Girly TMI- is this normal?!

[sarahmichigan]

Normally, I don't weigh myself often, but in the last few weeks, I got weighed as part of a pre-employment physical as well as being weighed by one of the treadmills I use. I was feeling bloated around my period, and figured I had gained some water weight, but it was kind of discouraging that I was at one of the highest weights I've ever been at, despite being fairly good with exercising and eating healthy lately. The treadmill weight and the doctor's office weight were within half a pound of each other, so it wasn't just a mechanical glitch. After my period, I again got weighed by the same treadmill, and my weight was down FOURTEEN POUNDS, down to about the lowest weight I've seen on a scale in the last 6 or 7 years. Does that seem normal? I mean, my weight fluctuates a little with my period, but more like 3-4 pounds. 14 just seems insane. Is that normal for any of the women types who are reading this?

 

Comments

[custardfairy.livejournal.com]

I'm much larger than you, but my water weight can fluctuate up to 10 pounds. I don't weigh myself often either, but did the other day to check on something and went "GAH" when I saw the number, but then remembered the time of month.

[kadiera.livejournal.com]

14 pounds seems a bit high. Then again...I lost 2 pounds the last migraine I had, because I ended up mildly dehydrated over the course of a day.

There was a point in my life that I took a water pill due to problems with my ankle swelling, and when I started taking it, I lost about 8 pounds the first 36 hours (and that was on a super low dose) - I've often wondered how much that would have been had they given me the same meds for any other reason, and had increased the dose.

[sarahmichigan.livejournal.com]

When I was first getting treated for hypo and was trying to find the right dosage, my weight would swing 7-8 pounds in a matter of a few days because of water retention (my face and ankles were really puffy), but since I've been on the same dose for a good 5-6 months, my weight has been pretty steady. That's why I was so weirded out both by the high weight and the low weight, and the wide range in between in the matter of about 4 days.

[rossja.livejournal.com]

I didn't realize that there were scales on some treadmills. Crazy!

As for the 14lbs, I know I can weigh typically 5lbs +/-. I would pay attention to what happens next month to see where you're at. Plus I have a habit of only weighing myself in the mornings.

I guess I don't have an answer, just what tends to be normalish for me. Normalish I say only because I haven't been paying as close attention to it.

[sarahmichigan.livejournal.com]

yeah, apparently the treadmill weighs you to get a better estimate of how much energy you're burning per minute/per workout. Bigger people burn more calories walking at the same pace as a smaller person.

[aerospcgrl.livejournal.com]

Totally.

If you count the variance in most scales is anywhere from +/- five pounds, and water is friggin' heavy. You can expect the same scale to read differently on different days too. Also the TIME of day you weigh yourself matters... combine any one or all of these factors and you could easily be 14 lbs different from one day to the next.

[aerospcgrl.livejournal.com]

btw, most people are very constipated during their periods as well... so not only do you have water weight gain, you can have lots of weight from *other* sources as well...

[purple-marf.livejournal.com]

I think I'd chat the doc or fitness trainer or something up about it, regardless. Any time I have any kind of drastic change, I feel like I ought to talk to someone who knows more about it than I do. And 14 lbs seems a bit on the extreme end of things.

If for no other reason than that lbs might not be the only thing that dipped drastically. If you're suddenly low on some vitamin (either by cause or effect), some easy tests could help you to avoid some 3rd effect on down the road...

And here's me, who avoids doctors whenever possible... bah.

[igetupagain.livejournal.com]

Hi, this is Jess from OkC and from custardfairy's friend. :)

I was just popping over today since I had noticed you linked me to your LJ in our last message exchange. At any rate, having worked out over the years and being frustrated with the ups and downs I was going to ask if you had any experience with hypo or not.

Sounds like you do. I am hypo and so can have weight fluctuations quite a bit just in the same week. Makes it frustrating for my trainer at the gym that's for sure. *laugh* I don't know that I would worry too much yet. I mean the act of losing water and a bowel movement (yes, I went there :p) can change the scale reading and add into that period loss you could come back with that high of a number.

Now you can ignore me completely cause I did pop in and start babbling but just some thoughts. *smile*

[sarahmichigan.livejournal.com]

Hi!

Sorry your introduction to my journal is a bodily TMI post. Honestly, I usually talk about more interesting things here. ;)

I'm wondering if period+hypo has something to do with it; they both make me retain water. I've been feeling like my dosage doesn't quite cut it during my period, though I feel fine the rest of the month, so maybe something to talk to the doc about.

[theal8r.livejournal.com]

If nothing else, phone a nurse at your doc's office. 14 pounds seems a bit much.

Says the girl who jumped 4 pounds in 24 hours then lost 2 of them overnight.

[chimalis.livejournal.com]

I fluctuated ten pounds in 7 days ... but this probably includes water weight from the steroids I take. Do any of your meds make/help you retain water? Thyroid meds, maybe?

[sarahmichigan.livejournal.com]

No, my thyroid meds don't make me retain water, but if my levels are out of wack (which means I may need an adjustment in my meds) I can retain water.