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This is perhaps why everyone has been telling us not to weigh ourselves daily. The numbers just simply won’t be accurate.
Even if your diet and exercise routine hasn’t changed from one day to the next, it’s still very possible for your weight to fluctuate each day. Michelle May, M.D. and founder of the Am I Hungry? Mindful Eating Program, makes it clear that our bodies are constantly changing. “As long as we’re alive,” she says, “our cells, tissues, and organs are constantly exchanging substances with the environment, which causes those fluctuations.”
If the number on the scale is telling you that you’ve gained weight – stop, don’t fret. There’s no way for your body to have gained over a pound of fat overnight.
What’s more likely is that your body is changing how it processes waste and retains certain food substances. Eating more sodium-dense foods may cause your body to retain more water as it maintains a specific level of sodium in your bloodstream. This water retention may cause your weight to “increase.” But this weight is also easily lost once you eat more food and drink more water to dilute the excess salt.
Another cause of increased weight may also be the foods you’ve consumed. Most healthy foods like fruit and vegetables contain large amounts of water which your body collects, causing your weight to look like its increased. It’s important to remember though – this water won’t remain on your body. It simply needs time to process everything and flush the water out before returning to its usual weight.
For women, your weight changes might also be related to your hormonal changes as your body goes through its monthly cycle. May explains that certain hormones, like progesterone, can cause weight shifts throughout your cycle (particularly in the days leading up to your period), so always keep one eye on the calendar.
It’s important for everyone to remember that day-to-day weight changes are not a reason to be panicked about your weight goals. Subtle shifts in weight are natural and to-be-expected of the human body.
This is perhaps why many trainers, when asked about weight maintenance, tell their clients to weigh themselves at the beginning of the day, just once a week. These spaced-out measurements are more accurate in documenting weight trends than is weighing oneself daily – and are also a much healthier mental choice.
