Sudden weight gain help?

runway12
runway12 Posts: 63 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
So, I began lifting 45 mins a day 5 days a week about a month ago. The results in muscle growth I am seeing are great, but I'm really confused about the scale.. last friday my weight was normal then the next day when I woke up it was 5 pounds heavier and I was bloated in the stomach even though I have not eaten any differently or had any cheat meals.. its been over a week and the 5 pound gain that literally happened overnight is still there but I don't look any bigger other than muscle growth.... is the 5 pounds going to go away soon because over a week is a while.... or is it the scale suddenly showing my muscle gains?

Replies

  • scmlg
    scmlg Posts: 1 Member
    My experience has been that when I do more and more weights those gains happen, and I think they are my body retaining water as the muscle is having to repair itself. The scale can down just as quickly as it can go up... and honest to goodness I just posted in my private facebook group this morning that the tape measure is such a better tool than the scale. You can gain 2lbs one week while you see 3-5 inches lost in the same week. and to me .. I'll take that over the number on the scale any day. You know?
  • ecl265
    ecl265 Posts: 16 Member
    I agree with scmlg that it is water retention. I recently experienced the same thing. I started doing a lot more strength training and as a result of that, I think my muscles really started holding onto water while I adjusted to my new routine. I stopped weighing myself for a few weeks because it was so frustrating! As you did, I put on almost 5 lbs overnight. I was visibly bloated, especially in my stomach area, and felt heavy all over. It took a couple weeks, but the weight finally came off and now I look/feel a whole lot better! Just give it time; it will resolve itself. There's no way you can put on 5 lbs of fat or muscle overnight. My understanding of it is that it takes time to really build up muscle, so I doubt you would see a 5 lb gain from muscle alone overnight. Don't panic or stress over it. If it upsets you the way it did me, just take a little break from weighing yourself until you start to feel less bloated.

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