If initial weight loss is water... is initial weight gain??

puddy

Having lost some weight recently, I went on holiday last week to the West Country. Cue loads of pub lunches, dinners out, wine and even champagne.

So, I havent weighed myself as have got back on track today and will give it a week to put it right. But its often said that initial weight loss is 'just water'. Is that the same for initial weight gain? Is the extra weight Im sure I can see around my face, just water??

murphydog999

There is no black and white answer to that I'm afraid. Water weight can fluctuate on a daily basis, especially around your period - anything from 1 to 10lbs can be gained. Water retention, can be a product of what you eat and how much, or how little you drink. However, if you feel bloated around your tummy and have significantly changed your diet it is possible. The only way you could find out for sure is to be scientifically weighed; so the answer to your question is both yes and no!!

puddy

i have entered the foods i ate over the past week as best i could. probably have over estimated things to be sure and the approximate calculation is that i would have put on about 1.5lb actual weight, there is therefore probably also water on top of that, so i darent weigh myself until next monday for sure, or i'll get depressed!

jenniewb

I doubt you will find the answer after a single weigh-in, its best to take note of your weight for a few days or weeks to notice any trends, it could be an odd day, it could be water, it could be muscle gain/glycogen or even body fat, there really is no simple answer and really the best way to tell is through time.

I would say focus on the inches you see go. This is the easiest way to tell as weight itself is so fickle and so easily changed. You only have to have a tall glass of water/cup of coffee and you've gained half a kilo just like that! Eat slightly more salt, eat slightly more carbs you retain that little bit more water, change all that and you lose that little bit more water. Stress, sleepless nights, TOTM, even age can contribute. Its just so hard to tell a one-off weight result, keep up with eating healthily, balanced and keep up any exercise (as long as its not excessive!) and the truth will come out in the end.

Try not to fixate too much on a number on the scales, its far too simplistic: if you were losing body weight and then worked on gaining muscle when you had lost enough weight, your body size may not change, you'd become leaner, look more defined but your weight would be likely to increase: now most people would rather look good then soley be able to say they are x weight. Fat loss is more then a number on the scales.