How is it possible to put on 3 lbs in one day!

[boredsolicitor]

Yesterday I ran5k did a dog walk for one hour roughly and I ate a two egg omelette, a bowl of fat free greek yoghurt with alpen and blueberries and for dinner had a quarter of tandoori chicken plus a couple of spoonfuls of chickpea curry and I have put on 3 lbs overnight!!! Ffs!!!

Were they ostrich eggs?

You don't. It's just natural fluctuation. I daily weigh, and have for almost 2 years. My weight can fluctuate 3lb daily!
Yes, it's annoying, but totally natural! Don't worry about it at all!

Of course you haven’t. Scales fluctuate. It could be water, it could be hormones. It’s not 3lb of weight. Do you weigh yourself everyday? It’s not advised to do this as there are so many variables, best to stick to once a week at the same time to get a better overall view.

Yeah it’s totally normal, it’s better to weigh daily and then do a weekly average to see how much you have lost - I used to use something called happy scales to track it I think

It won't be 3lbs of fat - unless you ate 10000+ calories above your tdee. Your muscles could be inflamed and holding onto some water from all the exercise. Otherwise, it'll be water and food weight. Could you have been slightly dehydrated when you weighed last before yesterday's exercise and food, giving a false low weight? Drink plenty of water today and keep on track and I'm sure you'll be back to normal in a day or so ☺️

As others have said, this isn’t genuine weight. One pound is about 3500 calories, so to gain 3 genuine pounds, that’s over 10,000 calories (after your base metabolic rate is deducted). You’d have to have eaten maybe 7 pizzas, lots of sweet snacks (donuts, cake etc), alcohol…

I weigh myself daily and fluctuations are normal. Mine is usually 2-3 lbs but some people can go 6lbs+ in a day.

Actually some weight loss programmes advise you to weigh every day precisely so that you develop a better understanding of fluctuations like this and don't catastophise when you see a gain on a day-to-day basis. OP if yesterday was more active that you're used to then it's possibly inflammation/water retention.

It's completely normal to fluctuate, I weigh daily because it works for me, but as you can see from my graph it's always going up and down.

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I fluctuated 2lb before and after my shower this morning.

I'm actively trying to lose weight so I weigh every day to keep myself focused. I don't worry about day to day fluctuations, I concentrate on the overall trend (3.5st lost in 13 months, huzzah!).

You haven't gained 3lbs... weight will fluctuate daily, I often weigh 4lbs heavier in the evening compared to morning. Weigh once a week to get an accurate reading

See, I actually disagree with this. I think it's more helpful to weigh everyday as you know any fluctuations like this are just fluctuations and due to water retention, hormones etc.

If you weigh in once a week only and the day you happen to weigh in is a day like this, you'll be very disheartened to see the scales 3lbs up.

I weigh in every day but only "log" my weight once a week. 3lbs is entirely normal for me. In fact it's usually ajwats higher on a Monday as I my diet and exercise is different at the weekend (saltier food/more workouts) and then I always drop loads on a Tuesday
Unfortunately I use Monday as the logging day 😂
I recommend daily weighing, then these fluctuations become normal and expected

This is brilliant thankyou

That graph shows it beautifully, downward trend with fluctuations

If I move my scales onto different tiles in the bathroom I can loose or gain 2kg!!

Scales have variable, location of the scale will change weight depending on the slightest dip in the flooring and your body will treat water differently daily.

Its completely normal and it's not fat. Even doing a vigorous workout can make you weigh more the next day due to the muscle holding on to water or something (I can't remember the science exactly)

Yes that's right

It's water retention.

@MakingPlans2025 @MightAsWellBeGretel Fair enough, valid points.

Thank you everyone ! I appreciate your advice . I'm too focussed on the scales. Logically I know I can't have gained3 lbs overnight . I need to stop flapping and feeling disappointed when this happens .

I always put on what seems like a kilo if I eat well in one day. It goes back down in the morning.
It's mostly water and obviously food that's being digested, but weigh yourself before breakfast, after a BM, nude, the next day or day after and it will be less.
It's perfectly normal.

Did you drink alcohol? Fizzy drinks?

When I used drink even one glass of wine it caused a water gain of 5 pounds. You could even see it in my puffy ankles

I use happy scale and weigh daily. I fluctuate a lot depending on how well I’ve slept, where I am in my cycle, what I’ve eaten or drunk, whether I have had a bowel movement etc.

I am a lifelong dieter and now on WLI and weigh everyday, I am just looking for a downward trend month on month.
I always way first thing in the morning after my first bathroom trip but before my coffee. I don't usually notice a big gain after a heavy day until the following morning (so 48 hours) and if I get the balance wrong and retain water I can gain 6lbs, always have it is just my make up.