Q. I have heard that it is completely normal for a person’s weight to vary throughout the day, but by how much does it change? Is it a sign of weight gain if I weigh over three pounds more at the end of a day than at the beginning?

A. A weight fluctuation of three to five pounds over the course of a day is completely normal and doesn’t suggest that you’ve gained weight.  Weight can be temporarily affected by things like the amount of fluids you’ve consumed, the timing of your last work-out, or (how to put this?) the status of your digestive processes. In the end, it’s not the daily fluctuations that matter as much as the overall trend: Are you gaining, losing, or maintaining?Tip: Chart your progress toward your goals with SELF.com’s weight, diet, and workout logs.How often should you…