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Temporary weight gain after a long run?

peacerunner
peacerunner Posts: 30 Member
in Social Groups
Does this happen to anyone else? I noticed last weekend a jump of about 4 pounds after my Sunday long run that just went away a bout Wednesday . Noticing the same thing this week, went 10 on Saturday and my weight is still up about 3 pounds this morning.
Freaks me out but I guess if it is kind of normal I would feel better about it.

Replies

  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    i never weigh after my long run, but it stands to reason that your body is retaining water for repair.
  • MobyCarp
    MobyCarp Posts: 2,927 Member
    I typically have a temporary weight loss of a pound or so the day after a long run. I have noticed that while I'm in training for a marathon and running 6 days a week, my weight fluctuates more day to day than it did when I was only running 4 days a week and not training for anything in particular.
  • kristinegift
    kristinegift Posts: 2,406 Member
    edited March 2016
    Haha, yes... but I think for me personally it has more to do with the fact that I eat ~3000 calories (about half of it being lots of fatty, greasy food) the day after a long run, and it takes a few days to, uh... process.
  • peacerunner
    peacerunner Posts: 30 Member
    edited March 2016
    Yeah I definitely have been overeating the few days after but like 4 pounds worth of overeating seems like a lot. I need to get that in check.
  • cw106
    cw106 Posts: 952 Member
    yes,normally water weight for muscle repair in my case.drifts back down after 48-72 hours usually.
  • trswallow
    trswallow Posts: 116 Member
    There are a couple possible causes:

    1) Water retention due to muscle damage and repair.

    2) Consuming extra food around your long runs.
    • The extra carbs consumed will also result in water being retained when the water binds with glucose

    3) Increased water consumption during and after a run.
    • Every 8 ounce cup of liquid weights around 1/2 pound. On a long run day I frequently increase my consumption from my normal 8-10 cups to 16-20 cups, which would be an extra 3-6 pounds of water.
    • However this extra water weight would need to be offset by loses through sweat and extra bathroom visits. This extra water would likely be out of your system in 24 hours except where it is being retained as noted above.

    If you are back to your previous weight after a few days, then there is nothing to be overly concerned about.
  • OrionSlayer
    OrionSlayer Posts: 29 Member
    I have noticed weight gains (1 to 2 lbs.) after a long weekend run. The interesting thing is that Wednesday morning is consistently the day of the week I weigh the lowest in a week. Who knows why? I guess the lesson for me is to always weigh on Wednesday morning!
  • peacerunner
    peacerunner Posts: 30 Member
    I weighed in back to normal this morning. Very relieved.
  • Elise4270
    Elise4270 Posts: 8,375 Member
    I ran a half March 20th and my weight was normal yesterday, April 1st. I wonder if women experience this more readily than men. I gained at least 4 pounds.
  • WhatMeRunning
    WhatMeRunning Posts: 3,538 Member
    I am lighter right after a long run, heavier the next morning, and always lightest the morning after a rest day.

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