Ramped up exercise, GAINING WEIGHT

SenoraMacias
SenoraMacias Posts: 305 Member
edited October 1 in Health and Weight Loss
Ok, riddle me this MFPs. In the last two weeks I have started going to group classes at the gym. I do spin, core, and kickboxing, for a total of about 4 classes a week. In addition to that, I walk/run with my dog every day. My diet HAS NOT CHANGED. Since starting these classes, my weight has gone up 4lb. I'm at a loss! And don't tell me you can gain 4lb of muscle in 2 weeks!

Any answers? I'm feeling really discouraged.

Replies

  • Gracey91
    Gracey91 Posts: 1
    Water retention?
  • Jesse13
    Jesse13 Posts: 72
    Same question, but I've gained 2.5lbs...
  • Shweedog
    Shweedog Posts: 883 Member
    Increased/intense workouts cause your muscles to retain water. Sore muscles need water to repair themselves. Double your water intake and rid yourself of the excess. When I did an intense workout a few weeks ago I gained exactly 4 lbs. I drank extra water and two days later I was back to my normal weight.
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    when stating a new program or increasing intensity your muscle will store water to protect them from the exercise and to aid in recovery. Once you get used to the exercises your muscles will shed the water as it will no longer be needed.
  • ddecarr
    ddecarr Posts: 103 Member
    Definitely has to be the water. I just started running again after a 5-week knee induced layoff; and sure enough 2-3 lbs got tacked on. I am confident it will go the other way though.
  • emzley
    emzley Posts: 11
    you need to get yourself a new set of scales that tell you your body fat percentage. this happened to me too, I was training for a marathon and was running several miles almost every day and eating healthy and I gained half a stone! but I changed my scales for ones that tell me my body fat percentage as I was building muscle and losing fat, it was clear when I saw the results. As you are doing loads of gym classes and clearly building some good muscle there, i'd definiately recommend getting new scales for you to see your great results. Also, they're not that expensive either and can also measure your water rentention percentage too. Hope this helps :)
  • tomomatic
    tomomatic Posts: 1,794 Member
    Stop looking at weight. It's a terrible measure for fitness. Do your clothes fit better? Does your gym have someone that can measure % body fat for you with calipers?

    You could be retaining water. Sodium/salt will make it worse. Drinking more water will help you get rid of it.
  • wickedcricket
    wickedcricket Posts: 1,246 Member
    ok google this (cause I'm not an expert) it has to do with muscle/glycogen. Your muscles need glycogen to function. For every gram of glycogen your body stores, it stores water (I think it's 3 to 1) the more muscle you develop, the more glycogen you need, the more water your liver stores.
    So - you're not gaining weight, it's muscle & water. Take your measurements. Drink TONS of water & I believe they recommend eating at least 100g of carbs per workout. IF your muscles have a ready supply of carbs, they don't have to store glycogen? I dunno.
    Eat more carbs & water LOL
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,026 Member
    you need to get yourself a new set of scales that tell you your body fat percentage. this happened to me too, I was training for a marathon and was running several miles almost every day and eating healthy and I gained half a stone! but I changed my scales for ones that tell me my body fat percentage as I was building muscle and losing fat, it was clear when I saw the results. As you are doing loads of gym classes and clearly building some good muscle there, i'd definiately recommend getting new scales for you to see your great results. Also, they're not that expensive either and can also measure your water rentention percentage too. Hope this helps :)
    It's water retention. You can't build muscle on a calorie deficit diet. Electric impedance scales read through the electrical impulse connections through your body. The more water you have in your body, the "less" fat it reads since water conducts electricity much more efficiently than fat tissue does.
  • Jesse13
    Jesse13 Posts: 72
    I'm drinking a gallon for the day because I was already drink 100oz. It makes sense since I feel bloated, andmy fingers are a bit swollen...
  • emzley
    emzley Posts: 11
    you need to get yourself a new set of scales that tell you your body fat percentage. this happened to me too, I was training for a marathon and was running several miles almost every day and eating healthy and I gained half a stone! but I changed my scales for ones that tell me my body fat percentage as I was building muscle and losing fat, it was clear when I saw the results. As you are doing loads of gym classes and clearly building some good muscle there, i'd definiately recommend getting new scales for you to see your great results. Also, they're not that expensive either and can also measure your water rentention percentage too. Hope this helps :)
    It's water retention. You can't build muscle on a calorie deficit diet. Electric impedance scales read through the electrical impulse connections through your body. The more water you have in your body, the "less" fat it reads since water conducts electricity much more efficiently than fat tissue does.

    She doesn't say that she is on a 'calorie deficit diet' so you don't actually know that it's water retention.
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    you need to get yourself a new set of scales that tell you your body fat percentage. this happened to me too, I was training for a marathon and was running several miles almost every day and eating healthy and I gained half a stone! but I changed my scales for ones that tell me my body fat percentage as I was building muscle and losing fat, it was clear when I saw the results. As you are doing loads of gym classes and clearly building some good muscle there, i'd definiately recommend getting new scales for you to see your great results. Also, they're not that expensive either and can also measure your water rentention percentage too. Hope this helps :)
    It's water retention. You can't build muscle on a calorie deficit diet. Electric impedance scales read through the electrical impulse connections through your body. The more water you have in your body, the "less" fat it reads since water conducts electricity much more efficiently than fat tissue does.

    She doesn't say that she is on a 'calorie deficit diet' so you don't actually know that it's water retention.

    We know it is a calorie deficit diet as her ticker shows she is trying to lose weight. the only way to lose weight is be in a caloric deficit.
  • fitby2012
    fitby2012 Posts: 167 Member
    Agreed - water retention. I go up about 2 lbs the day after strength training - worse if I don't eat enough carbs before and after. It stablizes after 24-48 hrs and plenty of water.
  • SevenSix
    SevenSix Posts: 7

    Electric impedance scales read through the electrical impulse connections through your body. The more water you have in your body, the "less" fat it reads since water conducts electricity much more efficiently than fat tissue does.

    The reverse is true:

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1806735
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