Weight gain after starting to lift

shammathews
shammathews Posts: 56 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I just started a lifting program last week and have noticed a weight gain of about 2-3lbs. Normal? Water retention? Will this go down after my body "gets used" to the program?

Replies

  • yopeeps025
    yopeeps025 Posts: 8,680 Member
    Water retention it is since water is also used to repair the muscle.
  • samammay
    samammay Posts: 468
    Normal: yes. Go down: yes and no. If you weigh every day, you might notice yourself a bit heavier on days after lifting (i.e. days you are sore). This is your body retaining water to repair the muscles.

    My advice: step away from the scale for a few weeks and only use a tape measure to measure your progress.
  • shammathews
    shammathews Posts: 56 Member
    Thank you both. I agree I should step away from the scale.. I can already notice a difference in my appearance but I've been hung up on "THE" number for so long now, it's kind of hard to let that go..
  • lili61
    lili61 Posts: 231 Member
    Completely normal. I've been lifting 3x a week for about 6 months and have probably only lost about 5 pounds, but measurements have changed a lot. I weigh myself mostly out of curiosity, and I regularly jump around a 3-pound range. I often "gain" the day after a hard lift.
  • branflakes1980
    branflakes1980 Posts: 2,516 Member
    shammathews wrote: »
    Thank you both. I agree I should step away from the scale.. I can already notice a difference in my appearance but I've been hung up on "THE" number for so long now, it's kind of hard to let that go..

    I feel ya, because I have been there. I started at 154 lbs wanting to get down to 130. Funny thing is I got to 130 with only a deficit and cardio but I still wasn't happy with how I looked, started lifting now I'm right around 140 but I had to buy a smaller size clothes and my measurements are smaller than they were when I was at 130. I used to weigh every morning, now I weigh maybe once a month. The scale is not always right :) Good luck to you!!

  • shammathews
    shammathews Posts: 56 Member
    Thanks for the replies. Yesterday was a pretty intense workout, so I guess that would explain the gain today. I have gotten better about weighing everyday, now it's more like once a week. Definitely going to invest in some measuring tape from now on!
  • DvlDwnInGA
    DvlDwnInGA Posts: 368 Member
    samammay wrote: »
    Normal: yes. Go down: yes and no. If you weigh every day, you might notice yourself a bit heavier on days after lifting (i.e. days you are sore). This is your body retaining water to repair the muscles.

    My advice: step away from the scale for a few weeks and only use a tape measure to measure your progress.

    This. Once you start lifting weights the scale is going to drive you crazy. Forgot about the scale and take a photo of yourself at the beginning of each month so you can see the difference, also take a measurements so you stay motivated.
  • Jesssamesssa
    Jesssamesssa Posts: 116 Member
    I started lifting weights 10 weeks ago and I have only lost like 10-12 lbs. But I have also gained 10 lbs of muscle and lost 27% of my total body fat. I went from 34.3% to 24.8%. I stopped caring about the pounds and now I focus on the body fat %s. I have also lost 2 dress sizes.....
  • Lennox497
    Lennox497 Posts: 242 Member
    branflakes1980 wrote: »
    shammathews wrote: »
    Thank you both. I agree I should step away from the scale.. I can already notice a difference in my appearance but I've been hung up on "THE" number for so long now, it's kind of hard to let that go..

    Branflakes1980 said it best. Do not become fixated on the scale alone. To me it has always been about how do I feel. Has my energy increased, can I feel my muscles expand and contract in daily movements.
  • shammathews
    shammathews Posts: 56 Member
    Well today I avoided the scale but put on some pants that were too tight about two weeks ago and they fit great! So I guess something is working :)
  • yopeeps025
    yopeeps025 Posts: 8,680 Member
    shammathews wrote: »
    Well today I avoided the scale but put on some pants that were too tight about two weeks ago and they fit great! So I guess something is working :)

    NSV

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