Our bodyweight will naturally fluctuate between one (1) and two (2) percent every day due to a variety of factors.
I encourage my clients to look at their daily weight averaged over a week and look for a downward trend from week to week as they pursue their goal weight.
Let’s dig into the seven primary reasons your weight will vary from day today.
- Menstrual Cycle – The amount of weight gain caused by the menstrual cycle varies greatly from woman to woman, and sometimes cycle to cycle. It is important to be in tune with your cycle and be aware that your weight with be impacted by it.
- External Stress – Stress causes the release of a hormone called cortisol. This powerful hormone can lead to short-term fluctuations in weight or long-term weight gain with chronic stress.
- Sleep – A lack of sufficient sleep will increase the amount of cortisol in your body. Make sure you are getting enough sleep to allow your body time to recover each day.
- Water Intake – If you are not drinking enough water each day, your body will naturally store excess water to make sure it has enough to function properly. I recommend drinking at least one gallon of water each day to keep excess water storage to a minimum.
- Exercise – Your body pushes water into your muscles to help aid in recovery after an intense workout. If you are just starting to work out again, your body will push excess water to help your muscles recover as well.
- Digestion – Going to the bathroom regularly helps your body expel waste and other toxins. Ideally, you should go to the bathroom, specifically #2, every day. If you are not, your body is holding on to things it should not.
- Sodium – Salt increases water retention. If you have a meal that is high in sodium, try to drink more water to flush it out of your body.
It is important to remember that every human body is different.
Your body will react differently to these weight fluctuation factors than another person’s will. As a result, it is so important that you are in tune with your body.
Keeping a wellness journal will help you track the impact of different foods, activities, and stress on how you feel and your weight.
