Intraday Weight Fluctuations
09-16-14, 02:08 PM
#52
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I see people post this and I could not disagree more. Given that you can keep your net calories relatively consistent and still see a daioly variance of 2-5 lbs, weighing weekly has the potential to be far less accurate than a daily weigh in.
Consider: My last 7 weigh ins have been 165, 166.2, 166, 164.4, 166, 167.6. Looking at that, it's pretty easy to see that my weight is hovering a lb or two around 166. Given that I have a little over 3 years of daily weigh ins logged, I know that the variation I saw this week is typical for me. There's no reason to think the 167.6 is anything other than normal variation, possibly due to a salty/carby dinner.
On the other hand, if I weighed once a week, I'd look at 165 and 167.6 and could conceivably draw the erroneous conclusion that I'd gained 2.6 lbs, and could spend teh next week trying to figure out where I consumed that extra 9100 calories!
More data is good, as long as you maintain consistent conditions. Daily, naked, and first thing in the morning after using the bathroom is as consistent as you can get without getting into the lab.
Consider: My last 7 weigh ins have been 165, 166.2, 166, 164.4, 166, 167.6. Looking at that, it's pretty easy to see that my weight is hovering a lb or two around 166. Given that I have a little over 3 years of daily weigh ins logged, I know that the variation I saw this week is typical for me. There's no reason to think the 167.6 is anything other than normal variation, possibly due to a salty/carby dinner.
On the other hand, if I weighed once a week, I'd look at 165 and 167.6 and could conceivably draw the erroneous conclusion that I'd gained 2.6 lbs, and could spend teh next week trying to figure out where I consumed that extra 9100 calories!
More data is good, as long as you maintain consistent conditions. Daily, naked, and first thing in the morning after using the bathroom is as consistent as you can get without getting into the lab.
09-16-14, 02:08 PM
#53
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I use an app called "Libra" on my Android tablet, it calculates a moving exponential weighted average, shows a graph & a trend line. Gives you a clear idea what's going on if you see if your line is pointing in the right direction or not, whether you are hitting your target loss rate; being able to see clearly through all the peaks & valleys helps a lot.
Can also use "True Weight" on iOS devices, or www.trendweight.com web site. Less work than programming your own spreadsheet.
09-20-14, 02:25 PM
#54
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I typically vary a range of up to 7# over the course of a week.
My morning weight is always lower than the evening before. Water/hydration is the key factor but how late I eat (and how much) factors in too.
Eating a late meal with excess calories will keep my body warmer at night. So will a hot day or a late night hot shower. I'll tend to sweat more than usual.
When humidity is low I also get dehydrated overnight just from breathing (mouth breather/deviated septum).
Summers it's a challenge to maintain proper hydration status. I sweat it out faster than I replace it; and it's like the replacement fluids just run through without being fully absorbed.
Finally, I find I weigh more when I am eating high-fiber foods and big portions of salads and vegetables. All that bulk holds water as it makes it's slow way through the digestive tract.
Calorie guides and tools like myfitnesspal.com are inherently inaccurate. Food nutritional content and water makeup vary for many foods and most of us are eyeballing portion sizes anyhow. I use a HRM to track expended calories during exercise and it's about half what strava and garmin suggest. But I do use these to get a good estimate.
Life sure would be easier if my appetite was finely tuned to what my body needs.
My morning weight is always lower than the evening before. Water/hydration is the key factor but how late I eat (and how much) factors in too.
Eating a late meal with excess calories will keep my body warmer at night. So will a hot day or a late night hot shower. I'll tend to sweat more than usual.
When humidity is low I also get dehydrated overnight just from breathing (mouth breather/deviated septum).
Summers it's a challenge to maintain proper hydration status. I sweat it out faster than I replace it; and it's like the replacement fluids just run through without being fully absorbed.
Finally, I find I weigh more when I am eating high-fiber foods and big portions of salads and vegetables. All that bulk holds water as it makes it's slow way through the digestive tract.
Calorie guides and tools like myfitnesspal.com are inherently inaccurate. Food nutritional content and water makeup vary for many foods and most of us are eyeballing portion sizes anyhow. I use a HRM to track expended calories during exercise and it's about half what strava and garmin suggest. But I do use these to get a good estimate.
Life sure would be easier if my appetite was finely tuned to what my body needs.
09-20-14, 07:36 PM
#55
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I try to weigh myself in the morning everyday, as well as before and after I ride. However, I'll often notice 3-5lb fluctuations if I happen to weigh myself throughout a given day or from one day to the next. I'm sure most of it is water weight.
I had a ride a few weeks ago where I weighed myself before and after and I lost 7lbs (I forget the exact number). The ride itself was pretty horrible and I felt pretty horrible after. I drank 3 bottles of water too.
I had a ride a few weeks ago where I weighed myself before and after and I lost 7lbs (I forget the exact number). The ride itself was pretty horrible and I felt pretty horrible after. I drank 3 bottles of water too.
09-21-14, 06:56 AM
#56
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I typically vary a range of up to 7# over the course of a week.
My morning weight is always lower than the evening before. Water/hydration is the key factor but how late I eat (and how much) factors in too.
Eating a late meal with excess calories will keep my body warmer at night. So will a hot day or a late night hot shower. I'll tend to sweat more than usual.
When humidity is low I also get dehydrated overnight just from breathing (mouth breather/deviated septum).
Summers it's a challenge to maintain proper hydration status. I sweat it out faster than I replace it; and it's like the replacement fluids just run through without being fully absorbed.
Finally, I find I weigh more when I am eating high-fiber foods and big portions of salads and vegetables. All that bulk holds water as it makes it's slow way through the digestive tract.
Calorie guides and tools like myfitnesspal.com are inherently inaccurate. Food nutritional content and water makeup vary for many foods and most of us are eyeballing portion sizes anyhow. I use a HRM to track expended calories during exercise and it's about half what strava and garmin suggest. But I do use these to get a good estimate.
Life sure would be easier if my appetite was finely tuned to what my body needs.
My morning weight is always lower than the evening before. Water/hydration is the key factor but how late I eat (and how much) factors in too.
Eating a late meal with excess calories will keep my body warmer at night. So will a hot day or a late night hot shower. I'll tend to sweat more than usual.
When humidity is low I also get dehydrated overnight just from breathing (mouth breather/deviated septum).
Summers it's a challenge to maintain proper hydration status. I sweat it out faster than I replace it; and it's like the replacement fluids just run through without being fully absorbed.
Finally, I find I weigh more when I am eating high-fiber foods and big portions of salads and vegetables. All that bulk holds water as it makes it's slow way through the digestive tract.
Calorie guides and tools like myfitnesspal.com are inherently inaccurate. Food nutritional content and water makeup vary for many foods and most of us are eyeballing portion sizes anyhow. I use a HRM to track expended calories during exercise and it's about half what strava and garmin suggest. But I do use these to get a good estimate.
Life sure would be easier if my appetite was finely tuned to what my body needs.
Yahoo ap Iphone/TICKR HRM 654 calories
Cyclemeter/TICKR HRM 662
Strava/TICKR HRM 525kJ 584 Calories
25 calories to the mile gives 279
