This is the part where I always give up on MFP

Alkirra

No. When you lift heavy you tear muscle. when you tear muscle your body uses amino acids from protein and water to heal, just like if you got a cut on yoru hand, the cut itself swells and rises up. Just like with a muscle, when I shred a killer workout, I gain 3 pounds the next day, that's my muscles holding onto extra water due to inflammation and cellular repair!!!

Don't get discouraged, lift more!

This

Yaya1976

Everyone's body is different. Don't give up just because you've gained a couple of lbs. Give it 3 months for sure you'll see a change in your body. Nothing worth doing is going to be easy. I don't believe that there's an easy way to lose weight. It takes dedication and when you're feeling down, no one but YOU can pick yourself up. I love this site. All the friends I have are encouraging and just plain awesome, but at the end of the day, YOU have to eat right, YOU have to exercise and YOU have to motivate yourself from the inside out! DON'T GIVE UP!!!

yoovie

wildfirediva

STEP AWAY FROM THE SCALE!
Find your Motivation in other activities and other progress measures like how many crunches, push-ups, minutes to walk/jog/run a mile etc.
Consistency with nutrition and exercise is key. If you see a 2 lb gain one day and 4 lb loss the next it can often set up a binge and starve mentality....eating too little for several days or allowing too much on other days. Making a person feeling more guilty or bad or whatever. Your mind is the hardest to get into shape.

Break the scale habit and look at the big picture of overall health and well-being associated with better fitness and nutrition (not "diet" and being "skinny"). A fitter, toned, stronger self will happen.


"Body and soul cannot be separated for purposes of treatment, for they are one and indivisible. Sick minds must be healed as well as sick bodies." -C. Jeff Miller

vim_n_vigor

When starting a new exercise program, your muscles can retain water for a period of time to protect and repair your muscles from your workouts. As you get adjusted to your workouts, the water won't stay around. I have gained up to 10 pounds for 2 months depending on the intensity of the workout. It isn't fat that you gain. It is a good thing. Just work through it.

pixie39

Just last night I was reading up on some tips in a running book and came across something that may help you. It is common when incorporating weight training into you workout for the scale to go up. Please dont get discouraged. Weight training is one of the most effective ways to burn calories. The more muscle you have the more calories you burn sitting still. Try to be health focused and let weight come off. Try not to weigh yourself more than once a week. Just go by how your clothes fit.Good luck I hope this helps. Also when you see the scale go up dont give up dig in and fight.:flowerforyou:

imcatbear

I'm addicted to the scale. I step on it *way* too many times. That said, I've learned not to log my weight on here every day because the up and downs make me crazy! Tell yourself you will only log once a week-that has helped to keep me sane.

I measure body parts and although I have only lost 4-5 pounds from 6-8 weeks ago on the days I am not retaining fluid, those few pounds were the difference between a snug 16 and a 14. Because I am working out and my body is readjusting itself. I also have tendonosis, chronic inflammation, of my Achilles-it's really hard to see how my body changes when I use my ankles as the gauge.

I try to eat half of the suggested sodium on here. That helps me as well.

Good luck, you can do this. Also I think a 3 month trial period is perfectly worth it.