Gaining weight after exercise

**girliegirl777** · 01-10-2014 05:38 PM

This week, I started a more rigorous exercise program and have gained 4.6 pounds this week. My scale indicates that my fat % has gone down from 24 to 22% body fat and my muscle has gone up to 36% from 34%. I know muscle weighs more than fat, so this is possibly the explanation. I hope this is temporary. Has anyone else experienced this?

For the first three months, I was only walking for exercise. This week, I started running and lifting weights and this is the first week I have experienced any weight gain since surgery. I'm enjoying running again and even purchased a new Nordic Track treadmill yesterday. How strange that doing the right thing results in weight gain!

**Mich-D** · 01-10-2014 06:07 PM

Nice job on the exercise. Don't be too alarmed about muscle weight gain. Instead focus on measuring the inches lost.

**JustWantToBeHealthyAgain** · 01-10-2014 06:11 PM

Good for you! I have experienced this years, years ago. I wouldn't worry about it because more muscle = more fat-burning power. You're going to see the scale continue to go down because now you are developing more muscle and your metabolism will be better and you'll burn more fat.

Very good!

**Titinc** · 01-10-2014 06:25 PM

I'm experiencing the same thing. As soon as I started going to the gym, up went the weight. I just started to go back down after about 2 weeks at the same weight. Be patient and it will all pay off in the end.

**AuntieIt** · 01-10-2014 06:26 PM

Good job on the increased exercise. I just started light weights myself.

**Leanng** · 01-10-2014 07:58 PM

I'm experiencing the same thing. I have been doing strentgh training everyday for the last 10 days. My weight was going up (2 pounds) so I quit weighing. I do think that the change from fat to muscle is going on, at least I hope so. I go to my Weight Loss Doctor in 2 weeks for my BMI levels.

I can tell that my body is changing. I got into a new swim suit this morning that was way too tight a month ago.

I think it is important that we all just keep exercising and see where these changes take us. Thanks for bringing this up, thinking about it was worrying me and I knew I shouldn't. Typing about it made me feel better.

**girliegirl777** · 01-11-2014 01:24 AM

I guess I should stop focusing on the scale because I do feel a lot stronger. Tonight I went to Chico's to get a new pair of jeans and I fit into a size 1. This is an equivalent to a size 8 to 10. I remember over the summer, I went into to Chico's and the size 3's were too tight and I started to cry. It feels great to make progress, just wish the darn scale would move.

**buster_ks** · 01-11-2014 07:33 AM

One possible answer to the initial weight gain from lifting is your body will retain water to repair muscle damage (good) from lifting weights.

**jessiejess** · 01-11-2014 11:31 PM

This is another reason that we can't rely solely on the scale to gauge our success. The scale doesn't account for loss in inches increases in muscle - which are both good things! If you have been tracking your measurements, now is the time to take them again. You've probably lost more. If you haven't taken measurements, go ahead and do it. I've been doing it and it's a really great feeling to actually see where the weight is coming off and how much has melted away.
Keep up the good work! But remember, the scale isn't the only indicator of success. Pay attention to the percentages and lost inches, not just the number of pounds.

**HeartsInNC** · 01-16-2014 08:31 PM

I noticed the same thing ALWAYS happens to me, much to my dismay! It makes you want to stop working out, when really you just need to stop weighing for a while and go by how clothes fit or by measurements. Here is a great illustration: (if it posts... I can't tell if it will until I click post reply.)

musclevsfatlg.jpg

**g5x5** · 01-17-2014 12:14 PM

You don't gain 4.6 pounds of muscle that fast (sorry). What happened is the exercise increased water retention within your muscles as they react to, and repair themselves from, the excercise. You probably have lost the body fat though.

Right now your scale is just adjusting to the new circumstances and giving you data that isn't wholly comparable from day day. If you suddenly stop exercising you'll probably notice, a day or say later, a sudden drop in weight that's larger than normal.

But no matter what, this is all good for you.