how is this weight gain possible??

[Anonymous]

I get on the scale every day because I'm an active duty Marine and the number is all that matters to them. My normal weight fluctuation is between 148-151. Yesterday, I was 156. I have NEVER seen above 152 in my life. Chalked it up to a fluke. Today I'm still 156.

WTF?? My max weight is 161, so this is too close for comfort. I've obviously not changed diet or exercise in a day. What gives?
I am a 45 year old woman if that matters.

Do I just hope it goes back down? Make an immediate diet or exercise change? Help!

[Anonymous]

My “base” weight changed almost overnight with perimenopause. But of course you could always be having too much salt, bloating, etc etc.

[Anonymous]

If you are weighing every day, the first thing I would do is see whether your scale is wrong. A five pound jump seems unlikely. The only other thing I could think of is if your cycle has been off and you are due for a very heavy period.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are weighing every day, the first thing I would do is see whether your scale is wrong. A five pound jump seems unlikely. The only other thing I could think of is if your cycle has been off and you are due for a very heavy period.

I just had my period. I'm on day 9 of my cycle.

I'll check on our locker room scale to see if it's the scale.

[Anonymous]

salt intake and even humidity in the air can effect water retention. Think nothing of it. Weighing daily is never a good idea, weekly except PMS week is enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:salt intake and even humidity in the air can effect water retention. Think nothing of it. Weighing daily is never a good idea, weekly except PMS week is enough.

The problem with that is that, as a Marine, I have to be below my weight maximum on ANY and EVERY day. I can't pick which days I weigh in. So it does matter to me to see a number suddenly 4 pounds higher than I've ever in my life seen.

[Anonymous]

What happens if you go over your weight?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What happens if you go over your weight?

Negative mark on my annual "fitness report", like an annual performance review, which can affect promotion/advancement. And enrollment in the BCP "body composition program" which is a lot of group exercise and working with a nutritionist who is used to working with 18 year old males. Not what I want.

[Anonymous]

If you’re hovering near the danger zone, cut carbs a few weeks before you weigh in.

You obviously didn’t gain 5 pounds overnight. But my weight can fluctuate that much before my period. Maybe it’s the scale.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What happens if you go over your weight?

Negative mark on my annual "fitness report", like an annual performance review, which can affect promotion/advancement. And enrollment in the BCP "body composition program" which is a lot of group exercise and working with a nutritionist who is used to working with 18 year old males. Not what I want.

How does this work of you start lifting tons of weight and eating a lot to gain mass on purpose? BMI calcs can't tell if you're purposely trying to build muscle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What happens if you go over your weight?

Negative mark on my annual "fitness report", like an annual performance review, which can affect promotion/advancement. And enrollment in the BCP "body composition program" which is a lot of group exercise and working with a nutritionist who is used to working with 18 year old males. Not what I want.

How does this work of you start lifting tons of weight and eating a lot to gain mass on purpose? BMI calcs can't tell if you're purposely trying to build muscle.

You can “tape out” which is where they measure your neck to waist ratio. But it doesn’t work well for women.

[Anonymous]

Is it a different scale?

[Anonymous]

I’d cut salt and eat keto before weigh in (basically cut water weight) as a precaution.

[Anonymous]

Have you checked your blood pressure lately?

If it were me and I knew I was eating normally (and hadn't chowed down on salty soups or sushi this week), I'd probably buy a new scale to see if that was the issue, and then go see a doctor to rule out water retention from more serious issues.

[Anonymous]

A very similar thing happened to me when I turned 45. I was/am a long distance runner and had no change in my running or eating routine. I was I the higher end of normal BMI. Then, seemingly overnight I jumped 5 pounds and could not get them down. I struggled there for a while and then managed to add 10 more pounds following an injury. I am now fighting very hard to get back down through clean food, low carb (not keto), and low glycemic foods. It is working slowly, but it is hard.

My advice is to take this seriously and start to address it and see what works because being in your late forties if you have a propensity to not me slim is brutal to maintain. Good luck!