Daily weight changes are expected, usually between 2 to 4 pounds in either direction. Water retention, digestion, exercise, temperature, hormones, medications, and illness can cause these changes. Knowing what's typical can help you spot changes that might need attention.
Some weight fluctuation is normal
Normal daily weight fluctuation is often tied to water retention changes. For example, carbohydrate-rich meals and high-sodium foods prompt your body to retain water, causing your weight to increase temporarily. Exercise sheds some water weight through sweating.
Rapid weight gain or swelling in particular areas of the body (edema) can be due to fluid retention. According to the American Heart Association , weight gain of more than 2–3 pounds (lb) over 24 hours or 5 lb in a week could be a sign of heart failure.
Anything, from a little extra sodium in your diet that caused you to retain additional water, food still in your digestive track, or a very dry night that caused you to dehydrate can all cause your weight to fluctuate by a few pounds.
How did this happen? Since most of us can't eat so much in a day or two that we actually gain a couple of kilos a day, a dramatic increase in weight could be due to water retention. Eating, drinking, urinating, bowel movements, exercise everything can affect your body's water composition and, therefore, weight.
It's common for your weight to fluctuate up to 4-7lbs (2-3 kgs) per day! This is influenced by what food you eat and when as well as what you drink, the exercise you do and sleep can even play a role.
So even though you may be losing fat, you're gaining muscle. You might feel slimmer, even as the number on the scale rises. “The scale doesn't tell the entire story,” said exercise physiologist Christopher Mohr, PhD, RD. “Since muscle and fat take up different volume, they look very different on the body.”
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.
It is normal to lose weight overnight, meaning that your weight in the morning will often be lower than your weight in the evening. The amount of weight you lose overnight will depend on how much you sweat at night and how dehydrated you are in the morning.
No, two pounds is not noticeable on pretty much anyone.
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.
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.
Drinking water can temporarily boost your metabolism. According to the National Institute of Health, drinking 500 ml of water can increase your metabolic rate by 30 percent for about an hour. A higher metabolism means your body burns calories faster, which is crucial for weight loss.
“Your skin is the largest organ in the body and absorbs fluid easily,” says Dr. Keith Kantor, a leading nutritionist and CEO of the Nutritional Addiction Mitigation Eating and Drinking (NAMED) program. “After a swim or a shower, your body can absorb 1 to 3 cups of water, increasing your true weight by a few pounds.”
But many health care providers agree that a medical evaluation is called for if you lose more than 5% of your weight in 6 to 12 months, especially if you're an older adult. For example, a 5% weight loss in someone who is 160 pounds (72 kilograms) is 8 pounds (3.6 kilograms).
If your weight has increased within a day or two, it's unlikely that it's fat. Weight gain caused by fat happens gradually when you consume more calories than you burn off. If the weight is mostly around your tummy, ankles and fingers, the chances are, it's down to water retention.
The rule of thumb, Fernstrom says, is that losing 8 to 10 pounds translates to going down one size. Still, if you lose "up to 15 pounds, you may be OK in your old size," she says. But putting off buying new clothes until you really need them doesn't work for everyone.
Muscle is denser (meaning a lot less fluffy) than fat, says Dr. Calabrese. Put another way, 10 pounds of muscle takes up a lot less space than 10 pounds of fat. So, as you start working out regularly and building strength, the new muscle you build may eventually weigh more than the fat you've burnt off.
Water weight is not usually a cause for concern, but it can be uncomfortable and recurring. Reducing salt and carbohydrate intake, keeping hydrated, and frequently exercising are all good ways to lose water weight and prevent it from returning.