for the daily weight fluctuation is obvious. Perhaps you indulged in a big meal before bedtime that resulted in weight gain, or you did a very sweaty workout that resulted in weight loss. But there are other reasons that weight fluctuations occur from day to day.
If you are trying to lose weight or change your body composition, you might be tempted to believe that the daily weight fluctuation is due to fat loss or fat gain. That is a possibility. But there are many other factors that affect your weight from day to day.
up to 5lbs weight shift is typical for most people day-to-day, but that the number on the scale can change by as much as 20 pounds depending on your body size. So why the big swing? And what causes these frustrating weight fluctuations from day to day? These factors contribute to an increase or decrease on the scale.
High-salt foods can cause water retention. The extra water adds up to pounds on the scale. Some people are very sodium sensitive and may retain more water, while others are less sensitive. sodium can hide in unexpected places. Cold cuts, frozen meals, and savory sauces are often high in sodium. Canned soup is another common culprit. Many varieties of low-calorie soup are very high in sodium.
If you love bread, pasta, rice, and other starchy carbs, the weight gain you see on the scale may be related to your carb intake. For every gram of carbohydrate you consume, your body retains about three grams of water in order to store the fuel source.
For that reason, if you eat a very high carbohydrate meal, your body weight is likely to increase because of the water weight, not because of increased fat. In addition, many refined carbohydrate foods are also high in sodium.
You’re likely to see some fluctuations on the scale due to bowel movements.
Exercise can cause you to sweat and lose water weight.
Certain medications may cause you to gain weight. Some increase your appetite, some may cause you to retain water,
Most women notice some degree of bloating from fluid retention immediately before and during their menstrual period.
Alcohol is a diuretic, so it is possible that you could notice an immediate weight decrease if you end up urinating more than usual while drinking.
When should you be concerned about daily weight changes? If the number on the scale continues to increase or stays elevated for more than five to seven days, then it may be an indicator of a medical concern. Or it may show increased body mass. But keep in mind that both muscle and fat increase your mass, so your weight gain may be due to muscle growth.
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By JayIf you weigh yourself every morning, you probably notice that the number on the scale can change significantly from one day to the next.
Sometimes the reason for the daily weight fluctuation is obvious. Perhaps you indulged in a big meal before bedtime that resulted in weight gain, or you did a very sweaty workout that resulted in weight loss. But there are other reasons that weight fluctuations occur from day to day.
If you are trying to lose weight or change your body composition, you might be tempted to believe that the daily weight fluctuation is due to fat loss or fat gain. That is a possibility. But there are many other factors that affect your weight from day to day.
up to 5lbs weight shift is typical for most people day-to-day, but that the number on the scale can change by as much as 20 pounds depending on your body size. So why the big swing? And what causes these frustrating weight fluctuations from day to day? These factors contribute to an increase or decrease on the scale.
High-salt foods can cause water retention. The extra water adds up to pounds on the scale. Some people are very sodium sensitive and may retain more water, while others are less sensitive. sodium can hide in unexpected places. Cold cuts, frozen meals, and savory sauces are often high in sodium. Canned soup is another common culprit. Many varieties of low-calorie soup are very high in sodium.
If you love bread, pasta, rice, and other starchy carbs, the weight gain you see on the scale may be related to your carb intake. For every gram of carbohydrate you consume, your body retains about three grams of water in order to store the fuel source.
For that reason, if you eat a very high carbohydrate meal, your body weight is likely to increase because of the water weight, not because of increased fat. In addition, many refined carbohydrate foods are also high in sodium.
You’re likely to see some fluctuations on the scale due to bowel movements.
Exercise can cause you to sweat and lose water weight.
Certain medications may cause you to gain weight. Some increase your appetite, some may cause you to retain water,
Most women notice some degree of bloating from fluid retention immediately before and during their menstrual period.
Alcohol is a diuretic, so it is possible that you could notice an immediate weight decrease if you end up urinating more than usual while drinking.
When should you be concerned about daily weight changes? If the number on the scale continues to increase or stays elevated for more than five to seven days, then it may be an indicator of a medical concern. Or it may show increased body mass. But keep in mind that both muscle and fat increase your mass, so your weight gain may be due to muscle growth.