Gain weight after intense workout?

Andrea1rp
Andrea1rp Posts: 7 Member
edited November 19 in Health and Weight Loss
After a 9 mile hike up and down a mountain, 3000 ft elevation gain, and a mile hike treading water, I'm very sore. We hiked for 5 hours and an additional hour for the water hike. What I don't get is that instead of losing weight, I gained 4 pounds from the day before the hike to the day after.

Is this just fluid retention? Will this go away after a couple days? Makes no sense.

Replies

  • strong_curves
    strong_curves Posts: 2,229 Member
    Water weight most likely. I wouldn't sweat it. But did you really expect to lose weight overnight?
  • carliekitty
    carliekitty Posts: 303 Member
    I did a pretty intense hike a few years back and had the same experience. It took two weeks for the weight to come off but when it did it came off w a few lbs extra =)
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    Absolutely water weight

    Give if a week
  • ManiacalLaugh
    ManiacalLaugh Posts: 1,048 Member
    I hiked 6 miles this weekend and gained 5 lbs (it was super, super humid, and I had indulged in some fatty, salty foods, as well). I'm 100% certain it's water weight.

    You're not going to gain fat in a day like that. You'd had to have eaten your maintenance, plus 3,500 calories x 4, plus how ever much you burned in that hike (which was probably in the thousands of calories) to gain 4 lbs of fat. If anything, you probably came in way under. Give it about a week or so and all of that will be gone plus some (if you continue to eat at a deficit).
  • DeguelloTex
    DeguelloTex Posts: 6,652 Member
    The graph of my daily weights is a zig-zag. Higher on average on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday -- the days after I lift -- and lower on the rest.
  • TimothyFish
    TimothyFish Posts: 4,925 Member
    Sore muscles always retain additional water. Once the soreness goes away, so will the extra weight.
  • segacs
    segacs Posts: 4,599 Member
    Your muscles will retain some water after an intense workout, especially if you're using muscles you haven't used in a while.

  • Andrea1rp
    Andrea1rp Posts: 7 Member
    maniacallaugh wrote: »
    I hiked 6 miles this weekend and gained 5 lbs (it was super, super humid, and I had indulged in some fatty, salty foods, as well). I'm 100% certain it's water weight.

    You're not going to gain fat in a day like that. You'd had to have eaten your maintenance, plus 3,500 calories x 4, plus how ever much you burned in that hike (which was probably in the thousands of calories) to gain 4 lbs of fat. If anything, you probably came in way under. Give it about a week or so and all of that will be gone plus some (if you continue to eat at a deficit).

    Ah! I didn't think about salty foods. Definitely indulged after the hike. Phew-not so worried then.
  • Andrea1rp
    Andrea1rp Posts: 7 Member
    strong_curves wrote: »
    Water weight most likely. I wouldn't sweat it. But did you really expect to lose weight overnight?

    Haha-one can dream! I was more worried about the high overnight weight gain than anything. Thanks for the help!
  • Katiaxx13
    Katiaxx13 Posts: 1 Member
    edited June 2015
    I appreciate this post. I'm trying to lose 10-15 and eat very clean and am on my way. I love to work out and have been trying new fitness classes every week. I notice when my muscles are extra sore the scale is 2-3 pounds up and then it shots down with about a pound in the negative.
  • Andrea1rp
    Andrea1rp Posts: 7 Member
    Katiaxx13 wrote: »
    I appreciate this post. I'm trying to lose 10-15 and eat very clean and am on my way. I love to work out and have been trying new fitness classes every week. I notice when my muscles are extra sore the scale is 2-3 pounds up and then it shots down with about a pound in the negative.



    Dropped about 3 pounds in my sleep so I think I'll be good-still extremely sore but going to at least walk tonight
  • BumbleBreeBuzz
    BumbleBreeBuzz Posts: 83 Member
    Katiaxx13 wrote: »
    I appreciate this post. I'm trying to lose 10-15 and eat very clean and am on my way. I love to work out and have been trying new fitness classes every week. I notice when my muscles are extra sore the scale is 2-3 pounds up and then it shots down with about a pound in the negative.

    I have noticed the same thing! I love weighing every day but i only report once a week so i don't have to report increases i have in the middle of the week from exercise
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