Why the number jumps
| Cause | What’s happening |
|---|---|
| Food weight | Food and drink still being digested have weight of their own |
| Sodium | Salty dishes, sauces and snacks make your body hold more water |
| Glycogen | Lots of carbs refill glycogen, which is stored with water |
| Alcohol | About 7 kcal per gram; a US standard drink (14 g of alcohol) is roughly 100 kcal before any mixer |
If you ate 1,500 kcal more than usual, the math says about 0.2 kg of that could become fat. The rest leaves over the next few days.
What to do the next day
- Eat your normal plan — going straight back to your usual target is the fastest way back.
- Drink water, go easy on salt — water-and-sodium weight clears faster.
- Move as usual — no need for a punishing workout to "burn it off".
- Judge after 3–5 days — log the next-day number, but don’t act on it.
What not to do
Skipping meals or eating very little to "make up for it" isn’t recommended. Hunger builds, it often leads to another big meal, and a feast-and-fast cycle can set in. If big eating episodes happen often, feel out of your control, or leave you with strong guilt, don’t try to handle it alone; talk to a doctor or a qualified counselor.
Seeing it in the app
Log the next-day weight anyway
Record your weight on the Weight log tab in Calorie Calculator as usual. Add a memo like "party" and you can find that day later with Search memo.
Watch the moving average
The moving average on the trend chart smooths out single-day spikes. Check whether it returns to its previous path a few days later.
FAQ
Should I skip weighing the next day?
If the number bothers you, skipping a day is fine. If you do weigh in, judge by the average, not that day.
What about a multi-day holiday?
Return to your usual plan when it ends and look at a 1–2 week average. See also the numbers behind a plateau.
Sources: Kreitzman et al., Am J Clin Nutr 1992 · NIAAA, What is a standard drink?
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