If you religiously live by the scale, you've probably noticed that your weight can (and will) fluctuate a few pounds. Women's Health gives us five reasons that the number on the scale may be up (or down) a few pounds:
- You were thirsty! Downing 16 ounces of any fluid can cause an immediate "gain" of 1 pound.
- You're backed up. Constipation can tilt the scale by as much as 2 pounds if it's been more than a couple of days since your bowels did their thing.
- You're going on vacation. To Thailand. The changes in air pressure can make you retain water on flights longer than 4 hours, which can show up as an extra 1 to 3 pounds on the scale.
- You ate the Chicken Kung Pao. Have a salty dinner and you could wake up 2 to 3 pounds heavier — your body retains water to dilute all that sodium.
- Aunt Flo's on her way. Hormone fluctuations in the 3 days leading up to your period can make you retain up to 5 pounds of water.
S'Oliver
Lanvin
Vero Moda
Boy am i happy to see the 5 pounds from PMS. I am trying to only use the scale once a week, in the morning, so the majority of these things are not there. If I way more often, the fluctuations discourage me
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Why don't you wear the face you have when I am not around?
I try to make sure I weigh myself in the morning after I do the bathroom thing.
2yah, that's usually what i do too. i should have known aunt flo was coming because i somehow "gained" 5 lbs overnight.
3Wow thats pretty interesting. Also, if you are working out and checking your weight, it might go up because you are gaining muscle mass when working out. Therefore, checking your weight after a workout may not be quite accurate.
4Aunt Flo?!
5Many things i didnt know, very interesting
6Aunt Flo???
7so these can be my excuses from now on!
8thanks pop this was really helpful!!!!!
9I have stopped weighing myself altogether. I only weigh myself when I have been really good at working out and notice a physical change that I am happy with
10JessNess that's a smart thing to do, too much weighing can only bring one down.
11I'm with you too JessNess. I don't care how much I weigh really, just more how I look and feel.
12I didn't realize that Flo could be up to 5 lbs. That's good to know. I definitely get that sudden weight gain and coupled with the extra emotions ... oh my. Thanks for the 411 Fit!
13Re: weighing - it's weekly for me. But more to stay within a certain range. Having to lose 10 lbs or more just gets to be overwhelming and daunting to me, so I stick with the scale to keep it real. Whatever works for you though. Each of us is unique.
14I always weigh after my mornign bathroom routine.
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