Kind of New - What about Weight gain after working out.

tessy

I have been on MFP for a while but never got on too chat and ask questions. I must say what
a great group of people are on here. I have read so many different questions and some of
the great support people have given. I do have a question for anyone who might have some
advice. I have gotten back on track and have been working out at the gym for about 4 weeks
now and somehow have gained almost 3 pounds. Everytime I start to work out I gain and
then I get frustrated and start slacking. I am determined this time and wondered if anyone
else has had this same frustration. I am doing the calorie counting and watching what I
eat pretty well but the scale is going to wrong way. Any help would be great.

tessy

I have been on MFP for a while but never got on too chat and ask questions. I must say what
a great group of people are on here. I have read so many different questions and some of
the great support people have given. I do have a question for anyone who might have some
advice. I have gotten back on track and have been working out at the gym for about 4 weeks
now and somehow have gained almost 3 pounds. Everytime I start to work out I gain and
then I get frustrated and start slacking. I am determined this time and wondered if anyone
else has had this same frustration. I am doing the calorie counting and watching what I
eat pretty well but the scale is going to wrong way. Any help would be great.

jhollyw00d

It could be happening for a myriad of reasons! Are you drinking enough water? Was it "that time of the month?" When are you getting on the scale? What kinds of things have you been eating? High sodium? Are you are staying within your calories, eating just enough, or are you eating less than it says to eat? (Read this article: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/3047-700-calories-a-day-and-not-losing)

If anyone tells you that it's because muscle weighs more than fat DON'T LISTEN TO THEM!!! It's not true. Muscle is more compact than fat, but does not weigh more.

Get off of the scale and get out the measuring tape. Take your measurements and keep track that way. Do you feel that your clothes are fitting differently? That's the best way to really measure your success.

Keep up the great work. Don't get discouraged, you will see the change that you are looking for one way or another!

molsongirl

It could be happening for a myriad of reasons! Are you drinking enough water? Was it "that time of the month?" When are you getting on the scale? What kinds of things have you been eating? High sodium? Are you are staying within your calories, eating just enough, or are you eating less than it says to eat? (Read this article: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/3047-700-calories-a-day-and-not-losing)

If anyone tells you that it's because muscle weighs more than fat DON'T LISTEN TO THEM!!! It's not true. Muscle is more compact than fat, but does not weigh more.

Get off of the scale and get out the measuring tape. Take your measurements and keep track that way. Do you feel that your clothes are fitting differently? That's the best way to really measure your success.

Keep up the great work. Don't get discouraged, you will see the change that you are looking for one way or another!

WHAT??? it absolutely does weigh more, where did you get that info from? i'm a fit model, andlet me tell you IT WEIGHS MORE, sucks to hear, but it's the truth

molsongirl

Muscle density is 1.06 g/ml and fat density is (about) 0.9
g/ml. Thus, one liter of muscle would weight 1.06 kg and one liter of
fat would weight 0.9 kg. In other words, muscle is about 18% denses
than fat. This should not be confused with the "energy density" of
muscle and fat

tessy

Thanks for replying. I do know about the gain around that time and I have started to notice
dress pants for work aren't quite as snug. I have 2 cups of coffee in the morning and then
all I drink all day is water. I am just trying to figure out how I could be going the wrong way
on the scale. It is frustrating as I'm sure you all know. Hadn't really thought about the salt
thing. Maybe I should watch that a little closer and see if it helps.

Anna_Banana

It could be happening for a myriad of reasons! Are you drinking enough water? Was it "that time of the month?" When are you getting on the scale? What kinds of things have you been eating? High sodium? Are you are staying within your calories, eating just enough, or are you eating less than it says to eat? (Read this article: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/3047-700-calories-a-day-and-not-losing)

If anyone tells you that it's because muscle weighs more than fat DON'T LISTEN TO THEM!!! It's not true. Muscle is more compact than fat, but does not weigh more.

Get off of the scale and get out the measuring tape. Take your measurements and keep track that way. Do you feel that your clothes are fitting differently? That's the best way to really measure your success.

Keep up the great work. Don't get discouraged, you will see the change that you are looking for one way or another!

WHAT??? it absolutely does weigh more, where did you get that info from? i'm a fit model, andlet me tell you IT WEIGHS MORE, sucks to hear, but it's the truth

No it doesn't weigh more. 1 pound of muscle weighs the exact same as 1 pound of fat, a pound is a pound. However muscle is more dense thus 1 pound of muscle takes up less room than 1 pound of fat. And you will never replace muscle with fat because they are different things. You may lose fat and gain muscle, but one doesn't actually "replace" the other.

Now back to why your gaining weight. When I exercise I tend to eat more, and I have to make sure to eat the right foods. Do you eat more when you exercise? Make sure to eat your exercise calories, but don't overindulge. Now if you think you are gaining weight because you are gaining muscle, that could be true, but to actually gain muscle you have to eat more calories a day then you need and you probably can't gain more than 1 to 2 pounds a month of muscle and to do that you would have to be doing exercises that are made to strengthen muscles.

My bet would be lack of water. You need to drink more water when you are exercising, it helps flush stuff out of your body that is released when you exercise. Not drinking enough water can make you retain and that can add 5 pounds to a person easily.

I know that you shouldn't weigh yourself everyday, but if you do weigh in and weigh more (after you've been working hard) I would drink plenty of water all day and weigh myself the next morning. My weight will fluctuate up to 5 pounds from day to day, and if I don't like what the scale says one day, I check it again the next.

kimss

I have been going the same way,no loss and it took about 6 weeks of working out and changing my diet until I finally lost 4lbs in 1 week. It was like I had to get through, muscle verses fat, water weight, salt and that time of the month before I saw a little drop of the scale. I have only been here for 1 week but I feel like progress is coming. my clothes are fitting better and I have lost an inch in my waist, thats were I need it the most, I can suck it in and see my c-section scar for the first time, yea......!!! so have faith and keep up the great work and stick with it, your going to make it. we all will!!!!!!

jhollyw00d

Thanks for replying. I do know about the gain around that time and I have started to notice
dress pants for work aren't quite as snug. I have 2 cups of coffee in the morning and then
all I drink all day is water. I am just trying to figure out how I could be going the wrong way
on the scale. It is frustrating as I'm sure you all know. Hadn't really thought about the salt
thing. Maybe I should watch that a little closer and see if it helps.

What are you putting into your coffee???

molsongirl

It could be happening for a myriad of reasons! Are you drinking enough water? Was it "that time of the month?" When are you getting on the scale? What kinds of things have you been eating? High sodium? Are you are staying within your calories, eating just enough, or are you eating less than it says to eat? (Read this article: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/3047-700-calories-a-day-and-not-losing)

If anyone tells you that it's because muscle weighs more than fat DON'T LISTEN TO THEM!!! It's not true. Muscle is more compact than fat, but does not weigh more.

Get off of the scale and get out the measuring tape. Take your measurements and keep track that way. Do you feel that your clothes are fitting differently? That's the best way to really measure your success.



I'm going to stop hear, because people aren't getting it, yes a pound is a pound, but when you talk about density, and fat vs muscle in your body it's a different story, muscle density vs fat density ....it's not a pound is a pound
Keep up the great work. Don't get discouraged, you will see the change that you are looking for one way or another!

WHAT??? it absolutely does weigh more, where did you get that info from? i'm a fit model, andlet me tell you IT WEIGHS MORE, sucks to hear, but it's the truth

No it doesn't weigh more. 1 pound of muscle weighs the exact same as 1 pound of fat, a pound is a pound. However muscle is more dense thus 1 pound of muscle takes up less room than 1 pound of fat. And you will never replace muscle with fat because they are different things. You may lose fat and gain muscle, but one doesn't actually "replace" the other.

Now back to why your gaining weight. When I exercise I tend to eat more, and I have to make sure to eat the right foods. Do you eat more when you exercise? Make sure to eat your exercise calories, but don't overindulge. Now if you think you are gaining weight because you are gaining muscle, that could be true, but to actually gain muscle you have to eat more calories a day then you need and you probably can't gain more than 1 to 2 pounds a month of muscle and to do that you would have to be doing exercises that are made to strengthen muscles.

My bet would be lack of water. You need to drink more water when you are exercising, it helps flush stuff out of your body that is released when you exercise. Not drinking enough water can make you retain and that can add 5 pounds to a person easily.

I know that you shouldn't weigh yourself everyday, but if you do weigh in and weigh more (after you've been working hard) I would drink plenty of water all day and weigh myself the next morning. My weight will fluctuate up to 5 pounds from day to day, and if I don't like what the scale says one day, I check it again the next.

jhollyw00d

No it doesn't weigh more. 1 pound of muscle weighs the exact same as 1 pound of fat, a pound is a pound. However muscle is more dense thus 1 pound of muscle takes up less room than 1 pound of fat. And you will never replace muscle with fat because they are different things. You may lose fat and gain muscle, but one doesn't actually "replace" the other.

Now back to why your gaining weight. When I exercise I tend to eat more, and I have to make sure to eat the right foods. Do you eat more when you exercise? Make sure to eat your exercise calories, but don't overindulge. Now if you think you are gaining weight because you are gaining muscle, that could be true, but to actually gain muscle you have to eat more calories a day then you need and you probably can't gain more than 1 to 2 pounds a month of muscle and to do that you would have to be doing exercises that are made to strengthen muscles.

My bet would be lack of water. You need to drink more water when you are exercising, it helps flush stuff out of your body that is released when you exercise. Not drinking enough water can make you retain and that can add 5 pounds to a person easily.

I know that you shouldn't weigh yourself everyday, but if you do weigh in and weigh more (after you've been working hard) I would drink plenty of water all day and weigh myself the next morning. My weight will fluctuate up to 5 pounds from day to day, and if I don't like what the scale says one day, I check it again the next.

Thank you!

MOMOFTWO29

Hello and welcome to MFP. You will love this site if you don't already. I love this site, it is so motivational, supportive, helpful, and everyone is so nice, and friendly. I just wanted to tell you good luck on your weight loss journey. You can do this.:flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:

tessy

Thanks for the input and I did print off that article. I read some of it and it makes sense. Maybe I have
been not eating enough so my body is freaking out since I am back to working out. I try to lift weights
and do cardio but I have also started doing my cd's of Gilad again. I don't know if you guys know who
he is but he has been around forever and talk about motivation. He is it. He is also on FiTv if any of
you ever watch any of that. I really think I can do this and hopefully this time I can stay on track and lose the weight instead of trying to do it alone. It really does help to have others who "get it" if you know what I mean.

jhollyw00d

Totally!

Keep me posted about how it's going. I want to hear all about it when that weight starts coming off!

:glasses:

neeterskeeter

Muscle and fat weigh the same but muscle looks lighter because it is denser... also muscle helps you burn fat, so it is much better to have your weight be in muscle than in fat.

However, you *can* gain muscle when you start working out... by building muscle, which weighs the same as fat, on top of the fat. It also takes cardio and eating well to lose the fat so that the muscle shows. For this reason a lot of people gain weight initially... I do, if I haven't worked out hard for awhile, but then my body adjusts. So I say keep at it and give your body time to adjust to this change, and make sure you are doing enough cardio and eating well, if you are mainly lifting weights. Good luck.