Just started INSANITY- gained some weight?!

zlottery
zlottery Posts: 25
edited January 2 in Fitness and Exercise
SW: 186
CW: 160

GW1: 160
GW2: 145

UGW: 135

Hey guys,

So, I started my weightloss back in July and I've been consistently losing about 8 lbs a month with diet and exercise. Up until last Tuesday, my exercise has mainly consisted of long runs and some elliptical training. I started Insanity last Tuesday and I've only skipped one day so far (and I did a ton of walking that day) and my diet has been flawless since starting it a week ago (no unhealthy food, staying under 1500 calories) and I GAINED close to a pound :/. I had a very specific goal weight I was hoping to reach by the end of the month and it was looking attainable until I started the workout.

Now, I heard something about muscle soreness (which I'm experiencing) having something to do with weight gain but I'm still really worried/a little discouraged. Is this normal? I'm not seeing any results from the workouts YET but I've felt a ton of soreness so that must mean my muscles are getting stronger/toned, right??

Any advice is welcome.

Replies

  • seashell99z
    seashell99z Posts: 113 Member
    Gaining muscle? Muscles retaining water? Water retention?
  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    Totally normal and yes, it has to do with muscle soreness. Any time you start exercising, change things up, increase the intensity, your muscle fibers will be retaining water and glycogen as part of the natural healing process. Think of it like when you twist your ankle - it swells up right? Same thing is happening in your muscles, it's just not as visibly obvious because it's spread over a larger area.

    Make sure you're drinking plenty of water and stretching well and be patient. It'll evern out in the end.

    ETA: It's NOT muscle gain...that is such a huge common misconception. Women especially cannot gain muscle that quickly. smh
  • MsP90X
    MsP90X Posts: 1,053 Member
    My advice with Insanity... measure yourself and stay off the scale. I did not lose weight at all on Insanity but went down one full pant size! Use your tape measure to gauge your success this round, you will thank yourself later ;)
  • Jbarbo01
    Jbarbo01 Posts: 240 Member
    Totally normal, sore muscles retain water. I always gain water weight the day or a couple days after exercise that makes me really sore or is really strenuous.
  • xoyasminxo
    xoyasminxo Posts: 132
    It is muscle weight. And remember you need to have some rest days to RECOVER and build the muscle. Don't injure yourself. And muscle weighs more than fat. So it is no surprise that you would be gaining weight.
  • VanessaGS
    VanessaGS Posts: 514 Member
    So you just started the workout last week and haven't seen any results? Of course not...you JUST STARTED IT! Trust me you will get results. I've done 36 workouts so far of the DVD and have noticed a huge difference. Look on my profile and you can see my results so far on the left side. It's normal when you start a new routine that you will show a little weight gain, but don't be worried about 1 lb. It' will come back down. Just keep at it and take your measurements.
  • shinkalork
    shinkalork Posts: 815 Member
    My advice with Insanity... measure yourself and stay off the scale. I did not lose weight at all on Insanity but went down one full pant size! Use your tape measure to gauge your success this round, you will thank yourself later ;)

    I agree...... Do not use a scale!....not right away...Wait til Recovery week.
    You will change your body..gaining muscles and losing many inches...THAT'S WHAT COUNT HERE!
    measure yourself and use a mirror... A scale doesn't count muscles mass and bone structure etc... etc...
  • Chgosportsgal
    Chgosportsgal Posts: 38
    I'm starting Insanity today, so let me know if you would like to connect for support. I've consistently heard that some folks gain a little weight in the beginning. Chalene Johnson is the creator of Turbo Fire which is intense like Insanity. Maybe this article will help?

    https://www.turbokick.com/wblog/?p=709
  • wswilliams67
    wswilliams67 Posts: 938 Member
    A scale is only one tool. Get a Body Fat meter (I use the Omron handheld one) or some calipers and a tape measure. As long as your body fat % keeps going down, any weight gain is most likely water/muscle... more than likely water. Just stick with it.
  • sweetNsassy2584
    sweetNsassy2584 Posts: 515 Member
    Your weight can fluctuate up to 5 pounds if not more daily.. Weight yourself once a week and quit stressing.
  • RenewedRunner
    RenewedRunner Posts: 423 Member
    Muscle DOES NOT weigh more than fat. A pound of bricks or a pound of feathers, both weigh a pound.

    You may just be due for a slowdown, 8 pounds a month for 5 months is pretty impressive. Like others say, when you start new exercises and feel sore, that is actually microtears in your muscles. You will be retaining water/fluid for a few days while they heal. Just look at this way: you have to eat 3500 calories to gain a pound. Did you do this? If not then probably didnt truly "gain" weight
  • A_Valerie
    A_Valerie Posts: 129 Member
    Muscle DOES NOT weigh more than fat. A pound of bricks or a pound of feathers, both weigh a pound.

    You may just be due for a slowdown, 8 pounds a month for 5 months is pretty impressive. Like others say, when you start new exercises and feel sore, that is actually microtears in your muscles. You will be retaining water/fluid for a few days while they heal. Just look at this way: you have to eat 3500 calories to gain a pound. Did you do this? If not then probably didnt truly "gain" weight

    I think you are confusing the point. Yes, a pound of fat or a pound of muscle are equal in weight but not in volume. a pound of muscle in volume is much less than a pound of fat. So while you may way the same or even gain a pound or two your size will likely have shrunk. That is why measurements are so important and far more accurate measurement of progress.
  • RenewedRunner
    RenewedRunner Posts: 423 Member
    Muscle DOES NOT weigh more than fat. A pound of bricks or a pound of feathers, both weigh a pound.

    You may just be due for a slowdown, 8 pounds a month for 5 months is pretty impressive. Like others say, when you start new exercises and feel sore, that is actually microtears in your muscles. You will be retaining water/fluid for a few days while they heal. Just look at this way: you have to eat 3500 calories to gain a pound. Did you do this? If not then probably didnt truly "gain" weight

    I think you are confusing the point. Yes, a pound of fat or a pound of muscle are equal in weight but not in volume. a pound of muscle in volume is much less than a pound of fat. So while you may way the same or even gain a pound or two your size will likely have shrunk. That is why measurements are so important and far more accurate measurement of progress.


    Umm I dont think I confused the issue. Volume is a different measurement than weight. Someone said that muscle WEIGHS more than fat. It doesn't. If we were saying that it takes more muscle to fill a space than fat, this would be true. My 5th grader understands this concept so just trying to ensure others do as well since I see a lot of the "muscle weighs more than fat" statements around here.

    And I don't quibble over the importance of measurements. I would personally rather weigh 155 pounds and be 12% body fat than weigh 140 pounds and be 22% body fat. Muscle is my goal-losing the weight is just the means to seeing the definition.
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