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Sore muscles affecting weigh in?

saragato
saragato Posts: 1,154
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
(sorry if this is the wrong section, I don't really make topics)

Yesterday at 7 am to almost 9 am I was at the gym getting in a pretty good workout. Unfortunately since I dislocated my left knee in 2010 I have to watch how much I do with my legs. I only did a few minutes on an elliptical and then a half hour on a treadmill at a fairly good pace then spent the rest of my time working my upper half. I came home, took a shower, and two hours later did about another hour or so of walking. I rested my legs the rest of the evening and the minor swelling I had in my ankles is gone.

However, getting up this morning both calves hurt, the muscles behind my left knee hurt and just a bit above the knee hurts. I expected some pain because my left knee got wobbly after the treadmill. I'm kinda limping around at the moment though I haven't really done much to try and get my muscles to stop feeling so tight, which I find happens if I just walk around the house or stand for a bit.

But anyway, my question is, could these sore muscles affect what shows up on the scale? Today's Thursday, my weigh-day, and I'm not sure if I should go ahead and get weighed or try and wait until tomorrow when they won't be as sore. There's no swelling in the affected areas, it doesn't hurt to touch them and I don't leave "dents" when I press down firmly (when my legs are swollen I can always leave a dent and it takes a few seconds to go away) but I'm no muscle expert so I'm hoping someone has an answer.

Thanks in advance!

Replies

  • lizard053
    lizard053 Posts: 2,344 Member
    If your muscles are sore, that means they need repair. When muscles repair, they retain water. So, yeah, it could be affecting your weight!
  • Stacyanne324
    Stacyanne324 Posts: 780 Member
    Well, sore muscles can hold onto water to repair themselves so that could definitely impact the scale. That said I never skip a weigh in because of it. If it's a good week I'm sore most every day... :)
  • k8bugz
    k8bugz Posts: 64 Member
    Yes, like the other posters said, your sore muscles are likely retaining water. So, drink lots of water but also some stretching may help with the stiffness.
This discussion has been closed.