Why do I weigh more the week before my period?

On Ep. 245, Nikkiey explains that women fluctuate several pounds across their cycle because of the hormones shifting in the body. In the last phase, the luteal phase, the scale is almost guaranteed to go up. She doesn't even like calling it weight gain, because it's water retention. A WarriorBabe video gives a smaller figure, one to two pounds the week of your period from inflammation and water retention. Your number may land anywhere in that range. Either way it's a fluctuation, not fat. The video adds some perspective: gaining two pounds of fat in a single day would take eating 7,000 calories, and that isn't what's happening.

You'll often see it in photos too. On Ep. 204, Nikkiey says she asks clients to tell her when their period is coming, because bloat shows up in progress photos. In her words, it's not weight, it's bloat. The luteal phase is also the longest phase, and closer to your period it's common to notice lower energy, more emotion and the usual PMS symptoms.

The bigger point from both episodes is that body weight bounces around while fat loss is far steadier. A higher number that week doesn't mean your plan stopped working. Look at inches, photos taken at the same point in your cycle, strength and how your clothes fit before you decide anything.