Carb loading and water weight

JBHawaii

Hi everyone,
So I usually keep a lower carb diet strictly. Not because im all about the low carb fad but because it actually makes me feel better in the long run

however, this weekend I ran a half marathon. I had a huge carb-load session the day before and then kept good nutrition during the race (simple sugars) and then had a bit of a cheat day after thinking that after burning 2k calories i could basically eat anything i wanted.

shockingly, the day after my race i had gained almost 8 lbs!

Is this attributable to water weight? did i just overdo it and seriously gain that much back?

I am kind of shocked about this as i have been doing amazingly well on my own, without calorie conting, and was able to keep my weight steady (between 172-175) for 2 months.

Any advice would be great as im getting really down about this,

Thanks

Jessb1985

From what I understand also when you train your muscles hard they hold in extra water/glycogen as they're inflammed and trying to recover themselves.

I wouldn't worry too much and see how your weight goes over the next few days.

Congrats on the half marathon

jzammetti

From what I understand also when you train your muscles hard they hold in extra water/glycogen as they're inflammed and trying to recover themselves.

I wouldn't worry too much and see how your weight goes over the next few days.

Congrats on the half marathon

I agree - and this sort of water retention can take 5-8 days to go away.

joehempel

You didn't eat 28000 calories. So you didn't really gain 8lbs.

ixap

It's just water; it'll go away this week! It happens to almost everyone after a hard long race, even if you don't carb load or have a big cheat meal after.

HolleeERL

Probably a lot of water, but maybe some muscle fat you gained during the run. The longer runs help you build and store muscle fat which isn't a bad thing if you want to keep running endurance races - you need that. If you're all about the number, then back off the running for a couple of days and you should see the weight come off. Keep drinking your water, too. I just finished my first full marathon and am the heaviest I've been in a long while. I thought for sure I would lose more, but the muscle fat kept the pounds on. That's okay with me since I am more concerned about the way my body looks and performs rather than a number on a scale. (ask me about that later!) )

michellekicks

I usually carb load before a race for 3-4 days and gain about 4-5 lbs in that time. They usually come of within 2-3 days of cutting calories again. Just make sure you recover from the race and get back to your usual routine. I'm sure they'll leave as quick as they arrived.

Beezil

You didn't eat 28000 calories. So you didn't really gain 8lbs.

^^^ This.

Give it about a week and I'm sure you'll go back to your normal weight, possibly even lower.

konerusp

my husband has been up 8 pounds after his marathon until 2 weeks later.The body just needs time to repair and get back to normal.Dont stress on the scale weight for a little while.

ToughTulip

Probably a lot of water, but maybe some muscle fat you gained during the run. The longer runs help you build and store muscle fat which isn't a bad thing if you want to keep running endurance races - you need that. If you're all about the number, then back off the running for a couple of days and you should see the weight come off. Keep drinking your water, too. I just finished my first full marathon and am the heaviest I've been in a long while. I thought for sure I would lose more, but the muscle fat kept the pounds on. That's okay with me since I am more concerned about the way my body looks and performs rather than a number on a scale. (ask me about that later!) )

muscle fat? :huh:

wackyfunster

Water weight. Carb loading is hilarious. Doing UD2.0 now, and will drop from ~140 to low 130's between carb load and glycogen depletion. Good times.

wackyfunster

Probably a lot of water, but maybe some muscle fat you gained during the run. The longer runs help you build and store muscle fat which isn't a bad thing if you want to keep running endurance races - you need that. If you're all about the number, then back off the running for a couple of days and you should see the weight come off. Keep drinking your water, too. I just finished my first full marathon and am the heaviest I've been in a long while. I thought for sure I would lose more, but the muscle fat kept the pounds on. That's okay with me since I am more concerned about the way my body looks and performs rather than a number on a scale. (ask me about that later!) )

muscle fat? :huh:

It's really strong fat. Why do you think powerlifters look so fat? [/broscience]

pants77

You didn't eat 28000 calories. So you didn't really gain 8lbs.

Well, he gained 8 pounds of something.

My money is on water and poo.

joehempel

You didn't eat 28000 calories. So you didn't really gain 8lbs.

Well, he gained 8 pounds of something.

My money is on water and poo.

My point is that it's imaginary. It's not 8lbs of crap (no pun intended LOL)

michellekicks

Probably a lot of water, but maybe some muscle fat you gained during the run. The longer runs help you build and store muscle fat which isn't a bad thing if you want to keep running endurance races - you need that. If you're all about the number, then back off the running for a couple of days and you should see the weight come off. Keep drinking your water, too. I just finished my first full marathon and am the heaviest I've been in a long while. I thought for sure I would lose more, but the muscle fat kept the pounds on. That's okay with me since I am more concerned about the way my body looks and performs rather than a number on a scale. (ask me about that later!) )

muscle fat? :huh:

It's really strong fat. Why do you think powerlifters look so fat? [/broscience]

^ This. :drinker:

AntWrig

Probably a lot of water, but maybe some muscle fat you gained during the run. The longer runs help you build and store muscle fat which isn't a bad thing if you want to keep running endurance races - you need that. If you're all about the number, then back off the running for a couple of days and you should see the weight come off. Keep drinking your water, too. I just finished my first full marathon and am the heaviest I've been in a long while. I thought for sure I would lose more, but the muscle fat kept the pounds on. That's okay with me since I am more concerned about the way my body looks and performs rather than a number on a scale. (ask me about that later!) )

I don't know what is worse, your comment OR the picture of the guy with the iPad?

mccbabe1

Hi everyone,
So I usually keep a lower carb diet strictly. Not because im all about the low carb fad but because it actually makes me feel better in the long run

however, this weekend I ran a half marathon. I had a huge carb-load session the day before and then kept good nutrition during the race (simple sugars) and then had a bit of a cheat day after thinking that after burning 2k calories i could basically eat anything i wanted.

shockingly, the day after my race i had gained almost 8 lbs!

Is this attributable to water weight? did i just overdo it and seriously gain that much back?

I am kind of shocked about this as i have been doing amazingly well on my own, without calorie conting, and was able to keep my weight steady (between 172-175) for 2 months.

Any advice would be great as im getting really down about this,

Thanks

dude.. you just rant a HALF MARATHON!!!!!!!!!!! and your thinking you gained a 'real' 8 pounds.. umm no you could freakin eat big macs for two days straight and maintain after that kinda exercise.. lol.. heres a link/blog i found online.. this dude gained 10#'s after his half marathon!

http://www.coolrunning.com/forums/Forum4/HTML/010150.shtml

withchaco

Probably a lot of water, but maybe some muscle fat you gained during the run. The longer runs help you build and store muscle fat which isn't a bad thing if you want to keep running endurance races - you need that. If you're all about the number, then back off the running for a couple of days and you should see the weight come off. Keep drinking your water, too. I just finished my first full marathon and am the heaviest I've been in a long while. I thought for sure I would lose more, but the muscle fat kept the pounds on. That's okay with me since I am more concerned about the way my body looks and performs rather than a number on a scale. (ask me about that later!) )

muscle fat? :huh:

I think they mean intramuscular fat, i.e. the difference between a skinless chicken breast and a skinless chicken thigh. I don't think it's possible to gain fat of ANY kind (intramuscular or otherwise) without matching caloric surplus, though...?

wackyfunster

Probably a lot of water, but maybe some muscle fat you gained during the run. The longer runs help you build and store muscle fat which isn't a bad thing if you want to keep running endurance races - you need that. If you're all about the number, then back off the running for a couple of days and you should see the weight come off. Keep drinking your water, too. I just finished my first full marathon and am the heaviest I've been in a long while. I thought for sure I would lose more, but the muscle fat kept the pounds on. That's okay with me since I am more concerned about the way my body looks and performs rather than a number on a scale. (ask me about that later!) )

muscle fat? :huh:

I think they mean intramuscular fat, i.e. the difference between a skinless chicken breast and a skinless chicken thigh. I don't think it's possible to gain fat of ANY kind (intramuscular or otherwise) without matching caloric surplus, though...?

Except for the magic fat you get from eating after 7PM: no matter how much you eat, you will gain at least 3 pounds. Guaranteed.

michellekicks

Or if you eat breakfast... no, wait... I mean if you don't eat breakfast.

JBHawaii

Thanks eveyone. really helpfull. I'll take this gain to be normal and see what happend over the next few days,

signed,

the guy with the ipad... lol... douche @fitnesssocial

MoreBean13

Funny- I was just talking about carb loading with someone on their feed and I saw my friend posted here-

Carb loading is gross!! Anyone who fantasizes about eating carbs should try it for a few days- you end up feeling like the Michelin man! And you never, ever want to see a pretzel again. (until you remember that soft pretzels are delicious a week later) With every molecule of glycogen stored, you get 3 extra water molecules on board. It will go away in a couple days after you get back on your regular diet. The extra glycogen only hangs around as long as you are overloading. So basically, the extra weight means you did it right. Congrats on your race!

zaph0d

For it to be 8 lbs of legitimate weight gain you would need to eat 28,000 calories ABOVE your maintanence level. So, which do you think it is - water, glycogen, food, & waste. Or fat?

JBHawaii

I love the pic Zaphod... great british remake of the book. The US version was horrible.