strength training and weight gain

foodie178

every time I start going to the gym and lifting, I notice that I generally am hungrier and then the scale will consistently read 2-3 lbs up compared to before when I was doing solely cardio. this has been going on for 2 weeks now, and my measurements have stayed the same. I know my calorie intake has increased by 200-300 calories (a typical workout for me has been 25 mins stairmaster, 45 minutes strength training, 2 mile run) and some of that gain is probably muscle mass, but can anyone give me better insight on what's happening and why the scale isn't going down? thanks!

MapleFlavouredMaiden

There's no way to answer this without knowing what your eating is like...

3dogsrunning

Water weight.

When you increase intensity or start an activity, your muscles produce more glycogen in anticipation of the next workout. Glycogen requires water to be stored which results in an increase on the scale, usually 1 or 2 lbs but it depends. This is not your typical water bloat. It is not very noticeable except in the scale. It is totally normal. Eventually your fat loss will catch up and the scale will begin to move.

When I started strength training after a long layoff, the scale went up 2lbs and stayed there for an entire month. My progress photos showed diffences in my face, arms, the area between my waist and hips, but the scale did not (measurements showed very small).

It can also happen with cardio as well.