We find a 5-pound weight fluctuation to be normal, especially in females. For females who still menstruate, there are hormonal changes throughout the month that change water retention.
It becomes concerning only when it fluctuates upwards. You don’t want it to trend in an upward direction.
This feeds into the question of how often you should be weighing yourself:
- If you decide to weigh daily, we recommend you weigh when you wake up, wearing the same clothing, after you use the bathroom, before you ingest anything.
- If you decide to weigh weekly, we recommend you do it Wednesday morning, when you wake up, wearing the same clothing, after you use the bathroom, before you ingest anything.
- The alternative is weighing in once a month at your appointment when you are in a safe zone.
