So I generally weigh myself in the mornings. I just weighed myself (at 9pm, after a big meal) and I'm on my period. SOMEONE tell me it is possible to be carrying around 6lbs of water weight that will go away tomorrow/after my period.
I can't believe I am back to 161. This is so upsetting!
Never, EVER weigh yourself at the end of the day. The results are NOT TRUE! Weigh RIGHT when you get up in the morning, after using the bathroom and before doing ANYTHING else.
Yes I second that ElanaRose.. You should never weigh a night.. You have been eating all day and drinking.. Especially not after a big meal!! I weigh everyday or every other, in the morning, after I pee first thing, NAKED!!
Agreed! I would never ever step on the scale in the evening...also don't get on if I've had a salty meal the night before....My weight isn't accurate at that point and so there is absolutely no reason I can think of to put myself in the position of working myself up and getting upset. For me upset=emotional eating danger zone.
that right... days before and during the period, we can weight 3 to 6 pounds more because of water retain... Don't worry about it... Im sure you did not gain 6 pounds overnight... just keep going and do what elanarose and hairchick are telling you... just weigh yourself in the morning before doing anything else.
Good Luck!!!
Why are you weighing? Is it to see a trend? So following the scientific method, one changes one variable, keeping others constant to note a trend.
I weigh daily for this very reason. Always at the same time after the same routine. if I changed up the time, routine, clothing, how would I know what my body was doing?
I generally only weigh in the mornings due to everything that everyone has mentioned. And because of that, I've never seen how much my weight can fluctuate throughout the day. I'm just entirely shocked that I'm up 6lbs since yesterday morning!!
Anyway, thanks for the advice everyone. I will forget tonight's weight and try again tomorrow morning.
Sometimes it's like a bad connection on the phone- ya just gotta hang up and try again. My scale said I gained 5lb last night, and I have no idea why (same time, same clothes, not on my period). But I'm sure it's wrong. So I'll weigh again tomorrow. You should too. Who knows what it will read tomorrow.
I weigh in the morning and at night. But I also know that sometimes my weight is going to be up as much as five pounds at night, so I'm OK with that. I find it an interesting experiment, and like what it has taught me about my body. Usually, it's largely water weight from, well, water, but sometimes I'll have a high-sodium meal, and sometimes I allow myself to eat more than I normally do and so I know that will show up on the scale, too. The point is, I expect these things and can handle them. If the scale gives you heart palpitations, you might want to weigh less often. But no matter how often you weigh, you should always keep in mind that your weight fluctuates constantly due to food and drink, sodium, that time of the month, dehydration, and so on and so forth. So, if you weigh once a week, and your weight is up a couple of pounds or even more from last week at that time, that doesn't necessarily mean you have gained any "real" weight at all. You may even have lost it.
Last edited by Petite Powerhouse; 06-11-2010 at 12:32 PM.
Anyway, thanks for the advice everyone. I will forget tonight's weight and try again tomorrow morning.
Don't worry if your weight is still a little up in the morning. Personally, I have never known people our size to lose six pounds between going to bed and getting up in the morning, even if the weight is primarily due to a boatload of water you drank and a big dinner. If it's due to sodium or that time of the month or some such, it can take longer still.
Last edited by Petite Powerhouse; 06-11-2010 at 12:33 PM.
SOMEONE tell me it is possible to be carrying around 6lbs of water weight that will go away tomorrow/after my period.
It will go away after your period.
I have found that thinking about water weight & fat weight in its true identity helps me. For instance I ALWAYS gain weight during my period. ALWAYS. There have been times when I (~gasp!~) gained up to 13 pounds of water weight. Good googly moogly! I even FELT "sloshy" when I walked.
But it helps me to "do the math".... 1 pound = 3500 calories. You gained 6 pounds "overnight".... meaning you had to have eaten 21,000 calories!!!! And I bet you didn't eat that much, huh?
Doing the math helps me realize that the extra weight I put on "so suddenly" is truly JUST water weight, & yeah, it'll go away in a few days. WHEW! Disaster averted!
Don't worry if your weight is still a little up in the morning. Personally, I have never known people our size to lose six pounds between going to bed and getting up in the morning, even if the weight is primarily due to a boatload of water you drank and a big dinner. If it's due to sodium or that time of the month or some such, it can take longer still.
I second this.... If I have a high sodium meal or something I wait a few days before weighing myself... one day is not always enough for me to drop the water weight, and I'll get too discouraged if I get on too soon!
You have to mentally prepare yourself for when its your TOM. You have to understand not everything the scale says during this time is true, and to keep going and you will definately see the difference when it's done.
My scale jumped up two pounds this morning, and my period started. I also got a little too friendly with a bag of ketchup rice chips last night so I know that's a part of it. You said yourself you had a big meal, so that's what your seeing on the scale.
I gained 6lbs OVERNIGHT.
always get the best reading!
Good googly moogly! I even FELT "sloshy" when I walked. 
