this post was submitted on 02 Jun 2026
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me_irl
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I just kinda realized, technically we're always yo-yoing at least a little bit, right? We can't eat exactly 2345.67 kcal/day if that's exactly what we're burning. So the body is always reconciling fat stores in some direction I would think, even if not in ketosis?
Unless that's what blood sugar is for...
what is m e t a b o l i s m
Short term weight changes are usually the result of changes in your body’s glycogen storage. Typically it needs to be relatively depleted before your body will start pulling from your fat stores.
The effect can be quite significant, like 5-10 pounds in the first week or two. It’s why so many scam diets feel like they work at first. You torture yourself for a few days on whatever overpriced low carb detox smoothie concoction they’re selling and boom! You’re down six pounds. Magical. Then the first slice of pizza that touches your lips instantly fills you back up
So, in reference to glycogen storage, what are those six pounds you happened to lose on a crash/scam diet really composed of? I always assumed a good portion was water weight from a steep sodium reduction, but how many glycogen byproducts make up that loss?
Or maybe, I'm just curious about glycogen in absolute mass contained through the body. I always like fun anatomy facts, like how much a liver weighs and stuff.
How much do you think ~~my glycogen~~ the glycogen contained in an average person weighs?