Gained 3kgs in 4 weeks

[SquarePeggyLeggy]

I’ve always been a size 8-10. I usually weigh 58 kgs or so, I’m short at 163cms.
Since November I have gained almost 7kgs. In January it’s been almost a kilo a week!! I’ve been indulging a little more than usual, not a lot. I’ve joined the gym and am having dry July, so should be less than usual. Between yesterday and today I’ve gained 0.85 kgs!
Should I see a Dr? This seems excessive. It’s spread across my whole body, I look visibly bigger everywhere.
Is this normal or something anyone has experienced? I’m nearly 42, does this happen at menopause?!

I would go to a doctor just to make sure but be aware muscle is heaver then fat. but also multiple disorders cause water retention.

AIBU to see a Dr?

@SquarePeggyLeggy, I’ve always been size 8-10 as well and had unexplainable weight gain. First I thought it was due to being inactive due to the pandemic but I have now realised that I have PCOS. I stopped intermittent fasting which helped a bit. I’m trying to loose the weight gain now but it’s taking a bit longer. Make sure you get checked especially if it’s as rapid as that. Good luck.

P.s the PCOS was picked up via a scan btw

Thank you, so did it just suddenly start?

I’ve had a mirena in for nearly a year and don’t get periods anymore.

Water retention is a bitch
There’s no way you could have gained 0.8kg overnight, it’s impossible. You would have had to consume about 5000 calories on top of what your normal calorie intake is. So like 7000 calories
Try to weigh yourself first thing in the morning before breakfast

Also, what’s your typical menu everyday? Have you started eating a lot of peanut butter/nuts, have you been using more oil, sugar? More red meat?

Such big fluctuations overnight are most likely water, or poo 😬. For example, if you decided to be healthier and added a load of extra vegetables to your dinner last night and weighed yourself this AM, you might actually weigh more as they take longer to digest. Or, if you had a takeaway last night typically has more salt and so you see more water retention the next day.

Having said that. It is possible to gain a kilo a week but to do that you will be eating c1000 extra calories A DAY… so quite hard to do that by accident…

Muscle doesn't weigh more than fat and unless you are really going for it in the gym it's unlikely that is contributing to your weight gain. Although starting exercise can make you feel hungrier and you end up eating more calories than you burn off.

Start logging your food on an app like lose it (it's free). If you do go to the GP it's likely they will ask you anyway. At 42 I also found I had to cut down on daily calories to keep the same weight.

Are you weighing yourself at the same time each day (ideally after going to the bathroom first thing in the morning)? If not, your weight will increase quite dramatically over the course of a day but it's just food and water fluctuations. Likewise if you're doing lots of exercise for the first time in a while, you can retain water a lot at first.

Over time it might be worth measuring yourself with a tape measure too. Sometimes inches drop off but weight stays the same (probably not in the course of one month, but who knows?).

Hypothyroidism?

This happened to me and I was diagnosed with PCOS. Definitely best to get checked. My GP tried to fob me off, but I insisted on am internal scan to confirm (uncomfortable, but not painful). Take care, OP.

This happened to me too. All my symptoms suggested hypothyroidism. I went to the GP and she was a bit sceptical but I pushed to be tested. When the results came back they confirmed it was hypothyroidism.

Sorry to hear you're going through this. I assume you're definitely not pregnant?

@roundthew

Water retention is a bitch There’s no way you could have gained 0.8kg overnight, it’s impossible. You would have had to consume about 5000 calories on top of what your normal calorie intake is. So like 7000 calories Try to weigh yourself first thing in the morning before breakfast

It doesn't explain the sudden weight gain over a few weeks, so yes, I would discuss with your GP - but the part of the equation that's missing in the straight forward calories in/calories expended is have you pooed? If you're holding waste matter yet to be excreted, that's going to add to your 'overnight gain'.

@Gunpowder

Hypothyroidism?

This was the reason behind my sudden weight gain. Go and see the dr Op x

My advice, get it sorted quickly. I've gained 20kgs in twelve months (not a typo!). Its really getting me down. I'm only 34

If you’re working out then you will be converting fat to muscle.

Muscle is denser than fat there for 1kg of muscle takes up less space than 1kg of fat.

Step away from the scales for a bit and use a tape measure instead.

I found that when working out my weight stayed the same, but I lost 4” off my waist and 1” off upper arms and thighs.

Also if weighing yourself daily you can easily fluctuate by 3-4lbs per day, dependant on how much water you’ve retained.

I wouldn’t go to a drs yet. Just keep a note of all measurements not just weight.

@Singlebutmarried

If you’re working out then you will be converting fat to muscle.

Muscle is denser than fat there for 1kg of muscle takes up less space than 1kg of fat.

Step away from the scales for a bit and use a tape measure instead.

I found that when working out my weight stayed the same, but I lost 4” off my waist and 1” off upper arms and thighs.

Also if weighing yourself daily you can easily fluctuate by 3-4lbs per day, dependant on how much water you’ve retained.

I wouldn’t go to a drs yet. Just keep a note of all measurements not just weight.

It takes a long time and a significant amount of work for women to gain muscle, there may be many explanations here but a recent gym membership is not it.

I’ve been indulging a little more than usual, not a lot.

Are you being realistic about what this entails?

That said, 0.85kg is a lot. Does it go down overnight?

Its quite common to gain weight when doing Dry January. People end up eating more sugary foods to compensate for the lack of sugar in alcohol. I have done the same. Also you may be underestimating how much you have been overindulging!

seems like a combination of factors.
at that age I suddenly needed a lot less calories to keep my weight.

starting running and strength exercises really helps. but I still need to keep an eye on my calorie intake.

write a food diary, weigh portions and calulate the calories. you might be surprised. the 2000kcals that's on packages as 'recommendation' for women is unralistically high for many.

Fat cells do not "convert" to muscle. You can lose fat and gain muscle, but as someone said upthread, it takes women a long time/intense training to gain so much muscle that it significantly affects the scales. I doubt 3-4 weeks at the gym is the cause here.

Could it be the mirena? A few if my friends put on a lot of weight when they had it fitted. It is listed as a possible side effect.

@UnexpectedItemInShaggingArea

Fat cells do not "convert" to muscle. You can lose fat and gain muscle, but as someone said upthread, it takes women a long time/intense training to gain so much muscle that it significantly affects the scales. I doubt 3-4 weeks at the gym is the cause here.

no but exercise, especially if new starter, can lead to excess fluid retention.