Is gaining 10 pounds in a week a lot?

Author: Anderson Ward  |  Last update: Monday, September 8, 2025

Gained 10 pounds in a month? Or yet, gained 10 pounds in a week? Now that's cause for concern. This kind of totally unexplained weight gain can signal more serious health problems such as a hormone condition or a reaction to an Rx.

Is it normal to gain 10 lbs in a week?

  • Gaining 10 pounds in a week is highly unlikely and generally not recommended for healthy weight gain.
  • A safe and sustainable rate of weight gain is generally considered to be 1-2 pounds per week.
  • Gaining 10 pounds in a week is highly unlikely and not recommended for healthy weight gain.

Is 10 pounds in a week too much?

However, weight loss is not always consistent and people's experiences differ. Losing weight too fast may be unsafe. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends people looking to lose weight aim to lose 1–2 pounds per week for safe, healthy weight loss.

Why does the scale say I gained 10 pounds in one week?

Water and glycogen retention. Freshly damaged muscle really likes to soak up and store more glycogen and water and 5-10 pounds of sudden ``scale weight'' is absolutely normal.

Is it normal to fluctuate 10 pounds in a week?

Your body (everyone's bodies) generally can fluctuate up to 5-10 pounds in a single day just based on eating, urination, bowel movements, water retention, etc. In addition, people who do IF often have particularly wide swings as all of your eating happens in a specific period of time.

I Tried the Military Diet | Lose 10lb in 3 days?! *results* | 2024

Why did I suddenly gain 10 pounds?

Weight gain and short-term fluctuations may happen for a variety of reasons, such as aging or making lifestyle and dietary changes. However, fast weight gain can be a sign of an underlying health condition, such as a problem with the thyroid, kidneys, or heart.

How to flush out water weight?

  1. Exercise Regularly. Daily exercise provides several health benefits, including preventing water retention. ...
  2. Drink More Water. Drinking water to reduce water weight sounds counterintuitive, but it helps. ...
  3. Manage Salt Intake. ...
  4. Cut Carbs. ...
  5. Focus on Certain Foods and Herbs. ...
  6. Try Supplements. ...
  7. Up Your Caffeine Intake.

What is considered rapid weight gain?

Putting on five pounds in a week, or two to three pounds in 24 hours, is a good reason to talk to your doctor if nothing's changed in your day-to-day. “If you can't get to the bottom of unexplained weight gain, talk to your doctor to make sure there's nothing serious going on,” Dr.

How long does water weight last?

How Long Does Water Weight Last? The span can vary depending on the cause. Temporary water weight caused by high sodium intake or premenstrual syndrome can last a few days to a week. Permanent water weight caused by underlying health conditions may last longer and require medical treatment.

Why am I gaining weight if I barely eat?

If you're asking yourself, “Why am I gaining weight when I barely eat,” several factors may be at play. Your body may be holding onto fat stores if your eating habits are inconsistent or restricted. Or, your weight gain may be the effect of a sedentary lifestyle, medical condition, or long-term stress.

What is the military 3 day diet?

The 3-Day Diet, also called the Military Diet, is a fad diet that claims that by drastically cutting calories for three days, you can drop 10 pounds in a week. It also encourages you to lower the amount of calories you eat for four more days after the initial three-day plan.

Can you notice 10 lb weight gain?

It depends on your height, and the way your body stores fat. If you are relatively tall, then ten pounds won't be that noticeable because most people tend to gain weight relatively evenly over their whole body. The more surface area, the more chance of it not being concentrated in one spot, and therefore less obvious.

What diseases cause rapid weight gain?

Conditions That Can Cause Weight Gain
  • 1/13. Hypothyroidism. ...
  • 2/13. Depression. ...
  • 3/13. Insomnia. ...
  • 4/13. Menopause. ...
  • 5/13. Cushing's Disease. ...
  • 6/13. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. ...
  • 7/13. Congestive Heart Failure. ...
  • 8/13. Sleep Apnea.

Why am I gaining weight in thighs and buttocks as a female?

Estrogen is one of the leading hormonal causes of thigh fat because it causes increased levels of fat cells which cause fat deposits to form in and around the thighs. Age can also be a contributing factor because aging results in a slower metabolism, which makes it more difficult to eliminate fat.

What drains water weight?

Tips for getting rid of water weight include reducing sodium and carbohydrate intake, drinking more water, exercising, and taking Vitamin B-6 and magnesium oxide supplements.

Can you lose 20 lbs of water weight?

You can lose up to 20 pounds of water weight in one week after modifying your diet and starting an exercise routine. Trinh Le, MPH, RD, claims that up to five pounds of water may be shed in a single day.

Why did I gain 10 pounds in a week?

There are many possible causes of rapid weight gain, including anxiety and depression, insomnia, certain medications, and hormonal disorders like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). A healthcare provider can help you determine the cause of your sudden weight gain.

What is a hormonal belly?

Hormonal belly is when a person gains weight around the abdomen due to hormonal fluctuations. This could be due to changes in thyroid, adrenal, reproductive, or other hormone levels.

What does cortisol weight gain look like?

Without treatment, Cushing syndrome can cause facial roundness, weight gain around the middle body and upper back, thinning of the arms and legs, easy bruising, and stretch marks. Cushing syndrome happens when the body has too much of the hormone cortisol for a long time.

How to lose belly fat fast?

8 Ways to Lose Belly Fat and Live a Healthier Life
  1. Try curbing carbs instead of fats. ...
  2. Think eating plan, not diet. ...
  3. Keep moving. ...
  4. Lift weights. ...
  5. Become a label reader. ...
  6. Move away from processed foods. ...
  7. Focus on the way your clothes fit more than reading a scale. ...
  8. Hang out with health-focused friends.

How do I know if it's water weight?

Press with your finger on your legs or hands and if the imprint remains or leaves an impression that lasts more than a few seconds, its water weight. Ideally, if you press, it should come back to its original shape immediately.

How to lose 4 pounds of water weight overnight?

4 ways to lose water weight immediately
  1. Drink more water. It might be a little difficult to believe but drinking more water can actually help you shed water weight. ...
  2. Reduce intake of salt. Too much salt or sodium in your diet may be contributing to water retention. ...
  3. Consume fewer carbs. ...
  4. Exercise.

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