I gain easily. I used to joke about it. I'd say that if I even looked at a beer, I'd gain several pounds.

Turns out, several pounds is an exaggeration. According to my recent scientific experiments, it works out to just over 0.6 lbs per beer. 

Let me explain. Thursday, I was feeling pretty good. Unexpectedly, I hit 260 lbs, which is down about 8 since my first weigh-in a few weeks ago. 

To celebrate (a necessity, of course), I decided to take it easy that day and have a few beers in the evening. The beers I selected were kind of strong. Although I didn't have much in volume, I estimate it to be the equivalent of about 5 standard drinks. 

The next day, slightly hungover (I've been cutting way back, there was a time I wouldn't feel it a bit), I had a little leftover so I decided to do it again. 2 days. 10 drinks. Saturday morning I weigh myself.. up over 6 lbs. Ouch! 

Of course it wasn't all added fat. I know weight can fluctuate with carbs. Carbs combine with water, and make these big 'ol molecules that your body stores for energy later. (I think). Because water is super heavy, going from a carb deficit to a carb surplus can add some pounds. I know the beer I had was basically concentrated liquified carbs (and alcohol), and I know I was sorta carb-drained, so a little bump wasn't unexpected. But 6 lbs? Woah! 

I had been a few thousand calories under my estimated "maintenance" level for a few days (these totals include estimated calories 'burned' during exercise, so don't worry, I wasn't starving myself really) so that's where my carb defecit (and my unexpected weight loss several pounds more than I was expecting) probably came from. But I think I WAS feeling it slightly, mostly on a subconscious level. That's probably what drove me to beer.  

I'm fine with trying to adjust back to low carbs, the body can adjust fine, and eventually it won't have a noticeable effect on my default waking state I think. But heavy ale is so delicious! This is gonna be.. a struggle haha. Oh well. At least I'm paying attention. And keeping myself mostly honest with my calorie tracking. 

And next time I reach for some thick brown suds.. I'll remember: 0.6 lbs per beer! Sure it's only temporary, but it's still a cost haha. 

(Edit: 2 days later I'm almost back down to 260 again)