can starting weight training cause weight gain?

jerrymcintosh

I have always heard muscle weighs more than fat, I just never had a reason to believe it, or to test the theory. Recently I have started eating healthy, going to the gym every day and I feel great. While it is nice to look better in cloths and feel great, my goal is to loose those last ten pounds. The hard weight you never get around to loosing. Simply to finally get rid of that bump around the center, the visceral fat where my body stored excess fat around my organs all these years. So I set my goal, start eating right and working out. I have lots of energy and drive and BAM, first few weeks I gain four pounds (while eating a healthy diet that should promote weight loss). Does aggressive weight training really build muscle in a few weeks, enough so to increase your weight three or four pounds?

MyOwnSunshine

Yes, but you didn't gain 4 pounds of muscle. You gained 4 pounds of water because your muscles are damaged when you lift and essentially become inflamed as they heal.

47Jacqueline

a pound of muscle weighs the same as a pound of fat. But a pound of fat is larger in dimension than a pound of muscle. As you develop your muscles, they get bigger and, yes exercising your muscles results in water gain. Eventually if you keep at it, your fat cells shrink and you start losing weight again.

jerrymcintosh

Thanks for the feedback. I guess it goes without saying I never seriously worked out and built muscle to the point of understanding the water weight that is a part of the process. good luck reaching your goals and thanks again for the info.

MrGonzo05

If your weight continues to go up, have a hard look at your caloric intake. You won't gain more than a small amount of water weight from strength training.

DopeItUp

Yes, but you didn't gain 4 pounds of muscle. You gained 4 pounds of water because your muscles are damaged when you lift and essentially become inflamed as they heal.

Correct. It's not fat so don't sweat it.

michellekicks

And if you stay the same weight but drop a dress size or two, what does the number on the scale matter? Why do you want to lose 10 lbs?

ninerbuff

And if you stay the same weight but drop a dress size or two, what does the number on the scale matter? Why do you want to lose 10 lbs?

THIS. The mirror and how your clothes fit are the best indicator if you're doing it right.

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