Random weight loss.. help!

I have been plateuaing for a while. I increased exercise a bit. This morning I weighed in at 194.5 and I was like "sweet, I've lost 3 pounds" even though I figured it was somewhat water retention because I was 197.5 yesterday. I weighed myself more over the course of the day. I ate normally, drank a bunch of water.. and now the scale says 191.5 since I jumped on it out of curiosity. But that means that in 24 hours my weight has gone 6 lbs since yesterday! Whats going on?

Im eating 1200 cals a day btw and compensate when I exercise by eating more.

weight fluctuates over the course of the day due to fluid retention and contents of the digestive tract.  That's why it's not a good idea to weigh often.  Try weighing only once a week, at the same time of day, wearing the same clothes (or no clothes) and record that number, even if you feel it doesn't reflect accurately.  What you'll see is the progression over time.  The green trend line on the chart will tell you if you're on a downward trend or if you've leveled off.

i totally agree. Weighing every day is never good. It messes with your mind, because it either brings short lived happiness or short lived disappointment. it is just not worth the hassle to weigh daily.

I weigh my self several  times a day just out of curosity.  My morning weight is the one I record as I lose 2-8 pounds every night depending allot on how much soduim I consumed.  Sodium and water weight can be very deceiving if you don't understand how it works.  Over the holidays I gained 7 pounds due to eating high salt ham, stuffing etc. but my calories remained about the same as my normal intake. 

Dec 25-30 (6 days) = 6 pound gain << This would alarm many people
Daily Calorie Intake - 3,218 cals
Daily Sodium Intake - 6,320 mg
Daily Cholesterol Intake - 345 mg
Daily Fiber Intake - 33 grams

Jan 1-5 (5 days)= 4 pound loss
Daily Calorie Intake - 2,948 cals
Daily Sodium Intake - 3,988 mg
Daily Cholesterol Intake - 181 mg
Daily Fiber Intake - 49 grams

     My calorie intake reduced 270 x  5 = 1350 which is less than 1/2 pound
for the full 5 days; My activity level was about the same.
As I was gaining 1 pound every day I know it was merely water weight
and would soon be gone.  Had I continued with the high sodium most
likely I would have continued to gain a pound a day or five more pounds
minus the 1/2 pound less food but instead I lost 4 pounds.  A net
difference of 8 1/2 pounds which I strongly believe was mostly water
weight.
     I posted this just to help some people better understand how the scale
can scare you.  Just always remember a pound is 3500 calories so to
really gain a pound you have to eat 3500 calories plus the amount that
your body burns off.  I've also learned that if I have high sodium late in the
day my weight is higher the following morning, anther reason to take the
scale number lightly.  Over time you will know by the trend as pointed out
above by others.
Jeff

Hmm i guess my sodium intake has been down recently. Blah. I never know what to think.

Thanks Jeff, that has really helped me understand my weight fluctuations. I mean, I got on the scale this morning and I had put on 1kg (about 2.2lb) But I have eaten well under my limit. Then I looked at the amount of sodium and water I have drunk over the last two days and they were very high due to the hot weather (water) and I ate Pre-made frozen fish for tea (very high in Sodium). It makes sense now. I think I will check again tomorrow.

Glad to be able to help.  Drink lots of water as it helps allot at cleaning out the salt and making you feel full sooner.

Jeff

Oooh! Don't weigh yourself more than once per day. Do it when you first get up as that is when you will be at your lowest (before the coffees, food etc).  Just as one of the other members stated, your weight will fluctuate like crazy throughout the day as a result of the amount of fluid you retain etc. Better yet, consider avoiding the scale completely for a while.  Focus your energies and attention on the number of calories you are consuming and the amount of exercise/intensity of your workouts.  Then try to be conscious of how your body FEELS and how your clothes FIT rather than on the numbers on the scale. You'll soon pick up on the right things to do and the things to avoid as your body will respond. That's what's worked for me.  Remember it's a lifestyle-you're in this for the long haul if success is what you are looking for.   Hang in there!