Gain weight after intense workout?

Andrea1rp

After a 9 mile hike up and down a mountain, 3000 ft elevation gain, and a mile hike treading water, I'm very sore. We hiked for 5 hours and an additional hour for the water hike. What I don't get is that instead of losing weight, I gained 4 pounds from the day before the hike to the day after.

Is this just fluid retention? Will this go away after a couple days? Makes no sense.

strong_curves

Water weight most likely. I wouldn't sweat it. But did you really expect to lose weight overnight?

carliekitty

I did a pretty intense hike a few years back and had the same experience. It took two weeks for the weight to come off but when it did it came off w a few lbs extra

Sued0nim

Absolutely water weight

Give if a week

ManiacalLaugh

I hiked 6 miles this weekend and gained 5 lbs (it was super, super humid, and I had indulged in some fatty, salty foods, as well). I'm 100% certain it's water weight.

You're not going to gain fat in a day like that. You'd had to have eaten your maintenance, plus 3,500 calories x 4, plus how ever much you burned in that hike (which was probably in the thousands of calories) to gain 4 lbs of fat. If anything, you probably came in way under. Give it about a week or so and all of that will be gone plus some (if you continue to eat at a deficit).

DeguelloTex

The graph of my daily weights is a zig-zag. Higher on average on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday -- the days after I lift -- and lower on the rest.

TimothyFish

Sore muscles always retain additional water. Once the soreness goes away, so will the extra weight.

segacs

Your muscles will retain some water after an intense workout, especially if you're using muscles you haven't used in a while.

Andrea1rp

maniacallaugh wrote: »

I hiked 6 miles this weekend and gained 5 lbs (it was super, super humid, and I had indulged in some fatty, salty foods, as well). I'm 100% certain it's water weight.

You're not going to gain fat in a day like that. You'd had to have eaten your maintenance, plus 3,500 calories x 4, plus how ever much you burned in that hike (which was probably in the thousands of calories) to gain 4 lbs of fat. If anything, you probably came in way under. Give it about a week or so and all of that will be gone plus some (if you continue to eat at a deficit).

Ah! I didn't think about salty foods. Definitely indulged after the hike. Phew-not so worried then.

Andrea1rp

strong_curves wrote: »

Water weight most likely. I wouldn't sweat it. But did you really expect to lose weight overnight?

Haha-one can dream! I was more worried about the high overnight weight gain than anything. Thanks for the help!

Katiaxx13

I appreciate this post. I'm trying to lose 10-15 and eat very clean and am on my way. I love to work out and have been trying new fitness classes every week. I notice when my muscles are extra sore the scale is 2-3 pounds up and then it shots down with about a pound in the negative.

Andrea1rp

Katiaxx13 wrote: »

I appreciate this post. I'm trying to lose 10-15 and eat very clean and am on my way. I love to work out and have been trying new fitness classes every week. I notice when my muscles are extra sore the scale is 2-3 pounds up and then it shots down with about a pound in the negative.

Dropped about 3 pounds in my sleep so I think I'll be good-still extremely sore but going to at least walk tonight

BumbleBreeBuzz

Katiaxx13 wrote: »

I appreciate this post. I'm trying to lose 10-15 and eat very clean and am on my way. I love to work out and have been trying new fitness classes every week. I notice when my muscles are extra sore the scale is 2-3 pounds up and then it shots down with about a pound in the negative.

I have noticed the same thing! I love weighing every day but i only report once a week so i don't have to report increases i have in the middle of the week from exercise