exercise and weight gain/stalling?

Viewparadise

I have found that on days that I get a lot of exercise and still eat the way that I normally do, the next day when I weigh myself, the scale will actually be UP or at the same number. On days I don't get a lot of exercise or none, the scale stays the same or even goes down a tiny bit. To be fair, I have only lost 5 lbs, so I am by no means looking at a long range study here! I just find it curious that this happens and I don't want to be 'put off' of exercise by this effect! Why does this happen?

MellyPfromVT

When you tax your muscles they sometimes retain water to help with recovery. This would cause your weight to so up or stay the same.

kellywaller1

same thing happens to me, I always lose on the days I don't excersize. Thats why those rest days are so important!!!

maemiller

Afterwgt training I'm up 1-2 lbs since your muscles hold on to water. Whereas during card you may lose wgt because of dehydration

Viewparadise

Does drinking more water then flush it out, or is this an effect you have to live with until your body adjusts?

thunderthighs17

yes drinking more water does flush it out and stretching also helps a lot too.

JMun

When you tax your muscles they sometimes retain water to help with recovery. This would cause your weight to so up or stay the same.

agree

Does drinking more water then flush it out, or is this an effect you have to live with until your body adjusts?

Drinking more water will help your body recover but the momentary weight gain is completely normal and will be totally different for everyone. When you work out hard you are damaging your muscles. The muscles are forced to repair themselves and get bigger/stronger each time. They hang on to water depending on how hard they need to work to recover.

Lowering your sodium intake & increasing your water intake as well as protein intake will definitely help reduce recovery time.

Good luck to you

Viewparadise

When you tax your muscles they sometimes retain water to help with recovery. This would cause your weight to so up or stay the same.

agree

Does drinking more water then flush it out, or is this an effect you have to live with until your body adjusts?

Drinking more water will help your body recover but the momentary weight gain is completely normal and will be totally different for everyone. When you work out hard you are damaging your muscles. The muscles are forced to repair themselves and get bigger/stronger each time. They hang on to water depending on how hard they need to work to recover.

Lowering your sodium intake & increasing your water intake as well as protein intake will definitely help reduce recovery time.

Good luck to you

Thanks for your explanation and encouragment!

Azdak

Weight gain and loss do not go in 24 hour cycles. It's possible/likely that what you are seeing on the scale has nothing to do with what you did (exercise) that day or even the previous one.

sleepytexan

Make sure you are eating your exercise calories or you will stall and/or GAIN.

DO NOT listen to people who tell you not to eat your exercise calories. It is fact proven over and over that you must eat them. If you doubt, ask a fit, healthy person or any athlete about their calorie intake.

Here is a great explanation:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/196502-for-the-people-who-work-out-like-crazy-and-are-not-losing?hl=for+people+who+work+out+like+crazy

Good luck.

blessings.