Why does my weight do this?

[donkhonk]

I lost a stone last year (would ideally like to lose another 5lbs or so but accepting that won't shift!!). I have found that to keep it off, it's really helpful to weigh myself each day so that if the scale starts to creep up I can watch what I eat for a bit.

But, I've found that my weight can fluctuate daily by up to 3lbs. I can be 3lbs heavier one day, and it be gone the next. And lots of variations in between.

Scales are in the bathroom on a tiled floor. I don't move them about. They're accurate as I was weighed at the GP the other day.

It's every day, so doesn't really seem to be impacted by my cycle.

3lbs seems like quite a lot? I'm not worried (a bit peed off) but wondered if anyone has any insight?

I think weighing yourself daily is a bit obsessive. Either way yourself weekly or fortnightly to get a better understanding as to joe much you're loosing.

Totally normal but frustrating yes

It happens for all sorts of reasons. Hormones. Whether you ate something high in salt. Do you need the toilet? Holding on to water. Whether you ate pasta the day before. Body holding onto something. How you slept. How hydrated you are

The list is honestly endless

I lose about 3lb overnight on a hot night snd only 1lb when its cold. It's dehydration mainly

I weigh myself daily as part of the Noom program.

Your weight naturally fluctuates throughout the day and through your cycle.

If you're doing a daily weigh it should be first thing after going to the toilet. Do it at the same time every day so you get a consistent picture.

Mine also fluctuates around my cycle, but around ovulation time. I seem to hold on to a bit of weight and then as soon as I ovulate it disappears 🤷🏼‍♀️

Not at all, from a 'scientific quality of measurement' point of view because without this, you miss all the variations the OP is talking about.

If you only weighed once a week and found you were 3 pounds heavier than last week, you wouldn't know if it was 3 pounds more fat, or one of the many other reasons why you weigh more, but don't have any more body fat, which is what you're trying to measure.

Don't worry about it OP and just look at the general average over time.

There are apps where you can input daily measurements and they do all the uncertainty calculations, which get smaller the more measurements you make.

If you weigh once a week it's accurate within about half a stone at best. If you weigh daily, you're far more likely to to spot any sudden gains that are due to fluid retention etc because you know its not possible to gain 3 pounds of fat in a day, especially if you've not been overeating.

It's perfectly normal.

It could because you need a wee/poo, you've eaten a big meal, you're dehydrated, you're tired, you're due your period, you're hungry - anything, really, but it's nothing to worry about :)

The always say to weigh yourself at the same time everyday - so either as soon as you get up or right before you go to bed, for example.

I'm the same OP. I weigh daily and tbh I can't see any reason for the fluctuations.

Weighing weekly would never work for me.. I need a firm idea of how things are going to feel in control.

I used to be a daily weigher. I used to put on 3lbs for the 3 days around ovulation without fail and 2lb the day before I came on. If I'd gone for a run or any other kind of sweaty exercise I'd also gain next day then come off the day after.

I had to stop weighing as I was getting unhealthily bothered but then went to the opposite extreme which was also not helpful. I think as long as it doesn't rule your day/mood and you use it as a tool but not the only thing it's helpful.

I think this is normal. This video helps explain it:

The best way monitor weight accurately is not to weigh weekly because you can vary a few lbs on any given day and who is to say that the day you pick is not a heavy day one week and a light one the next

You need to weight daily but don't pay attention to the number as long as it is within a few lbs of your aim,just write it down. Then add them all up and work out the average ( divide by 7) at the end of the week. Next week do the same and compare the average weights at the end of each week. If these go up you are putting on weight. If the average status the same, regardless of daily fluctuations you are not putting on weight

Your weight can go up and down daily, mainly due to water retention.

There is, however, a reason why scales can behave like this, I think. It is to do with fluctuating air pressure apparently, which can affect their accuracy.

Thanks all! It's all really interesting, and completely mad how so many factors can influence weight to such a degree.

Just to say - nothing obsessive about my weighing every day. It's just part of my routine, like brushing my teeth. Luckily, I've always had a good relationship with food and my body. I just found over the last couple of years I need to keep a closer eye on it! I definitely find weighing every day gives a much more accurate view of my weight.

Yes totally normal, if I have even 1 alcoholic drink I can be +4lbs the next day, but it always comes straight back off the next day. If I had done a weekly weigh in on that day I would be gutted and probably self sabotage by ordering a massive takeaway! However after weighing daily for the last 2 years I can be fairly confident it's a natural fluctuation rather than actual fat gain.

I have a Fitbit so I log my weight on the app every day and it gives me the average at the end of the week, I'm so much more in control that I ever was when I used to weigh weekly but I can see that it would be easy for some people to become obsessive.

I agree, when I'm trying to lose, I try not to let one higher weight from say having a glass of wine, put me off.

I also weigh daily and can lose or gain 4lbs overnight, which makes me very sceptical about weekly weigh-ins.

I use the Happy Scales app and weigh probably 3-4 times a week. The app smooths out the day to day variability so you get a clearer view of what the underlying trend is.