No, You Didn’t Gain 5lbs. Over Chag!

Feature
Typography
  • Smaller Small Medium Big Bigger
  • Default Helvetica Segoe Georgia Times

The Myth

With chag season in the rearview mirror, many are now ‘officially’ starting their diets. Perhaps they are extra motivated (or horrified) by their post-holiday weight. I remember last year being afraid to get on the scale after Sukkot, scared to assess the damage a week of meals and little activity had taken on my body. Little did I know that waiting, and not weighing myself was the correct decision. This is in part because of a phenomenon called water weight.

The Phenomenon

Water weight happens when we ingest carbohydrates. When our bodies store these carbs, they hold onto water as well (hence the name carbohydrate). The result is that overindulging by a few thousand calories can shift the scale by multiple pounds. Remember, it takes 3,500 calories to gain or lose just one pound. So, while the scale went up by four pounds, in truth you actually only gained one. Don’t be afraid if the scale goes up after a few days of revelry, just focus on getting back on track.

The Variable

Another factor that causes the scale to go up is food volume. If you weigh yourself in the morning and night, chances are the scale will read higher in the night. This is because all the food you eat must be processed by your body. Until then, the weight of the foods you ate is combined with your true weight on the scale. But in the morning, your body has already processed the foods and thus the scale goes back down.

Take Action

The most accurate method of tracking your weight is to weigh yourself at the same time each morning, wearing the same amount of clothes, before you have eaten or drunken anything, and with the scale in the exact same spot. This method helps to lower how much involvement food volume, water weight, and other factors impact the scales reading. Take a measurement every morning, or a few times a week, and write down the amounts. There are many downloadable mobile apps you can use to input this data, keeping track and providing a graph. Check that you are making consistent, gradual progress over weeks and months, rather than day to day. I recommend about one to two pounds a week for most individuals. Call me to discuss further at (917) 217-9271. It is a long journey, so be patient.


Moshe Orbach was born and bred in Kew Gardens Hills. Moshe is a product of our yeshivah system and yearns to give back to his community. Fitness and health are Moshe's longtime passions. Moshe wants everyone to lead their daily life energized, and aware of their body's potential, no matter their age. Moshe can be reached for personal training, diet plans, and more at (917) 217-9271.