Is it normal to gain 2 pounds in a day

Many adults burn 13 to 18 calories per pound of their body weight daily, according to Harvard Medical School -- which equates to 1, to 2, calories daily for a pound adult.

Eating low-carb diets often causes water-weight loss, at least initially, which isn't a good indicator of fluctuations in body fat. To lose -- or gain -- weight at safe rate, aim for a weekly fluctuation of 1 to 2 pounds per week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and a issue of "Today's Dietitian. When you're eating a well-balanced diet and drinking plenty of water, look for weekly -- not daily -- weight-loss and weight-gain trends.

By Erin Coleman, R. Erin Coleman, R. Erin Coleman is a registered and licensed dietitian. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in dietetics and has extensive experience working as a health writer and health educator. Just let your muscles recover and forget about the scale. For starters, alcohol has empty calories, so you can be taking in more calories than you realize without feeling full, Cording points out.

And, if you eat your usual amount when you drink—or tend to lean into the wine munchies pretty heavily—that can lead to a higher number on the scale. Booze messes with your cells, too. Try curbing your drinking for a few weeks and see how it impacts your weight loss and morning weight.

That can lead to swollen ankles and a belly bulge from swelling in your intestines, she says. Apart from the water retention, munching on salty snacks can cause constipation , too. Fiber is critical to keeping your digestive system working its best. So when you miss out on fiber from whole grains, fruit, and starchy vegetables, you're bound to get backed up, says Dr.

While Dr. Ellner recommends that anyone on a high-protein, low-carb diet take a fiber supplement to keep things moving, an even better option is to only reduce refined carbohydrates , like pasta, and keep whole grains, veggies, and fruit as part of your diet. That leads to an increase in water weight once you start sipping, she adds.

An intolerance to foods like dairy, fructose, eggs, shellfish, gluten, artificial sweeteners, soy, and many others can cause bloating and water retention, especially in your gut, says Dr. If you notice that you feel heavier or actually weigh more after eating certain foods, talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian before eliminating them.

All PMS-fueled binging aside, you can thank your hormones for pre-period pounds , says Dr. You'll start to gain water weight about five days before your cycle starts. But everyone can be a bit different. Melody Covington, MD, a weight-loss doctor at Abundant Health and Vitality , adds that women tend to gain weight more easily than men, since women need a higher fat mass than men in order to support normal hormone regulation and conceive.

Period-related water retention is likely to go away in a few days, but if you suspect something more is going on, consult your doctor. But as soon as you dive into some spaghetti, your body starts storing glycogen in your muscles and liver, along with H2O.

The sudden influx of those two nutrients after a long stretch of being carb-free could leave you bloated, Fear says. The best solution: Include a moderate amount of whole-grain carbs in your diet daily to prevent the cycle of weight coming on and off.

Medication like antihistamines, insulin, and some antidepressants cause rapid weight gain for a bunch of reasons. Some medications can either cause your body to retain water, activate or increase your appetite, or even reduce your metabolism and increase fat storage, says Dr. Covington, who adds that weight gain is even more likely on medication that limits your ability to exercise or stay active.

If a medication is causing weight gain, Dr. This means that a short period of eating more calories than your maintenance level may register as more of a slight glitch in your body, rather than having a major effect on your weight. Calorie tracking apps can be used to monitor your daily intake Credit: Getty. In one study published in the American Journal of Physiology, eight men were put on a high-calorie diet for five days and then for 28 days.

If you eat a carbohydrate rich meal , for example, your body will store these carbohydrates as glycogen in your muscle and liver. Interestingly, with every 1g of glycogen stored, g of water will be bound up with it. There are also various serious conditions that can cause weight gain, including an undiagnosed autoimmune condition, endometriosis , polycystic ovary syndrome PCOS and diabetes.