Question:
Did you gain weight when you started weight training?

I started weight training again this week, after taking a two-month hiatus from exercise. Starting Monday, I went to the gym every day, and did the following: 1) used the elliptical machine for 1/2 hour, 2) worked my upper and lower body every other day with weights, 3) worked my abdominals every day, 4) swam laps for 15 minutes, 5) 3 days walked on my treadmill for 30 minutes, and 6) played competitive volleyball one evening for 45 minutes. I have upped my water dramatically (to about 80-90 ounces per day), and my protein is at around 60 per day. Why, then, have I gained 2 lbs.?? Should I just stick it out and hope that I don't keep gaining more? I really love going to the gym in the morning (and even wake at 5am to go, EVEN though i am NOT a morning person!), and love the way I feel afterwards, but i want to see the scale moving DOWN! Please give me hope! (Open PROXIMAL Rny, 7/7/03, 227/157/127)    — sweetmana (posted on February 13, 2004)

February 13, 2004
Your building up muscle and muscle weighs more than fat. Muscle also takes up less space than fat. Muscle burns more calories than fat. Take your measurements your losing inches right now. Your doing GREAT!!!!!
   — Robin W.

February 14, 2004
Sweet One, Your profile and mine are nearly identical, so I've been following your progress -- and have admired how far you've come. Now, about your question....First, congratulations on getting back to exercising; as we all know, it's key to losing and keeping off those last, stubborn pounds. May I suggest that you up your protein, to help your body cope with the extra demands you're placing on it? You've asked it to build muscle, but I'm not sure you're giving it the nutrients (protein) it needs to do so. Also, I found it very helpful to do interval training ala Bill Phillips (Body for Life). Ironically, I now spend less time in the gym overall (per session, that is), but I believe my results have been far better than if I spent more time doing aerobics at a steady pace. I'm losing at a consistent pace, and I'm firming up quickly. Take a peek at my profile and/or email me if you want; I think it'd be fun and helpful to share ideas and support with someone else -- you! -- who's so close to realizing her goals.
   — Biking O.

February 14, 2004
Does it really matter that you gained weight? I mean, it's certainly not fat. Plus, muscle cells need 40 calories a day to feed them and fat cells only need 4. So all that muscle you gained is burning the fat off you all day long. I would aim to gain at least 10 pounds of muscle while you are still losing fat. Scalewise, it may look like a "plateau."
   — mrsmyranow

February 14, 2004
A Sweet One, I have seen this question so many times, and the answer is YES. My trainer warned me not to become discourged when if I weigh in more than we started because as someone posted, you are building muscle, as you continue you will eventually see the scale go down as the muscles take place of the fat. I intend not to go near the scales for a while - you've come a long way BABY hang in there - it only gets better.
   — Anna M.

February 15, 2004
Funny, I just started back this last week too after taking a few months off. I also do cardio and weighs every day and a pilates class once a week. At first I dropped two pounds...I think from sweating off any extra water weight I had but, by the weekend I was right back up to where I started! Anyway, to answer your question...I once read that when you tear muscle fibers (weight training) your muscles then retain more water until the healing process (getting stronger) occurs...then they let go of it again. So, it is natural to see a several pound weight fluctuation during training. It is also important to give your muscles a rest...working upper and lower even every other day gets to be a lot of demand on the body. I take the weekends off just to give them time to catch up. Another interesting visual you can use that might help is to look at about 11/2 cups of a dense food like meat or cottage cheese. Now as fat that would weigh only 1 pound BUT, that same portion of muscle would weigh 5 pounds! I guess what I'm saying is don't freak out too much and maybe depend on your tape measure more than your scale for a while. Good luck!
   — eaamc