So... this is TOTALLY Weird... has it happened to anyone els

Aviendha_RJ
Aviendha_RJ Posts: 600 Member
edited September 27 in Health and Weight Loss
I just GAINED 4lbs from starting a Couch->5k program. Yep... I **GAINED** weight from RUNNING. No change to my inches, apparently. But.... I'm 4lbs heavier! Yay!

How exactly does this work? I mean... you're supposed to put on muscle right? But... when you put on muscle, don't you usually lose fat? Doesn't that mean that the inches move? This is so weird.

Replies

  • mangos4music
    mangos4music Posts: 126 Member
    it could just be that the inches havent dropped YET, my body loses weight weird where the inches decide they are gonna drop off randomly. so your body may not have figured out yet what your doin and once it does it will lose the inches
  • abbyholm
    abbyholm Posts: 12
    You might've lost fat and gained muscle mass at the same rate so your measurements didn't actually change. Eventually you'll start seeing more results in your measurements once your muscles gain their mass.
  • rachellenielsen
    rachellenielsen Posts: 1
    it could just be water weight. you'd be surprised how much weight that can add. it happened to me too. i gained six pound but then a week later it was gone again.
  • TS65
    TS65 Posts: 1,024 Member
    When your first start using muscle groups you aren't used to using (in this case, the bigger muscles - thighs, butt, calves, hamstrings, etc.) they will retain water to assist in repairing/healing them from the pounding you are putting them through. It's TOTALLY water weight, don't worry about it.

    Eventually, the muscles start to get stronger and firmer and you'll lose inches.
  • gpies
    gpies Posts: 56 Member
    When I begin working out again (after a "break" - which I hate to admit I go through every now and then), my body always gains weight first. After a while, my measurements change, but the weight doesn't move a ton from the scales. It has taken me a LONG time to try and redirect my thinking away from the scale and more about how things look and feel.
  • SammyPacks
    SammyPacks Posts: 697 Member
    As someone said earlier it could be water weight... I noticed when I started C25K I wasn't losing weight as quickly as I was before (when I was swimming and jogging a lil more).

    Also I know this is a personal question haha, but are you on your period? I honestly gained over 5 pounds from being on my period. Also make sure to watch your sodium intake as well as drinking lots of water! You'll pee it all off XD
  • Agglaki
    Agglaki Posts: 105
    To have gained 4lb of muscle from running 5k is very unlikely...In fact I would have to say impossible. If indeed you have gained 4lbs worth of muscle can you share some of your genetics with me please :)

    In the grand scheme of things you will put on muscle and lose fat if you maintain a healthy diet and exercise correctly. But it is a slow and painful process.

    I would probably guess a lot of that 4lbs is actually water weight. It is difficult to tell without seeing a food diary. But you cannot go from fat to muscle or even gain muscle easily.
    There have been no changes to inches, so I'll put my money on simple water retention.
  • rschmmidt
    rschmmidt Posts: 296
    That just totally happened to me too. I'm just starting W3. Work up this morning to a weight gain, and am really frustrated about it! Glad to read the post about possible water retention in the muscle. It's bringing back some of my hope.
    All is not a lost cause after all.
    Thanks
  • Aviendha_RJ
    Aviendha_RJ Posts: 600 Member
    Also I know this is a personal question haha, but are you on your period? I honestly gained over 5 pounds from being on my period. Also make sure to watch your sodium intake as well as drinking lots of water! You'll pee it all off XD

    It's not that.... Maybe I'll try increasing my water intake. Maybe that'll work. Thanks!
  • StevLL
    StevLL Posts: 921 Member
    When your first start using muscle groups you aren't used to using (in this case, the bigger muscles - thighs, butt, calves, hamstrings, etc.) they will retain water to assist in repairing/healing them from the pounding you are putting them through. It's TOTALLY water weight, don't worry about it.

    Eventually, the muscles start to get stronger and firmer and you'll lose inches.

    When I take a break from excercise I always gain first then start to lose. Your muscles are probably working through some inflammation.
  • Barb50317
    Barb50317 Posts: 1
    i cant say its happened to me, yet. However my husband has experienced this. Your so close to your goal weight, you probably dont have many more inches to loose and with running a 5 k your muscles gained more mass and thats what your results reflect. Muscles weigh more than fat. Good luck and good job on the 5 k.
  • Majesty82
    Majesty82 Posts: 3
    Muscle weighs more than fat- it's a good sign! As a dancer, I wore a US size 2 and weighed almost 140 lbs. No one would believe it until I stepped on the scale. Gaining weight without gaining inches is a great sign that you are gaining lean muscle tissue. This tissue burns more calories just by existing and will raise your metabolism all of the time. Before you know it, you will be tiny and how slim you have become will be obvious to everyone! I'm not an expert, but in my experience, you are on a good track!
  • sprinkies
    sprinkies Posts: 309 Member
    there is absolutely no way to of gained even 1 pound of muscle in that time HOWEVER it's also not possible to of gained fat if you aren't eating over your calories. i'd put money on it being water weight. i NEVER weigh in after a run, even the next day because i know i'm going to weigh the same or slightly more than i did at my last weigh in. not sure how you managed 4 pounds, but if your sodium was up or if it's your time of month then it's def possible.
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,330 Member
    This is the answer to your question, and a good read at that:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/200544-why-do-you-sometimes-gain-weight-when-starting-a-new-exercis
  • rschmmidt
    rschmmidt Posts: 296
    This is the answer to your question, and a good read at that:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/200544-why-do-you-sometimes-gain-weight-when-starting-a-new-exercis

    Great Link! Thanks for posting!
  • Aviendha_RJ
    Aviendha_RJ Posts: 600 Member
    Ok... if anyone in MFP world is still out there... it's up to about 7lbs now. WHAT IS THIS?!?!?!

    I've been good! Not eating stupid things. Sure, I might go over my calories a little, but it's usually an extra apple in the evening or something because I'm STARVING, likely because my body is working harder so I need more. I usually can't resist an evening snack because I feel like my stomach thinks my throat's been slit!

    But... that shouldn't really cause 7lbs of gain in about 10 days, should it? This is INSANE! :explode:
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,330 Member
    If you read the article I linked to, it is likely you are adding water weight. In fact it would be pretty much impossible for you to put on 7 pounds of fat in that time in a calorie deficit. You could however add water weight. If you are that hungry I have a few questions. Are you eating your exercise calories? If you are not, start now. Second, you may want to eat more calories in a day. I don't know what your weight loss goal is, but you may need to decrease it. I can't see you food diary, so I can't comment beyond those generalities.
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,330 Member
    Here is another link that might help http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/196502-for-the-people-who-work-out-like-crazy-and-are-not-losing
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