I have major water weight fluctuations. For example. Yesterday morning, I weighed 252 lbs. Later at night, I went down to 246 lbs. This morning I was 251 lbs.

As a rule, I record my weight once a week and a few minutes after waking up. But I'm just wondering. Are water weight fluctuations common to all people who start to diet, regardless of how much they have to lose? Or os it just for heavier people? Also, does the fluctuation ever stop or does it keep on happening throughout your weight loss journey?

I love this topic! Water is a fact of human life. You'll always have fluctuations. You are doing the right thing by weighing yourself at a consistent time and circumstance.
Now here's my thing about water. One liter (a fat quart) of water weighs one kilogram (2.2 lbs). That's the basis of the metric system. So one little bottle of water weighs a pound. Easy as snip, you drink it back and you're one pound heavier. One hefty mug of coffee ... the same.
Have a look at all the square acerage of you. There's lots of room to add a coupla bottles of water ... that's some weight!
Think about the last time both your hands and feet felt puffy. You could easily be storing a few pounds of water.

We all have to live with it. i aviod the scale at all cost during TOM. OK i don't succed on avoiding the scale but I will say it does not like me that time of month I have seen it go up 6 pounds. In short it will never end.lol

SusanB- thank you sooooo much for the info. I never knew that 1 liter of water was equal to 1 kilogram! How educational I absolutely love the sharing of information that goes on here.

I think from now on, I will try and avoid getting up for a drink of water the night before weigh ins

Thank you for the answers And that info really did help, SusanB. Also, I am going through PMS so that probably has a lot to do with my body holding on to the excess water.

I actually make sure that I drink water before weigh ins. I feel as if it helps to flush things out. Plus, I figure when I use the toilet in the morning that it will come out anyways. Maybe because I take in a lot of sodium, but I really need the water to make sure my weight goes down.

Actually the more water you drink the more will flush out of your system. Not drinking will dehydrate your body causing it to hold on to all it can.

Beth

Yup, drink lots to flush out what's already there. In my work, we talk about fluid balance. You have to have some in you. Does anyone remember what percentage we are? The trick is to keep your fluid levels even.
Salt, hormones .... flush 'em!

But we need to be aware that a little puffiness can make a huge difference on the scale. We need to see and realise that so we don't become discouraged by a number that is not reflecting fat.