Weight Gain: A Simple Approach To Understanding Your Body

Starting recovery from an eating disorder takes incredible strength, with weight gain being one of the hardest parts.

Please note: Eating disorders can occur at any size. What I share here is based on my personal experience.

In recovery, seeing the numbers on the scale rise caused me distress. I had internalized that weight gain meant becoming “fat,” and that fat was something to fear. But that’s not true.

There are so many factors involved in weight and healing, and it takes time to understand them all.

In this blog, I’ll share 5 things I learned about weight during my anorexia recovery.

Weight fluctuates all the time (and that’s normal)

Your weight is never constant. On average, it can fluctuate by 1 to 2 kg in a single day. However, it’s important to remember that everyone is different, and these fluctuations can vary.

If you were to weigh yourself at different times of the day, you’d likely see a different number each time. That’s because several factors influence it.

Some common reasons for natural weight fluctuations are:

- Water retention
- Diet 
- Exercise
- Medication
- Menstrual cycle
- Illness
- Reduced bowel movements
- Stress
- Bloating 

Your body adapts to changing conditions every day, which is why weight can shift even within a few hours—and that’s completely normal.

For a real-life example of how weight can change throughout the day, I found an article by Lexes O’Hara, where she shares her own experience with this. (Note: The article includes specific numbers, which may be sensitive for some readers.)

For more information on weight fluctuations, Healthline has a great article, which you can check out here.

Weight does not equal your worth

You are more than a number

Weight gain can feel like you’re doing something wrong, as it’s often feared and commonly associated with being unhealthy or ‘fat.‘

Starting my journey in anorexia recovery has shown me that weight gain isn’t something to fear. It’s something you gradually learn to accept and even embrace.

Know this: Weight gain doesn't mean that you are unworthy, unhealthy, fat, or failing. Similarly, weight loss doesn’t mean you are failing in recovery or that your ED is "winning."

Scales can deceive

Each scale is different—and even where or when you use it can affect the reading. Since weight naturally shifts throughout the day, professionals suggest to weigh yourself in the morning, after going to the toilet and before eating or drinking anything, for the most consistent result.

For example, when I was in hospital, we were weighed twice a week on the same scale. But when that scale was replaced, the new one showed lower numbers—and suddenly, everyone’s meal plan was increased. The number changed, not because we had lost weight, but because the scale was different.

This shows how unreliable that number can be—and how important it is not to let it define your progress or worth.

Weight gain ≠ Fat

When we weigh ourselves, we tend to focus only on the number—whether it has gone up or down.

But what we often forget is that our body consist of not only fat but also vital organs, muscles, bones, water, and other essential elements that all contribute to your weight.

Did you know that water makes up about 60% of your body weight?

So, instead of seeing your weight as just one figure, try viewing it as part of a bigger picture. It’s a reflection of a living, breathing, functioning body.

Weight loss ≠ winning & weight gain ≠ failure

Weight gain isn’t failure; it’s progress. Weight loss isn’t success; it’s a trap

There are times when gaining weight can mean you are reclaiming your life, your freedom, and your happiness, while weight loss might contribute to loneliness, restriction, pain, fear, and guilt.

It’s different for everyone, but especially when you’re struggling with your weight or have an eating disorder, shifting your mindset can make a world of difference.

I used to think that weight loss meant winning and weight gain meant losing. Now I know the truth—gaining weight means you are reclaiming life, and that’s the real victory.

Understanding weight changes can take some time to wrap your head around. But once you do, you’ll begin to see your body not as something to fight, but as something to care for.

You’ll start to feel a little more peace, a little less fear—and you’ll realize that healing isn’t about controlling your weight, but about reclaiming your life.