Fact or Fiction? You gain weight when you gain muscle

scorpiorlr
scorpiorlr Posts: 245 Member
edited December 18 in Fitness and Exercise
The reason I ask is being on this journey now for nearly two weeks I either stumbled with out knowing it this week or my body is changing a bit. In the first 7 days I lost 5 lbs with simple cardio and proper diet. Then in the last 7 days I added to the simplicity of my workouts by starting Jillian Michaels 30 day shred (5 days done), lengthening my cardio workouts, taking long brisk walks and eating very very clean. So today was weigh in time and the scale told me I gained a pound.

I feel great, can see visible changes after 14 days and have much better endurance. Next week I plan to continue it all but mix in the couch to 2k program as opposed to cardio every day. So I am just looking for vindication. Tell me its just me getting healthier and stronger and that's why the scale went the opposite direction today.

I know its fact but I want to hear form anyone except me trying to justify my weight gain.
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Replies

  • crisanderson27
    crisanderson27 Posts: 5,343 Member
    The reason I ask is being on this journey now for nearly two weeks I either stumbled with out knowing it this week or my body is changing a bit. In the first 7 days I lost 5 lbs with simple cardio and proper diet. Then in the last 7 days I added to the simplicity of my workouts by starting Jillian Michaels 30 day shred (5 days done), lengthening my cardio workouts, taking long brisk walks and eating very very clean. So today was weigh in time and the scale told me I gained a pound.

    I feel great, can see visible changes after 14 days and have much better endurance. Next week I plan to continue it all but mix in the couch to 2k program as opposed to cardio every day. So I am just looking for vindication. Tell me its just me getting healthier and stronger and that's why the scale went the opposite direction today.

    I know its fact but I want to hear form anyone except me trying to justify my weight gain.

    When you intensify your workout, your muscles need to retain fluids to repair. It is a substantial volume to be honest. This is where your weight is coming from.
  • cheeky0122
    cheeky0122 Posts: 38 Member
    A pound is a pound! You may be losing 'pounds' of fat and replacing them with 'pounds of muscle. A pound of muscle takes up less space than a pound of fat, however. If you're looking better and feeling better then you must be doing something right! I hope this helped you [=
  • crisanderson27
    crisanderson27 Posts: 5,343 Member
    You may be losing 'pounds' of fat and replacing them with 'pounds of muscle. A pound of muscle takes up less space than a pound of fat, however. If you're looking better and feeling better then you must be doing something right! I hope this helped you [=

    I don't mean to seem rude...but this is inaccurate. It takes a substantial amount of time, with a high protein diet and dedicated strength training to actually 'gain' muscle...and it's quite difficult when on a calorie deficit. I will add, it's pretty much impossible when doing only cardio, Jillian, and on a calorie deficit.

    The part not in bold however, I agree with completely =D.
  • drewbird911
    drewbird911 Posts: 117 Member
    Ditto to the previous posts, 5 in a week is too much. Make sure you keep up the water and eat your calories but don't cheat.
  • kimberly0416
    kimberly0416 Posts: 123 Member
    1lb of fat is 1lb of muscle, however... Muscle is denser than fat so it takes up less space. So when you are first working out and replacing you might not lose any "weight" when you are actually losing fat and gaining muscle and getting smaller.
  • kimberly0416
    kimberly0416 Posts: 123 Member
    You may be losing 'pounds' of fat and replacing them with 'pounds of muscle. A pound of muscle takes up less space than a pound of fat, however. If you're looking better and feeling better then you must be doing something right! I hope this helped you [=

    I don't mean to seem rude...but this is inaccurate. It takes a substantial amount of time, with a high protein diet and dedicated strength training to actually 'gain' muscle...and it's quite difficult when on a calorie deficit. I will add, it's pretty much impossible when doing only cardio, Jillian, and on a calorie deficit.

    The part not in bold however, I agree with completely =D.

    I gained quite a bit of muscle on 1200 calories, but always ate back my exercise calories.
    Also when you are doing Cardio... You are using muscles, so this person probably never truly utilized the muscles except for typical day to day things, therefore building muscle.. :wink:
  • athensguy
    athensguy Posts: 550
    Weight fluctuates, primarily due to water. I tend to weigh more if I ate too much salt or if I have muscle soreness. If I do a long workout that makes my legs sore, It usually takes 3 or 4 days before I get back down to the weight I started with.
  • crisanderson27
    crisanderson27 Posts: 5,343 Member
    You may be losing 'pounds' of fat and replacing them with 'pounds of muscle. A pound of muscle takes up less space than a pound of fat, however. If you're looking better and feeling better then you must be doing something right! I hope this helped you [=

    I don't mean to seem rude...but this is inaccurate. It takes a substantial amount of time, with a high protein diet and dedicated strength training to actually 'gain' muscle...and it's quite difficult when on a calorie deficit. I will add, it's pretty much impossible when doing only cardio, Jillian, and on a calorie deficit.

    The part not in bold however, I agree with completely =D.

    I gained quite a bit of muscle on 1200 calories, but always ate back my exercise calories.
    Also when you are doing Cardio... You are using muscles, so this person probably never truly utilized the muscles except for typical day to day things, therefore building muscle.. :wink:

    You can strengthen muscles without gaining muscle mass (this is what happens when a person begins exercising for the first time, or begins a new activity...even without strength training). Strengthening muscle does not add to their weight by any measurable amount, even though the muscles can 'swell'...making them look bigger.

    I know that this is something that's commonly misunderstood, but unless you're quite overweight, and actually strength training (whether with intense bodyweight or with weights), you won't gain muscle on a deficit.

    :flowerforyou:
  • kimberly0416
    kimberly0416 Posts: 123 Member
    You may be losing 'pounds' of fat and replacing them with 'pounds of muscle. A pound of muscle takes up less space than a pound of fat, however. If you're looking better and feeling better then you must be doing something right! I hope this helped you [=

    I don't mean to seem rude...but this is inaccurate. It takes a substantial amount of time, with a high protein diet and dedicated strength training to actually 'gain' muscle...and it's quite difficult when on a calorie deficit. I will add, it's pretty much impossible when doing only cardio, Jillian, and on a calorie deficit.

    The part not in bold however, I agree with completely =D.

    I gained quite a bit of muscle on 1200 calories, but always ate back my exercise calories.
    Also when you are doing Cardio... You are using muscles, so this person probably never truly utilized the muscles except for typical day to day things, therefore building muscle.. :wink:

    You can strengthen muscles without gaining muscle mass (this is what happens when a person begins exercising for the first time, or begins a new activity...even without strength training). Strengthening muscle does not add to their weight by any measurable amount, even though the muscles can 'swell'...making them look bigger.

    I know that this is something that's commonly misunderstood, but unless you're quite overweight, and actually strength training (whether with intense bodyweight or with weights), you won't gain muscle on a deficit.

    :flowerforyou:

    I can understand looking bigger, but I am talking about stepping on the scale. In fact that is why I no longer weigh myself, because even though I lost several sizes my weight didn't really go down untill recently and at first I did actually gain some weight.
    When you say not by any measurable amount, to me as a woman, 1lb or 5lb not something to shurg at.

    I hate weighing.
  • crisanderson27
    crisanderson27 Posts: 5,343 Member
    You may be losing 'pounds' of fat and replacing them with 'pounds of muscle. A pound of muscle takes up less space than a pound of fat, however. If you're looking better and feeling better then you must be doing something right! I hope this helped you [=

    I don't mean to seem rude...but this is inaccurate. It takes a substantial amount of time, with a high protein diet and dedicated strength training to actually 'gain' muscle...and it's quite difficult when on a calorie deficit. I will add, it's pretty much impossible when doing only cardio, Jillian, and on a calorie deficit.

    The part not in bold however, I agree with completely =D.

    I gained quite a bit of muscle on 1200 calories, but always ate back my exercise calories.
    Also when you are doing Cardio... You are using muscles, so this person probably never truly utilized the muscles except for typical day to day things, therefore building muscle.. :wink:

    You can strengthen muscles without gaining muscle mass (this is what happens when a person begins exercising for the first time, or begins a new activity...even without strength training). Strengthening muscle does not add to their weight by any measurable amount, even though the muscles can 'swell'...making them look bigger.

    I know that this is something that's commonly misunderstood, but unless you're quite overweight, and actually strength training (whether with intense bodyweight or with weights), you won't gain muscle on a deficit.

    :flowerforyou:

    I can understand looking bigger, but I am talking about stepping on the scale. In fact that is why I no longer weigh myself, because even though I lost several sizes my weight didn't really go down untill recently and at first I did actually gain some weight.
    When you say not by any measurable amount, to me as a woman, 1lb or 5lb not something to shurg at.

    I hate weighing.

    See though, now we're stepping into a whole other realm of discussion. How long of a period of working out are we discussing here? How overweight were you? What kind of exercises? If you lost several sizes...we aren't talking over a two week period.

    If you are gaining 1-5lbs over a two week period, on a deficit, it's NOT muscle, it's water. Over 2mos? If you're eating enough protein (and were overweight enough to begin with)...some of it could be muscle, but certainly not even 2 of the 5lbs (maybe 2lbs or a little better with dedicated strength training). Muscle simply does not grow at the astronomical rate people who are newer to exercise want to believe it does =(.
  • auticus
    auticus Posts: 1,051 Member
    When you gain anything, you gain weight. Matter has mass. Mass has weight.

    Also as the other guys are pointing out, it typically takes most people substantial amounts of time, not using a deficit, to gain 1-2 lbs of muscle a month.

    It's wishful thinking to think otherwise. If you're on a deficit for calories it's insanely hard to gain muscle mass. You can get stronger on a deficit but adding muscle weight is very unlikely.
  • Victoria2448
    Victoria2448 Posts: 559 Member
    You may be losing 'pounds' of fat and replacing them with 'pounds of muscle. A pound of muscle takes up less space than a pound of fat, however. If you're looking better and feeling better then you must be doing something right! I hope this helped you [=

    I don't mean to seem rude...but this is inaccurate. It takes a substantial amount of time, with a high protein diet and dedicated strength training to actually 'gain' muscle...and it's quite difficult when on a calorie deficit. I will add, it's pretty much impossible when doing only cardio, Jillian, and on a calorie deficit.

    The part not in bold however, I agree with completely =D.



    YUP, Totally agree....
  • Jameslemond
    Jameslemond Posts: 60 Member
    its water weight... stop using the scale and pull out a tape measure. :-)
  • sevencallmemom
    sevencallmemom Posts: 505 Member
    Then in the last 7 days I added to the simplicity of my workouts by starting Jillian Michaels 30 day shred (5 days done), lengthening my cardio workouts, taking long brisk walks and eating very very clean. So today was weigh in time and the scale told me I gained a pound.


    I have no science to offer you, but every time I change up my workouts and ESPECIALLY every time I start 30DS I gain a few pounds. Someone said something about muscles holding onto water...I'm pretty sure that's the case.

    Hang in there!
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    Completely agree with everything Chris is saying.

    Just because you perceive something to be happening doesn't mean it actually is happening.
  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member

    See though, now we're stepping into a whole other realm of discussion. How long of a period of working out are we discussing here? How overweight were you? What kind of exercises? If you lost several sizes...we aren't talking over a two week period.

    If you are gaining 1-5lbs over a two week period, on a deficit, it's NOT muscle, it's water. Over 2mos? If you're eating enough protein (and were overweight enough to begin with)...some of it could be muscle, but certainly not even 2 of the 5lbs (maybe 2lbs or a little better with dedicated strength training). Muscle simply does not grow at the astronomical rate people who are newer to exercise want to believe it does =(.

    ^ Good posts in this thread sir.
  • i lost 6 lbs my first week on MFP and then i just started the shred this past sunday and now the scale is telling me that i gained 3 lbs....and i have eaten the same thing so i am thinking that we are gaining muscle from the shred (@ least i am hoping that )
  • lind3400
    lind3400 Posts: 557 Member
    The reason I ask is being on this journey now for nearly two weeks I either stumbled with out knowing it this week or my body is changing a bit. In the first 7 days I lost 5 lbs with simple cardio and proper diet. Then in the last 7 days I added to the simplicity of my workouts by starting Jillian Michaels 30 day shred (5 days done), lengthening my cardio workouts, taking long brisk walks and eating very very clean. So today was weigh in time and the scale told me I gained a pound.

    I feel great, can see visible changes after 14 days and have much better endurance. Next week I plan to continue it all but mix in the couch to 2k program as opposed to cardio every day. So I am just looking for vindication. Tell me its just me getting healthier and stronger and that's why the scale went the opposite direction today.

    I know its fact but I want to hear form anyone except me trying to justify my weight gain.

    When you intensify your workout, your muscles need to retain fluids to repair. It is a substantial volume to be honest. This is where your weight is coming from.

    You totalyl made me feel happier about gaining 3lbs today from intensifying my work outs this week!!!!
  • sdrawkcabynot
    sdrawkcabynot Posts: 462 Member
    May want to add that people usually drop a good amount of weight the first week due to shedding water weight..


    I don't think it was mentioned in anything above.

    I would also go on to say that you shouldn't jump the gun with expectations. I read that it takes 4 weeks for you to see changes and 8 weeks for others to notice. I am 4 months into this and i can tell a major differences now. I also upped my calories and I also no longer weigh myself. (Although I am kinda interested after a month of not weighing - so i may jump on the scale the next time at the gym.)
  • kimberly0416
    kimberly0416 Posts: 123 Member
    You may be losing 'pounds' of fat and replacing them with 'pounds of muscle. A pound of muscle takes up less space than a pound of fat, however. If you're looking better and feeling better then you must be doing something right! I hope this helped you [=

    I don't mean to seem rude...but this is inaccurate. It takes a substantial amount of time, with a high protein diet and dedicated strength training to actually 'gain' muscle...and it's quite difficult when on a calorie deficit. I will add, it's pretty much impossible when doing only cardio, Jillian, and on a calorie deficit.

    The part not in bold however, I agree with completely =D.

    I gained quite a bit of muscle on 1200 calories, but always ate back my exercise calories.
    Also when you are doing Cardio... You are using muscles, so this person probably never truly utilized the muscles except for typical day to day things, therefore building muscle.. :wink:

    You can strengthen muscles without gaining muscle mass (this is what happens when a person begins exercising for the first time, or begins a new activity...even without strength training). Strengthening muscle does not add to their weight by any measurable amount, even though the muscles can 'swell'...making them look bigger.

    I know that this is something that's commonly misunderstood, but unless you're quite overweight, and actually strength training (whether with intense bodyweight or with weights), you won't gain muscle on a deficit.

    :flowerforyou:

    I can understand looking bigger, but I am talking about stepping on the scale. In fact that is why I no longer weigh myself, because even though I lost several sizes my weight didn't really go down untill recently and at first I did actually gain some weight.
    When you say not by any measurable amount, to me as a woman, 1lb or 5lb not something to shurg at.

    I hate weighing.

    See though, now we're stepping into a whole other realm of discussion. How long of a period of working out are we discussing here? How overweight were you? What kind of exercises? If you lost several sizes...we aren't talking over a two week period.

    If you are gaining 1-5lbs over a two week period, on a deficit, it's NOT muscle, it's water. Over 2mos? If you're eating enough protein (and were overweight enough to begin with)...some of it could be muscle, but certainly not even 2 of the 5lbs (maybe 2lbs or a little better with dedicated strength training). Muscle simply does not grow at the astronomical rate people who are newer to exercise want to believe it does =(.

    I do have to admit it was longer than a two week period. I wouldn't say overweight, more like a chunky monkey..
  • crisanderson27
    crisanderson27 Posts: 5,343 Member
    i lost 6 lbs my first week on MFP and then i just started the shred this past sunday and now the scale is telling me that i gained 3 lbs....and i have eaten the same thing so i am thinking that we are gaining muscle from the shred (@ least i am hoping that )

    Think for one second. I'm 185lbs or so. To be built like a competetive body builder, I'd have to weigh around 210 to start. That's only 25lbs. So if what you're saying is true hun, at 3lbs of muscle gain a week, I'd be halfway there in a month.

    Trust me...it's your body retaining water for muscle repair =D. Look at it as a good thing...if you're repairing your muscles, they're being used, and burning calories like mad!
  • Victoria2448
    Victoria2448 Posts: 559 Member
    I all seriousness, if you want to gain muscle....you should try a different program.:smile:

    Good luck!
  • sdrawkcabynot
    sdrawkcabynot Posts: 462 Member
    You may be losing 'pounds' of fat and replacing them with 'pounds of muscle. A pound of muscle takes up less space than a pound of fat, however. If you're looking better and feeling better then you must be doing something right! I hope this helped you [=

    I don't mean to seem rude...but this is inaccurate. It takes a substantial amount of time, with a high protein diet and dedicated strength training to actually 'gain' muscle...and it's quite difficult when on a calorie deficit. I will add, it's pretty much impossible when doing only cardio, Jillian, and on a calorie deficit.

    The part not in bold however, I agree with completely =D.

    I gained quite a bit of muscle on 1200 calories, but always ate back my exercise calories.
    Also when you are doing Cardio... You are using muscles, so this person probably never truly utilized the muscles except for typical day to day things, therefore building muscle.. :wink:

    You can strengthen muscles without gaining muscle mass (this is what happens when a person begins exercising for the first time, or begins a new activity...even without strength training). Strengthening muscle does not add to their weight by any measurable amount, even though the muscles can 'swell'...making them look bigger.

    I know that this is something that's commonly misunderstood, but unless you're quite overweight, and actually strength training (whether with intense bodyweight or with weights), you won't gain muscle on a deficit.

    :flowerforyou:

    I can understand looking bigger, but I am talking about stepping on the scale. In fact that is why I no longer weigh myself, because even though I lost several sizes my weight didn't really go down untill recently and at first I did actually gain some weight.
    When you say not by any measurable amount, to me as a woman, 1lb or 5lb not something to shurg at.

    I hate weighing.

    See though, now we're stepping into a whole other realm of discussion. How long of a period of working out are we discussing here? How overweight were you? What kind of exercises? If you lost several sizes...we aren't talking over a two week period.

    If you are gaining 1-5lbs over a two week period, on a deficit, it's NOT muscle, it's water. Over 2mos? If you're eating enough protein (and were overweight enough to begin with)...some of it could be muscle, but certainly not even 2 of the 5lbs (maybe 2lbs or a little better with dedicated strength training). Muscle simply does not grow at the astronomical rate people who are newer to exercise want to believe it does =(.

    I do have to admit it was longer than a two week period. I wouldn't say overweight, more like a chunky monkey..

    HAHA! Doesn't Chimpanzee come out this weekend?
  • sdrawkcabynot
    sdrawkcabynot Posts: 462 Member
    i lost 6 lbs my first week on MFP and then i just started the shred this past sunday and now the scale is telling me that i gained 3 lbs....and i have eaten the same thing so i am thinking that we are gaining muscle from the shred (@ least i am hoping that )

    Think for one second. I'm 185lbs or so. To be built like a competetive body builder at the higher levels, I'd have to weight around 210 to start. That's only 25lbs. So if what you're saying is true hun, at 3lbs of muscle gain a week, I'd be halfway there in a month.

    Trust me...it's your body retaining water for muscle repair =D. Look at it as a good thing...if you're repairing your muscles, they're being used, and burning calories like mad!

    and will build over a time period with the right amount of protein and calories... right? where's my prize? haha.
  • Initial weight loss (first week or so) is usually quite a large number, and after that, it gets to a more steady pace. I notice my weight loss does slow up when I add activity that is more strenuous than a light activity level like walking, but I do indeed notice inches melting away when I do more intense workouts, like a Jillian Micheals DVD or lifting weights. I am sure to get enough fuel to sustain the activity level I'm aiming to do - I don't want to double up on my "deficits" :smile:
  • vipergts223
    vipergts223 Posts: 114 Member
    It's likely just water retention in your muscles, dont worry about it, You're doing great!!
  • crisanderson27
    crisanderson27 Posts: 5,343 Member
    You may be losing 'pounds' of fat and replacing them with 'pounds of muscle. A pound of muscle takes up less space than a pound of fat, however. If you're looking better and feeling better then you must be doing something right! I hope this helped you [=

    I don't mean to seem rude...but this is inaccurate. It takes a substantial amount of time, with a high protein diet and dedicated strength training to actually 'gain' muscle...and it's quite difficult when on a calorie deficit. I will add, it's pretty much impossible when doing only cardio, Jillian, and on a calorie deficit.

    The part not in bold however, I agree with completely =D.

    I gained quite a bit of muscle on 1200 calories, but always ate back my exercise calories.
    Also when you are doing Cardio... You are using muscles, so this person probably never truly utilized the muscles except for typical day to day things, therefore building muscle.. :wink:

    You can strengthen muscles without gaining muscle mass (this is what happens when a person begins exercising for the first time, or begins a new activity...even without strength training). Strengthening muscle does not add to their weight by any measurable amount, even though the muscles can 'swell'...making them look bigger.

    I know that this is something that's commonly misunderstood, but unless you're quite overweight, and actually strength training (whether with intense bodyweight or with weights), you won't gain muscle on a deficit.

    :flowerforyou:

    I can understand looking bigger, but I am talking about stepping on the scale. In fact that is why I no longer weigh myself, because even though I lost several sizes my weight didn't really go down untill recently and at first I did actually gain some weight.
    When you say not by any measurable amount, to me as a woman, 1lb or 5lb not something to shurg at.

    I hate weighing.

    See though, now we're stepping into a whole other realm of discussion. How long of a period of working out are we discussing here? How overweight were you? What kind of exercises? If you lost several sizes...we aren't talking over a two week period.

    If you are gaining 1-5lbs over a two week period, on a deficit, it's NOT muscle, it's water. Over 2mos? If you're eating enough protein (and were overweight enough to begin with)...some of it could be muscle, but certainly not even 2 of the 5lbs (maybe 2lbs or a little better with dedicated strength training). Muscle simply does not grow at the astronomical rate people who are newer to exercise want to believe it does =(.

    I do have to admit it was longer than a two week period. I wouldn't say overweight, more like a chunky monkey..

    Chunky monkies are cute lol.

    Seriously though...I can promise you it wasn't muscle gain. Some of it...maybe, but not any real measurable amount. Our bodies just don't work tha way.

    Using the scale as any real progress marker is sort of like swinging at a pinata, with a drinking straw...from your neighbors house. Unless you're consistently losing, it can definitely be lying to you. Even WHEN you're losing, you don't know that what you're losing is bodyfat (which is what you want to).

    I don't blame you for hating to weigh yourself!
  • kimberly0416
    kimberly0416 Posts: 123 Member
    You may be losing 'pounds' of fat and replacing them with 'pounds of muscle. A pound of muscle takes up less space than a pound of fat, however. If you're looking better and feeling better then you must be doing something right! I hope this helped you [=

    I don't mean to seem rude...but this is inaccurate. It takes a substantial amount of time, with a high protein diet and dedicated strength training to actually 'gain' muscle...and it's quite difficult when on a calorie deficit. I will add, it's pretty much impossible when doing only cardio, Jillian, and on a calorie deficit.

    The part not in bold however, I agree with completely =D.

    I gained quite a bit of muscle on 1200 calories, but always ate back my exercise calories.
    Also when you are doing Cardio... You are using muscles, so this person probably never truly utilized the muscles except for typical day to day things, therefore building muscle.. :wink:

    You can strengthen muscles without gaining muscle mass (this is what happens when a person begins exercising for the first time, or begins a new activity...even without strength training). Strengthening muscle does not add to their weight by any measurable amount, even though the muscles can 'swell'...making them look bigger.

    I know that this is something that's commonly misunderstood, but unless you're quite overweight, and actually strength training (whether with intense bodyweight or with weights), you won't gain muscle on a deficit.

    :flowerforyou:

    I can understand looking bigger, but I am talking about stepping on the scale. In fact that is why I no longer weigh myself, because even though I lost several sizes my weight didn't really go down untill recently and at first I did actually gain some weight.
    When you say not by any measurable amount, to me as a woman, 1lb or 5lb not something to shurg at.

    I hate weighing.

    See though, now we're stepping into a whole other realm of discussion. How long of a period of working out are we discussing here? How overweight were you? What kind of exercises? If you lost several sizes...we aren't talking over a two week period.

    If you are gaining 1-5lbs over a two week period, on a deficit, it's NOT muscle, it's water. Over 2mos? If you're eating enough protein (and were overweight enough to begin with)...some of it could be muscle, but certainly not even 2 of the 5lbs (maybe 2lbs or a little better with dedicated strength training). Muscle simply does not grow at the astronomical rate people who are newer to exercise want to believe it does =(.

    I do have to admit it was longer than a two week period. I wouldn't say overweight, more like a chunky monkey..

    HAHA! Doesn't Chimpanzee come out this weekend?

    I had a supportive role in that film, look for the chunky moneky... :laugh:
  • thelovelyLIZ
    thelovelyLIZ Posts: 1,227 Member
    The scale can vary for a lot of different reasons. Food still in your system, water weight and bloat, and yes, muscle gain. Don't worry about it too much. My weight fluctuates by about five pounds on any given day.
  • Bikini27
    Bikini27 Posts: 1,290 Member
    The reason I ask is being on this journey now for nearly two weeks I either stumbled with out knowing it this week or my body is changing a bit. In the first 7 days I lost 5 lbs with simple cardio and proper diet. Then in the last 7 days I added to the simplicity of my workouts by starting Jillian Michaels 30 day shred (5 days done), lengthening my cardio workouts, taking long brisk walks and eating very very clean. So today was weigh in time and the scale told me I gained a pound.

    I feel great, can see visible changes after 14 days and have much better endurance. Next week I plan to continue it all but mix in the couch to 2k program as opposed to cardio every day. So I am just looking for vindication. Tell me its just me getting healthier and stronger and that's why the scale went the opposite direction today.

    I know its fact but I want to hear form anyone except me trying to justify my weight gain.

    When you intensify your workout, your muscles need to retain fluids to repair. It is a substantial volume to be honest. This is where your weight is coming from.

    Which is why after a "rest" day, you tend to be lighter.
This discussion has been closed.