Gain or lose multiple pounds in a single day? No you didn't
I've been a longtime user of calorie count but never ventured into the forums. I just wanted to point out that you did not gain or lose even a pound in a single day because I can't stand these people that weigh themselves every single day and worry about the results every day. You would either need a 3500 calorie deficit(good luck with that, ha) in order to lose a pound in a day or you would need to eat 3500 calorie in excess of your maintainence calories. Your severe "weight loss" and "weight gain" is a result of gaining/losing water weight due to the amount of sodium you consume, and just food that is taking too long to digest, muscle growth(if you are lifting), etc. Honestly, I have seen my daily weight fluctuate up to EIGHT pounds, and guess what? I don't care! I sure as hell didn't eat 28,000 calories over my maintainence calories. Don't stress about your day to day weight, people. If you do, you will often become discouraged and lose motivation. What I would suggest is to not rely on the scale so much, but instead, rely on how your clothes fit, if your face is slimming down, if you feel better in general. I know that this gets brought up in many topics, but I just wanted to get that out there because obviously some people do not understand this. Good luck with the weight loss! 
*two thumbs up*
That's why I try to weigh myself bi-weekly. Actually my digital scale broke a month ago so I don't even know how much I weigh but I can tell my body is changing and to me that's all that matters.
I couldn't have said it better my self. I encourage any one trying to loose weight to continue. I use to weigh 248 pounds back in 2004 I am currently at 193. I got married in 2005 and since then have had two beautiful girls and I am at 193. My goal is to be between 110 and 116. I just continue to watch what I eat and continue to work out, I did not say it was easy but it sure is rewarding when you try a pair of pants that did not fit and they now fit just right. I live in Henderson, Colorado and I am looking for a work-out buddy, let me know if there is someone out there.
Original Post by gloriamd:
I couldn't have said it better my self. I encourage any one trying to loose weight to continue. I use to weigh 248 pounds back in 2004 I am currently at 193. I got married in 2005 and since then have had two beautiful girls and I am at 193. My goal is to be between 110 and 116. I just continue to watch what I eat and continue to work out, I did not say it was easy but it sure is rewarding when you try a pair of pants that did not fit and they now fit just right. I live in Henderson, Colorado and I am looking for a work-out buddy, let me know if there is someone out there.
I'm assuming your 5'2 based on your goal weight (That's my goal too!)
<standing ovation>well said...
thank you
i think people trying to lose weight should weigh themselves every 2-3 days
people who are trying to maintain should do it every 1-2 weeks
I think people should do whatever works for them.
By definition, if it is working, you are not on the boards wondering why you gained (or lost) X pounds in a day.
I weigh once a day, first thing in the morning, log it, and forget it until month end when I can see how my trend line is going. This is working great for me. I understand it doesn't work out for others, so they should do as they please.
I think it's fine to weigh every day as long as you don't stress over the natural fluctuations. Most people don't understand how the body holds water though our why, so they get stressed over the scale. I was carb loading for a race last week and gained 6 lbs in 3 days, my bf gained 10 - but it was mostly water weight (binding to the carbs) and it comes off just as quickly after the race when you resume regular eating.
Original Post by dkenworthy:
.... I weigh once a day, first thing in the morning, log it, and forget it until month end when I can see how my trend line is going. This is working great for me. I understand it doesn't work out for others, so they should do as they please.
I do the same thing. Weigh everyday, record it, get on with my day. Some people can do it, some can't. I've seen my weight go up and down by a pound or two in the course of a week, in the course of a day. I get on with my day.
I don't obsess over it because I keep track of what I eat, I know what medication I'm taking and I've educated myself about nutrition and calories (as best as I can be).
I'm not doing this expecting results overnight, that doesn't work for me. And if I do see results overnight, so what. When it's consistent, then I'm happy. 
Like dkenworthy, I weigh daily (or daily-ish) precisely *because* of fluctuations. If I weigh myself weekly, and one week my weigh-in happens to be on a "down" day, while the next is on an "up" day, then I have no way of knowing what was going on in between those points - and it's easier to gain actual weight in a week than in a day, so there's no way to tell the difference between real weight and fluctuations.
With daily weigh-ins, on the other hand, the little blips average out, the pattern is evident, and I know that if my weight keeps rising steadily over the course of a full week or two (rather than zigzagging slightly as it would with water weight), I should consider re-evaluating what I'm doing.
Maybe I'm just a big geek, but I firmly believe that more data points make for better data. ;c)
if i work out a lot i can easily have a calorie defecit = .5 lb a day
Original Post by nassira:
Maybe I'm just a big geek, but I firmly believe that more data points make for better data. ;c)
x1000
This is why it is insane when some people (not the OP) insist that weighing daily is less accurate.
However, as dkenworthy wisely notes, people should do what works for them!
Original Post by nassira:
Like dkenworthy, I weigh daily (or daily-ish) precisely *because* of fluctuations. If I weigh myself weekly, and one week my weigh-in happens to be on a "down" day, while the next is on an "up" day, then I have no way of knowing what was going on in between those points - and it's easier to gain actual weight in a week than in a day, so there's no way to tell the difference between real weight and fluctuations.
With daily weigh-ins, on the other hand, the little blips average out, the pattern is evident, and I know that if my weight keeps rising steadily over the course of a full week or two (rather than zigzagging slightly as it would with water weight), I should consider re-evaluating what I'm doing.
Maybe I'm just a big geek, but I firmly believe that more data points make for better data. ;c)
Exactly. I weigh myself every morning and enter it here and don't worry about the fluctuations. Sometimes I hop on at the end of the day, too. I don't stress that I weigh more at the end of the day, it just reminds me that we fluctuate all day long.
On the other hand, if I only weighed myself once a week and it happened to be the morning after a big meal (when I'd be up) or a hangover morning (down, due to dehydration) I'd be off.
Original Post by nassira:Maybe I'm just a big geek, but I firmly believe that more data points make for better data. ;c)
Exactly. I also feel that by weighing myself frequently, I have a better understanding of what foods and actions cause water retention, and I've noticed that my weight loss follows a predictable, non-linear pattern. Maybe I'm geeky too, but I find it really interesting.
I think that if I weighed myself only once a week and it happened to land on a "heavy" day, I might be worried as I wouldn't have such a complete understanding of my own weight loss patterns.
Original Post by slunicka:
Original Post by nassira:Maybe I'm just a big geek, but I firmly believe that more data points make for better data. ;c)
Exactly. I also feel that by weighing myself frequently, I have a better understanding of what foods and actions cause water retention, and I've noticed that my weight loss follows a predictable, non-linear pattern. Maybe I'm geeky too, but I find it really interesting.
I think that if I weighed myself only once a week and it happened to land on a "heavy" day, I might be worried as I wouldn't have such a complete understanding of my own weight loss patterns.
^this
I did freak out on a 5lb "fluctuation" that lasted 5 days, so I did have to learn that some fluid retention takes more than a day to reverse itself. (it was NOT TTOTM). Now even those that last a few days I take in stride, because the average is still looking okay. (not great, cause my deficit hasn't been what I have been aiming for, haha, but not going up - so, WIN)
I think it's best to weigh once every 2 weeks, it shows trends. I think weekly weighing carries the same problem as daily weighing.
I think it's best to weigh during full moons and when the tide is high. ;)
Original Post by mrsdagle:
I think it's best to weigh once every 2 weeks, it shows trends. I think weekly weighing carries the same problem as daily weighing.
Yay, I'm not the only one!
I figure I weigh what I weigh.. I mean even with fluctuations I should only be +/- a few pounds usually. I like to weigh once in the morning and record it here. Even if my weight is bouncing around, the trend line is almost always trending downwards which is good.
To each their own, for sure. Numbers do not always reflect progress. This is my lifestyle now so I am not really stressing each day what the scale reflects. If over time its not moving I might make some adjustments, but in general I more curious than obsessed. :)
