Started working out and gained weight

jayleehaley1013

I've gained 5 pounds since I started working out and I'm getting frustrated as to why. It always seems to happen when I begin working out that I gain 5-10 pounds. I want to loose weight not gain it.

French_Peasant

Over what period of time? Did you start eating more? Did you account for normal monthly fluctuations? Is it the kind of workout that would cause your muscles to retain water weight?

AlyM725

Could be water retention. If you're not used to working out, your body may retain water to help heal your muscles. It happened to me the first week I worked out too.

French_Peasant

More questions--What are your goals (maintain, lose a little or a lot of weight, OR just become more fit), are you rigorously using MFP to track your calories so you know exactly what you are taking in? Are you weighing yourself at the same time (ex, first thing in the morning) so you've established a consistent weight benchline? The more details you can provide on what you are doing and tracking, the more helpful we can be to try to pinpoint the problem and give you ideas to correct it. There are so many different things that can create the perception (or fact) of weight gain.

ogtmama

It's probably water for muscle repair...but just working out probably won't make you lose weight. You should start logging your food and make sure that you are consuming less than you burn...and are made in the kitchen, not the gym.

yirara

I'm sure it's water retention. Your muscles store more water temporarily to heal themselves. Give it 2-3 weeks, and the water should vanish again. Just keep on working out. It's good for your body.

akf2000

But muscle weighs more than fa-NOT IN THE FACE! NOT IN THE FACE!