Hi love! Take a deep breath, you did NOT gain 3 pounds overnight, the scale isn't telling you the whole truth! Let's dive into the topic of weight gain, more specifically, the quick and stressful spikes that show up on the scale overnight.
If you follow me on IG, you may have seen my stories on this topic, or you probably saw my latest reel that highlights the reasons for quick "weight gain". If not, let's dive into it and why I feel it is SO important to know a little more about your body, especially as women.
I put weight gain in parentheses because the gain I'm discussing is not real weight in the form of fat or muscle. When we experience quick weight gain (in the span of 1-2 days), it is usually the reaction from one of the following;
Sodium spikes! The amazing two nights in a row of eating chips and guac and pizza have caused your body to hold on to water to maintain a level of salt in your bloodstream. You will have to be patient, but your body will flush it out!
A sluggish gut! If you aren't having a bowel movement once a day, the extra built up waste can literally be weighing you down.
Boozing it up! It happens and we all know that drinking=dehydration. We typically just focus on our throbbing headaches, but the dehydration can result in water retention, once again casing temporary weigh gain.
HORMONES! Yep, you're starting your period tomorrow and the scale jumps! You typically will see the scale shift right before your menstral cycle begins. It also doesn't help that we typically bloat and feel full during our periods.
These are all very normal reasons to see quick, and temporary weight gain. The amazing news is you can do something about them or in the case of Aunt Flow visiting us, the weight will go back down as soon as out hormones level out.
What can you do?
Drink water...and then, more water! It is super important for digestion and flushing out toxins.
Fiber is your friend. Along with water, to help your digestion, be mindful of fiber in your diet. You can do this by getting 2-3 servings of fruits and vegetables a day.
Cut back on the booze. There is no real way to prevent dehydration leading to temporary weight gain if you drink. If drinking becomes too frequent, you may also end up gaining real, long term weight. The access calories from alcohol adds up quickly and can put you over your maintenance calories, leading to fat accumulation.
Step away from the scale. What try to teach my clients is that the scale isn't a reliable tool to track your progress. A lot of times, the scale causes us to have anxiety or give a feeling of failure. I never want you to feel that way. The number on the scale is in no way related to your self worth or how you should feel about yourself. Step away my friend.
The scale should be used maybe once a month, just to check in. Beyond that, I want you to learn to listen to your body. That includes your hunger cues and sleeping cycles, but I'll save that for another post.
So the next time you do step on the scale and it shows you've gained 5 pounds in 24hours, take a deep breath and really think about what is going on with your body. Because more than likely, it is just temporary! If you need help with nutrition advice, water consumption levels or workout plans, send me a message. I am here to help!
xM