Carb loading and water weight
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JBHawaii
Posts: 94
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
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
0
Replies
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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 marathon0 -
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.0 -
You didn't eat 28000 calories. So you didn't really gain 8lbs.0
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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.0
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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!) )0
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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.0
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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.0 -
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.0
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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:0 -
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.0
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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:0 -
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.0 -
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)0 -
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:
^ This. :drinker:0 -
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!) )0
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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.shtml0 -
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:0 -
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:0 -
Or if you eat breakfast... no, wait... I mean if you don't eat breakfast.0
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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 @fitnesssocial0
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