Is it normal to gain weight when you first start working out

I'm so glad I came across this post. I was literally starting to have a panic attack when I got on the scale this morning to see a 4lb weight gain. I had weight loss surgery 3 years ago and lost 230lbs. Now I have gained 30lbs back. I am so obsessed with the thought of becoming huge again, I see myself in the mirror like my old self again. So after working out the last 3 weeks, 5 days a week and eating much better I almost died once I stepped on the scale. I can see the positive changes in my body. I have chose to try and "bulk" up so my saggy skin looks better on my arms and legs. So in hoping the gain is in those results I'm seeing in my arms and legs having larger muscles.
Thanks again for this post and I think I will throw my scale away for the next month.

So happy for this info, I really did need it today

Me too! I just guess it was because all my fat is turning to muscle. (I remember reading it many years ago - this was before the Internet, lol) But it's still tough to keep at it when you don't see results right away. Add me if you'd like.

I'm lazy and only work out an hour 3 to 4 times a week....keep up the good work though....I'd love to have to drive to w/o 6 times a week!

No, it's because all of your muscles are retaining water for muscle repair......

or, unless that's supposed to say guessed then you already knew that.

Needed this ta-day!!! (Dramatic for today )

yes it's water weight. Your muscles are retaining water. Or so I've heard.

It's water retention. Stay off the scale anyway. Take measurements. MUCH for accurate for progress.

And muscle does NOT weigh more than fat. 1 pound of muscle weighs the same about as 1 pound of fat. Muscle is more dense so it takes up less space.

I am completely perplexed! I began a new workout regimen recently (5 weeks ago) 3- 60 minute, pretty intense, Zumba classes and 2-3 Body Blast classes (using weights) per week. I also am staying within my calories with myfitnesspal, even eating the earned calories from cardio. I have gained at least 6 pounds!!! I was weighing myself daily but put the scale in the closet last week. When I jumped on the scale yesterday, I had gained again! Getting very frustrated! These posts say that it takes 2 weeks to see a difference but this hasn't happened yet for me. HELP!!!

bump for future gain paranoia...

So glad I read this today!!! I was seriously discouraged after two weeks of hitting it hard and the scale is EXACTLY where it was when I started. I did measure though, an inch gone, so that's something. Thanks for the information guys.

Aw man I wish I had seen this before I went on a complete rage the other day (actually on my 30th birthday is when I weighed myself) to my boyfriend about how I had gained 2 lbs after not drinking pop for a month, eating a LOT healthier, and working out 6 days a week. I said "I gave up Code Red Mountain Dew and I GAINED WEIGHT?!" He said maybe I was retaining water. I laughed at him. Now I find out he's right. I feel a LOT better but can't tell him he was right because I'll never live it down.

I read all the replies and post for this topic.

One question I'd love to ask is, after 2-3 days of intense work out, should we give ourselves a break and see the scale to come back to normal and then started again? Or continuously work out intensively?

I guess my point is I totally believe the water retaining leading to increase in the scale number, and our body did need a rest. So should we give it a break, turning muscle/cardio training into a 30 min walk daily for a couple of days then restart the intensive working out?

How to gain muscle but at the meantime, lose fat???!!! So the number on scale would look happy

I retained water for the first 2 weeks, then it came off. It was never fat, it was just water retention that resolved. Your muscles build up glycogen when you first start lifting, I have been told it takes up to a month to resolve for some people.

Great post!