u/Born_Agency_3568

Hi, I could really use some advice. I’m 5’3” and I haven’t weighed myself in probably 1–months. The last time I did was after a pretty indulgent weekend and I was around 115 lbs. Since then, I’ve had a lot of weekends like that—going out, eating more, drinking, etc.
I was looking back at photos from November/December and even February/March, and I looked rly good. I’m pretty sure I was only a few pounds lighter than 115 then (112ish), but when I compare those photos to now (same angles, same outfits), I feel like I look noticeably bigger—almost like 10 lbs heavier, which doesn’t even make sense.
What’s really throwing me is that I don’t feel like my eating during the week has changed that much from then to now. So it’s kind of crazy to me how quickly I can look so different, and I don’t fully understand what’s driving it.
For context, my relationship with my body/food has changed a bit over time. In college I was naturally very lean and fit and didn’t think about food much. After college, I gained weight and at my heaviest was around 122. Starting last July, I took weight loss more seriously and lost about 8–9 lbs, getting down to around 111–112, which is where I used to be—and I felt really good there. I think that’s part of why this is messing with me now.
My workouts have also changed. Back when I felt my best, I was doing a lot of heated sculpt and heated mat Pilates. Recently, I’ve been doing more high-intensity workouts like Barry’s Bootcamp, and I feel like my hunger has maybe gone up—so even though I’m burning more, I might also be eating more without realizing it.
I also want to be honest that on weekends, especially if I’ve been out drinking or I’m hungover, I sometimes end up eating a lot of sugar. It doesn’t feel like constant disordered eating, but it has become kind of a routine/ritual with my roommate. Afterward I feel physically awful—super full, almost in pain—which makes me think it could be contributing to how “inflamed” I feel. Right now I feel really puffy, especially in my legs, arms, and midsection, and it’s messing with my head. I don’t know if it’s actual weight gain, water retention, inflammation from workouts, those eating patterns, or just me being overly critical.
I’m also scared to get on the scale because it doesn’t motivate me—it kind of does the opposite. If I see the number go up, I spiral, even if it’s small.
I guess I’m wondering: 1. Can a small weight gain (like 2–4 lbs) look like a much bigger difference when you’re shorter? 2. Why can I look so different day to day? I feel like the way I fluctuate is not normal.