Are you experience weight gain that varies from day today? Check out these seven reasons you are experiencing daily weight fluctuation.
You pull your favorite jeans out of the closet and begin to get dressed.
However, that last button just can’t be done.
There’s nothing worse than the feeling of clothes that are too tight, especially when they fit perfectly last week!
Unfortunately, you may be experiencing daily weight fluctuation caused by bloating or water retention. It can be seriously depressing and frustrating, and can also impact our confidence.
Here are seven common reasons you may be dealing with temporary weight gain— plus what you can do about it.
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Water Retention
Water retention is one of the most common causes of weight fluctuations. It’s a common reason behind the bloated feeling we all hate.
What causes water retention? Often, consuming too much sodium, or salt is the culprit. If you frequently eat processed foods or consume soft drinks, you may experience water retention.
Additional sodium in the body causes our cells to hold on to too much water, which leads to the bloated feeling.
However, it can also be caused by cabin pressure on an airplane, sitting or standing for too long, or deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a clot to the vein that is also sometimes experienced on long flights.
Beat water retention by consuming enough water each day and eating a varied diet, rich in fiber.
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Alcohol
Many of us enjoy the pleasure of a drink on occasion, but if you’ve gained weight, it could be due to alcohol.
Alcohol can be an irritation to your intestines, causing water retention and a puffy belly and face. It also causes dehydration, which can lead to weight fluctuations after a night of heavy drinking.
Drinking can cause not only temporary weight gain but also permanent gains. Drinks are often considered ‘empty calories’, as they have no nutritional value. However, they can contain anywhere from around 100 calories and upward per drink, so these calories can quickly add up.
We tend to always lower our inhibitions after drinking, making it harder to say no to a late-night pizza or fast food order.
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Medication
Are you taking any medication? If so, they may be the cause of your changes in weight.
Common prescription and nonprescription medicines can have weight gain or bloat as a side effect. Some of these include antacids, diarrhea medicine, opioids, multivitamins, and aspirin.
Water retention is also common in birth control pills, NSAIDs, and antibiotics.
If you’re experiencing bloating and you think your medication is the cause, talk to your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
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Diet
Our diet plays a large role in day-to-day weight fluctuations. Digesting certain foods can frequently cause us to feel bloated and hold water, an uncomfortable feeling.
Foods high in fiber can frequently cause bloat, including lentils and beans. Dairy can as well, especially if you may have a lactose intolerance.
Grains are often responsible as well, including wheat and barley. Onions and broccoli are common culprits as well.
However, if you regularly have a bad reaction to certain foods, this could also be caused by food allergies or intolerances— talk to your doctor to rule it out.
They can do tests and also help you try an elimination diet to work out which food is causing the problem.
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Insomnia
Are you getting enough sleep? If not, you may be experiencing weight fluctuation as a side effect of insomnia.
When we can’t sleep, our body releases a chemical called cortisone. It’s a steroid hormone that is released when we are stressed (such as in the middle of the night, when we can’t sleep and know we have a big day tomorrow).
Unfortunately, cortisone can cause bloating so if you frequently experience insomnia or life stresses, this could have an impact on your weight. Trying to establish a set bedtime and waking up time, even on weekends, can help our bodies get into a better rhythm.
However, insomnia can also be caused by stomach issues, such as irritable bowel syndrome, heartburn, and indigestion. These can keep us up at night, and are frequent causes of gas, bloating, and constipation.
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Time of the Month
For women, menstrual cycles can be uncomfortable. Not only are cramps, upset stomach, and lower back pain common for many women, but they can also cause miserable bloating, causing water retention, and temporary constipation and weight gain.
Symptoms can be relieved with a heating pad, a warm bath, or an over the counter pain medication.
It’s hard to completely get rid of period side effects, but sometimes the pill can help, as can dietary supplements, such as B Vitamins, calcium, and magnesium.
For some women, avoiding caffeine and foods high in salt can also help when the time of the month comes around.
Later on, menopause can also cause bloating and unwanted complications. Read more about menopause supplements that can ease symptoms.
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Exercise Routine
If you’ve recently started a new exercise routine, you’re no doubt eager to start seeing results. Exercise, combined with a healthy diet, will definitely lead to weight loss. However, often immediate weight loss is only temporary, caused by water loss from sweat.
Sometimes, exercise can cause you to gain weight if your goal is to increase your muscle mass.
Instead of the scale, a more accurate way to measure success is by having your BMI (body mass index) calculated, and track your heart rate when exercising over time, to see your cardiovascular improvements.
If you are going to weigh yourself, do it at the same time each day, and always use the same scale, to help with accuracy.
With or without clothes is fine, but again, try to do the same each day, to remain consistent.
Understand Daily Weight Fluctuation
Now that you understand daily weight fluctuation and some of its common causes, you can start to work out what is causing your daily changes.
For many people, a healthy lifestyle that incorporates nutritious eating, exercise, and quality sleep can help to beat the bloat. However, pay attention to your body and make changes when needed to help you feel your best.
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