“Reasons Your Weight Changes Throughout the Day”

Your Diet: The balance between energy in (eating) and energy out (burning off those calories) is why your weight goes up and down.  If you take in more than you burn, you gain weight -- sometimes right away. Losing that weight can be hard, too. To lose 1 pound, experts say, your calorie balance (eating minus burning off) needs to be 500 fewer than normal each day for a week.

How You Weigh Yourself: You can't just hop onto your bathroom scale and expect a spot-on measurement every time. The flooring your scale sits on (it should be on a hard surface), how you stand (weight even on both feet), and the clothes you wear (or don’t) need to be consistent.  If not, you may see wildly different numbers.

The Scale You Use: We all know you can jump onto a scale at the doctor’s office, drive back home, jump onto yours, and see a big difference. Scales differ. Digital ones are usually more accurate. Whichever type you use, make sure you zero out your scale before you climb on.

When You Weigh Yourself: Morning is usually the best time to get your most accurate reading. You’ve had some sleep, and you probably haven’t had much to eat or drink yet. As the day goes on, though, you will.  Expect your scale to top out after a big meal. If you brace yourself, it’s a little easier to take.

Exercise: Some athletes can drop 6% to 10% of their body weight after a single workout (that’s mostly in sweat). Your change may not be as drastic. But dropping a pound or two after you hit the gym isn't uncommon.

Your Health: Illness and disease can bring unexpected weight change. Cancer, diabetes, heart failure, and even the common cold can have ripple effects. If you lose your appetite or retain water, that may tip the scale one way or the other. Talk with your doctor if you see changes that you didn't expect.

The Medicine You’re Taking: Many drugs, including anti-inflammatories, antihistamines, and opiates, can cause quick weight loss. Other meds, like insulin, antidepressants, and some anti-epileptic drugs, could make you gain weight quickly. Always ask your doctor about side effects of the medicines you take, both prescription and over-the-counter.

Drinking Too Much Water: A quart of it weighs about 2 pounds. If you just drink it -- and you don’t exercise -- that’ll show up on the scale right away. That doesn't mean you should give up H2O. In the long run, drinking water (especially instead of high-calorie sugary beverages) can help you lose weight.

Not Drinking Enough Water: Somewhere between 55% and 75% of your body is water. Falling below your natural level can bring headaches or dry skin. If you fall too far under, you may have trouble thinking straight. You may also drop weight suddenly. If you don’t drink enough to replace what you lose through the day, the scale will show it. 

Your Daily Coffee: Studies show that your cup of java (or three) can help you keep your weight in check. Caffeine might help squelch your appetite or burn a few calories. But be careful: A high-calorie, high-fat drink might push the scale the other way, too.

Salt: Too much of it in your diet is bad for your heart. It can cause you to retain water, too. That can raise your weight. Plus, people with high-sodium diets tend to eat more processed foods and snacks. Those are all high in fat and calories. Too much of those can put pounds on in a hurry.

Bathroom Breaks -- or Lack Of: Your weight can change depending on how much you’ve used the bathroom. Eat a big meal, but don’t have a bowel movement? It shows. (It's called fecal weight.) Too much to drink can register on the scale, too, if you don’t pee. On the other end of the spectrum, diarrhea can bring dehydration and weight loss.

Your Sleep Habits: Studies show that how much -- or how little -- you sleep can change your weight.  For example, after sleepless nights, you may feel hungrier than usual. That can cause you to eat bigger meals, which can lead to scale shock later in the day. 

Your Age: You may not see your weight change on the day you turn 30 (or 40 or 50). But as we get older, many of us gain weight naturally (we may become less active or have other changes like menopause).  After about 60, you may start to lose your appetite (it may be harder to chew, or you may be ill or depressed). That can cause you to drop pounds. 

Your State of Mind: While you’re stepping on a scale a few times a day, know that changes happen. Don’t get too worked up about it. Weighing yourself every day to stay aware of those ups and downs can help you keep a healthy weight -- or at least stay within a couple pounds of it. 

Reviewed by Jennifer Robinson, MD on November 15, 2017

Diabetes Spectrum: “The Physiology of Body Weight Regulation: Are We Too Efficient for Our Own Good?”
Nutrition.gov (USDA.gov): “Interested in Losing Weight?”
CDC: “Measuring Children’s Height and Weight Accurately at Home.”
BMC Public Health: “Accuracy and consistency of weights provided by home bathroom scales.”
Mayo Clinic: “Diabetes.”
Nutrition Reviews: “Water, Hydration and Health.”
Mayo Clinic: “Unexpected weight loss.”
Canadian Medical Association Journal: “Unintentional weight loss in older adults.”
Drugs of Today: “Drug-induced weight gain.”
Science Notes: “How Much Does a Gallon of Water Weigh? Easy Calculation.”
Obesity: “Drinking water is associated with weight loss in overweight dieting women independent of diet and activity.”
American College of Sports Medicine Health & Fitness Journal: “The Hydration Equation: Update on Water Balance and Cognitive Performance.”
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition: “Fluid and electrolyte supplementation for exercise heat stress.”
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition: “Caffeine intake is related to successful weight loss maintenance.”
Mayo Clinic: “Weight loss.”
Goldenberg, K. Clinical Methods: The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations. 3rd edition, Butterworths, 1990.
Kidney International Supplements: “Cardiovascular and other effects of salt consumption.”
Nutrición Hospitalaria:  “Sodium intake may promote weight gain; results of the FANPE study in a representative sample of the adult Spanish population.��
Japanese Journal of Public Health: “Weight of feces and its daily fluctuation in young women. Part 1. A survey of the relation fecal weight and dietary habits and lifestyles.”
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: “Diarrhea.”
Sleep: “The Association Between Sleep Duration and Weight Gain in Adults: A 6-Year Prospective Study from the Quebec Family Study.”
Sleep.org: “How a Lack of Sleep Affects Your Body.”
Mayo Clinic: “Menopause weight gain: Stop the middle age spread.”
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition: “Body weight and weight change and their health implications for the elderly.”
The American Journal of the Medical Sciences: “Charting of daily weight pattern reinforces maintenance of weight reduction in moderately obese patients.”

Much Love, Dr.Shermaine #InformativeRead #PleaseShare #HealthyBodySoulAndSpirit #IWantYou2Live

The Goal is to Always Make You Aware of What Concerns Your Body, Soul and Spirit, So You Can Have Open, Honest and Frequent Discussions With Your Physicians and Counselors. You Can’t Treat or Cure What You Don’t Know is Sick.

"It's Not Selfish to Love Yourself, Take Care of Yourself and to Make Your Happiness a Priority. It's a Necessity." (Mandy Hale)

"Self-Care is Not Selfish. You Cannot Serve From an Empty Vessel." (Eleanor Brown)

The contents of the WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained on the WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites ("Content") are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites!

If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on the Sites. Reliance on any information provided by WebMD, WebMD employees, others appearing on the Site at the invitation of WebMD, and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine or other visitors to the Sites is solely at your own risk.