A bathroom scale is a valuable tool for monitoring weight trends, but daily fluctuations mean the number isn't always the full story.
You've likely shed pounds of fluid through sweat—impressive, but it's water weight, not body fat.
Converting calories to body fat takes time. Digestion alone requires about 24 hours, so post-meal weight gain is from undigested food, not instant fat accumulation.
Read also: 'Why the scales can go'
Weight often rises a few pounds as your period approaches. Elevated estrogen in the late cycle promotes fat storage around the waist, thighs, buttocks, and upper arms, plus water retention. The silver lining: these pounds typically drop once menstruation begins and estrogen levels fall.
