weight gain from working out

fishlessman

started with barbels a week ago, gained 5 pounds since and i know my calorie count has been really low, is that normal to gain that much. does your body just gain water from lifting. just feels im going the wrong way

Griffin

Muscle weighs more than fat.

travisstrick

Not that much or fast. Might be water but not from lifting.

Chubbs

Griffin is certainly correct, but 5 lbs of muscle weight in a week seems intense. Did you eat a meatloaf and pound 1 gallon of water before you weighed in?

Eggcelsior

Muscles are considerably denser than adipose tissue so it weighs more. You may gain some weight from this or see a weight-loss slow down, but it will be much easier to keep the weight off with increased muscle mass. You could be retaining water due to the muscle repair but it will level out and you'll actually burn off more fat as your metabolism rises. 

fishlessman

it doesnt make alot of sense to me, just eating meat, not overly salty and no more than 1200 cals a day so i dont understand the 5 pounds at all. hope it just drops as fast one day. and noway did i gain 5 pounds of muscle

Foghorn

Your body weight can fluctuate +/- 3% depending on a variety of factors such as:

 - Muscle swelling (with water/inflammation) from a really vigorous workout

 - Hydration status

 - How much food is in your gastrointestinal tract

I can gain 8 pounds in a couple of hours with a good workout followed by hydration and a big meal.

That's why you should weigh yourself every morning before you eat or drink anything to get the least fluctuation (there will still be some). 

fishlessman

maybe thats what it is...Muscle swelling (with water/inflammation). i weigh in an log same time every day, every week or so i see the weight rise, circle the log in, but never had seen a full 5 pound rise

fletcherfam

@fishlessman, sometimes if you are not eating enough calories your body hates you and either doesn't loose any weight or gains slightly, though I agree with everyone else that 5 pounds in a week is a bit much.

With my kettlebell workouts that I have been doing lately I noticed that I gained two pounds in a week. Though my body felt thinner I weighed more.

IrishDevl

Probably the steroid program you are on.

fishlessman

fletcherfam said:

@fishlessman, sometimes if you are not eating enough calories your body hates you and either doesn't loose any weight or gains slightly, though I agree with everyone else that 5 pounds in a week is a bit much.

With my kettlebell workouts that I have been doing lately I noticed that I gained two pounds in a week. Though my body felt thinner I weighed more.

my body isnt hating me from the lack of calories, i think it hates me from the fish eggs and turkey burger ive been feeding it
) maybe im in a starvation mode with the added workouts, maybe its time to step the intake up a little

Browninggold

Constipated

meister5

I have just lost 80 lbs. myself over the last year (start 265 now 180 ). About a month ago I started lifting weights and doing cardio exercises. Although my waist is still getting smaller and my six pack is starting to show I am now gaining weight. I have noticed that both my arms and chest are starting to develop. I was thinking that my weight gain had to be muscle mass so I was not too worried. Great post!

Andymizunogolfer

Sounds like your intake is way too low unless you are a 5'5 female. Dont focus on a scale.

The Cen-Tex Smoker

It's water. Very common when you start lifting. Your muscles need to water as part of the process to repair themselves. It will all balance out in a week or 2. Happens to me every time for a few weeks.

fishlessman

The Cen-Tex Smoker said:

It's water. Very common when you start lifting. Your muscles need to water as part of the process to repair themselves. It will all balance out in a week or 2. Happens to me every time for a few weeks.

should have waited a week til after the comp weigh in if thats the case
)was so close to my comp goal and now heading the wrong way. gotta be the muscles gaining the water

JayHawkEye

It's water weight. I saw a slight rise one day last month after I started lifting. For that reason I've kept it to simple weight workouts and heavy cardio until the comp is over. THEN it will be back to a "re-shaping" regimen. 

STANGOJE

It is water weight.  I ride a bicycle about 100 miles a week and use weights twice a week to keep my core strong.  I am a dude and weigh myself daily to keep things in check..  On days that I push hard I will hold on to a few extra pounds, it is normal.  I am 41 years old, 6' tall and weigh 178 lbs.