HELP!!! If it is not actual weight, then what is it????

A part of me wishes I had not done it but I am not going to beat myself up. What is done is done, time to move on. I took a trip to Italy and ate all the wrong stuff. things I rarely eat, lots of cake, biscuits, croissants, milk, a burger and a kebab. Generally, my meals evolved around that. For the last 2years, sugar was not a part of my diet but for the last 5 days, I went overboard. I ate cake even when I was not hungry and not in small portions. So I came back and I have put on 8 pounds in the last 10 days (I also had my period in that time). I KNOW it says that you can't gain so much weight in such a short time, but it is showing physically as well. In my face, waistline, arms, my shoulder bones... I feel heavy as well. I even asked my friends and they confirmed my fears. I am up from 117 to 125. Can anyone please shed some light on this? I thought it would show only on the scale... well, no such luck.
I traveled with friends who are overweight and don't care what they eat. It was a major influence as well. 

It takes roughly 3500 extra calories to gain a pound of fat.  Right now your weight has increased mainly due to water retention and it should go back down.

I sort of understand that, but why do I look fat? It is physically showing and that is what's nagging me...

when you retain water, you get bloated. drink drink drink and it should get better!!

Water weight!  If you eat crappy then you will generally pack on the weight...from water retention.  Eat a ton of watermelon, that will help shed the water weight!

You also probably gained a couple pounds.

Original Post by feanor:

You also probably gained a couple pounds.

 Agreed with this--if you really ate TERRIBLY for five days, you might have put on two-three pounds...EIGHT however, is very unlikely and is most likely due to water, which would explain the 'heaviness' as well--it's bloat from the water.

I did the same exact thing when I vacationed last fall!!!  I came back from a 7 day trip to Mexico and was 10lbs heavier...which I also was on my period during the trip!!!  After being back from the trip for one week, I lost the 10lbs and 2 extra on the side.  It must of been all water weight, I don't know.  All i did was stuff my face all day with the "all you can eat all day every day buffet" and pina coloda's!!!  I hope you have the same luck!!!  Don't be too hard on yourself.

As has been said, it's a mix of real weight and water weight. The water weight will come off, and if you go back to eating the right way you'll lose the real weight, too, and maybe a little more because you kicked your metabolism up for a time by consuming so much daily for a week.

(ug. going to france for 5 days soon. it sounds scary but phord is right - water and A BIT OF fat maybe)

You guys are so right! It's been two days now and guess what? 4 pounds gone! I am so glad!! The first day, I fasted because I once heard a nutritionist (a real one ) on television say that fasting helps to detoxify and cleanse the body and that he does it at least once a week. So I figured it was a good way to start. So on day one, I fasted (but ended up having 1000 calories when the day ended). I had lots of water as well and the next morning, 3 pounds were gone. Yesterday, I had about 1260. This morning, I shed another pound. Somehow, life doesn't seem so bad and the bloating is gradually subsiding. I was so scared it was real (and ugly) weight and wondering, what am I going to do...

Thanks A LOT!!!

I probably put on a couple of pounds, but all the same, seeing those 4 go, is more than enough to make my day. We walked a lot though. All day, everyday! So may be, just may be I put on only a pound...