There’s nothing more frustrating than seeing the scale go UP instead of DOWN when working towards weight loss. But don’t panic!!! If you’re wondering why the scale went up, there could be some possible culprits behind this pesky problem.
There are so many reasons why that number could be higher than you’d expect after working so hard. But first I’d like to take the opportunity to remind you that that number is purely a measure of gravity and totally normal to fluctuate with shifts in fluid! So don’t beat yourself up about it, okay? Okay! 😘
But seriously, we often see ladies panic when the scale went up thinking they did something WRONG, when in reality it’s typically something minor that just requires a little extra attention. I’m talking things like digestion or stress for instance. Or maybe it’s actually something GOOD like adding in strength training.
That’s why in the Busy Gal Nutrition coaching program we look at EVERYTHING holistically to address root causes so you can stop freaking out about the scale and stop totally ruining your fab mindset when it comes to your goals!
So here are just a few reasons why the scale went up:
- The booze – alcohol can cause short term inflammation and fluid retention so it’s no wonder this can look like weight gain.
- High amount of refined carbs – eating a high carb meal can cause the scale to go up because carbohydrate molecules hold more water!! Remember, this doesn’t mean carbs directly cause you to gain fat and we love carbs! 😉
- Irregular bowel movements – maybe TMI but this is one of the number one causes on why the scale went up! If you’re digestion is out of whack or you suffer from intermittent constipation, we love to address that with lifestyle and nutrition to get you feeling better AND seeing better results!
- Muscle soreness after a hard workout – fun fact: strength training and having more muscle is fabulous for your health and metabolism. Less fun fact: you will probably weigh more on the scale after a hard workout due to lactic acid buildup. But this is a good thing and again, doesn’t mean you gained weight from fat! Do not let it stop you from focusing on your long-term goals! 😊
- Lack of sleep and stress – these cause your body to hold onto fluid and slow down digestion and recovery. So you know what that means, time to focus on self-care! I don’t know about you but I love any excuse for my favorite self-care activities!
- Calorie surplus – of course, you will gain weight in a consistent calorie surplus over time. But it’s important to remember that one high calorie day will not wreck your overall results. Just get back to it the next day!
