Do YOU gain water weight after heavy lifting?

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2/10/13 12:59 P

I do sometimes, especially when I have increased the amount I am lifting. Every time I increase the poundage, by body holds on to extra water for a while.

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2/9/13 11:27 P

My body has been holding onto water like no other since I've incorporated heavy weights back into my workout.

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2/9/13 8:20 A

@DRAGONCHILDE - I'm sure you're right. I bought a Fitbit on January 12 and I started taking lots of stairs and walking, going up 39 flights of stairs on my best day. After a few weeks my legs were noticeably more muscular, but the weight wasn't going down. I did lose some inches and people were giving me lots of compliments on how much weight I've lost, so I know I was looking good. It was just puzzling not to have the scales move.

It's a challenge for me to change my thinking away from the scale. I can see how a person can get addicted to the endorphins produced from strength training, though, and the lure of being able to eat more with the increased metabolism is itself enough to make me start lifting weights. :)

Thanks for the encouragement.

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2/9/13 1:11 A

@CALLMECARRIE - even if there is some water weight gain, the overall benefits of weight lifting VASTLY outweigh it. (hah! Pun unintended.)

Strength training preserves the lean muscle you have, boosts metabolism, and makes everything look and feel better. Even if you DO gain a couple of pounds of water weight... you'll look so much better as a result that you won't mind.

Seriously, I don't care if I'm "holding on" to a couple of pounds (although honestly, I weigh less right now than I have in a decade) I find myself flexing in the mirror to see how I look. ;) Flex the pecs!

It's worth it.

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2/8/13 9:50 P

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. I can gain 2lb after heavy lifting, but it goes away the day after a rest day. So I can be up and down 2lb a couple of times a week.

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2/8/13 8:25 P

Because of medical issues, I had to lay off exercise for a week and resume slowly this week. I lost 2-3 pounds last week. On a day of lifting this week, I gained two. I had to rest for 2 days and lost the 2. So yes, the weight lifting does increase water weight.

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2/8/13 7:37 P

SIMPLELIFE2 - I think you're right. This would be a whole new way of thinking for me. I'm kind of evolving in that direction. I've been focused on weight loss for about a year, and now my goal is to not just focus on weight loss and cardio but start some strength training. I'm trying to figure it out; I guess I should lift weights? I think I could enjoy that. I look forward to the challenge.

current weight: 178.8

283 252.25 221.5 190.75

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2/8/13 4:20 P

@CALLMECARRIE: You always can change your goal, focusing instead on body measurements, body fat percentage, clothing size, etc., as well as incorporate exercise goals, like weight lifted and number of reps for squats, crunches and pushups, We need to end the obsession with the scale. There are so many more important indicators of health and fitness.

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2/8/13 2:26 P

I've had this issue, too! I was worried until i read this thread... thanks!

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2/8/13 1:40 P

This confirms what I have suspected in my own case. Bummer. Since I still have 26 pounds to lose to reach my goal, it is disheartening to not see the scale move in response to increased exercise.

current weight: 178.8

283 252.25 221.5 190.75

160

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2/8/13 11:45 A

Don't worry about it. It's normal. And don't be so tied to the scale. Make sure you do overall body measurements and see about getting your body fat percentage tested. Those are the numbers that really matter.

I weigh about 8 pounds more now than at my lightest but am a full size smaller and my metabolism is zooming along with the added muscle mass. Strength training is definitely the way to go if you want to transform your body. Just stick with it and don't focus too much on the scale.

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2/8/13 8:31 A

This Stinks!! I started Lifting at a "Regular" Gym (I had been working out regularly at Curves for 3 years) and my weight is UP by 5-6 pounds!! I DO Believe Strength Training is Vital to Overall Fitness and Health, but I don't want to think I have to accept the Weight Gain as a Permanent Thing?!

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11/3/12 6:37 A

After an intense session of weight training, I can be up a couple of pounds the next day. not unusual for me. In general, my weight can vary as much as 3-4 pounds in a day because of fluctuations in my water weight.

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11/3/12 4:56 A

I carry an extra 5-6 lbs (not sure if it's water or what) when I do heavy weight lifting and heavy calisthenics. It doesn't go away. I mean, if I were to stop exercising, it would go away, but that doesn't count because it comes back when I start again so it's not a "real" loss. It's just what my body needs to do the work, apparently.

It bothers me because most of the stuff I do in the gym is easier the less I weigh. But I can't do anything about it. I try to look at it as an extra bit of challenge to lift just a little more weight.

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11/2/12 5:49 P

I've been on a heavy lifting plan for almost a month. I gained 5 lbs, but no inches.

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11/1/12 7:07 P

since I don't weigh myself very often I have no clue. I have been lifting for awhile around 8 months.

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11/1/12 4:36 P

Yes, about 2-3 lbs just as SLYSAM below me answered. I work out 4 or 5 days/week, so it's not due to not having enough down time (in my case, anyway). My body still decreases in size, and my body fat % drops. It's fine with me so long as I'm seeing change in the right direction.

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11/1/12 2:04 P

I think I generally gain about 2-3 pounds. While fluid weight is temporary, I find it kind of stays with me as long as I am keeping up on my strength training or other vigorous exercise. I say that because I frequently find during vacation or illness or a week when I just don't keep up with my workouts I suddenly drop 2-3 pounds after several days without exercise. I think I just weigh a couple pounds more when I exercise. It has been suggested that might mean I don't allow enough recovery time. I don't think that is the case though. The weight gain doesn't seem to effect my size and if I am losing fat I still lose inches and pounds. I just notice that if I stop I suddenly lose this weight, when I restart I suddenly gain it. It can mask fat loss for a week or two (depending on your rate of loss).

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11/1/12 1:58 P

Disclaimer: I am a man.

However, I did gain water weight, and it did not go away over 2 months until I stopped exercising for about 10 days. Then I noticed it went away. I picked up heavy weight lifting again, and my weight increased again. This is 2-3lbs. of water weight. As long as I keep lifting heavy, it never goes away, only when I stop lifting at least a week to 10 days it goes away.

Body Fat %: 25.0

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Posts: 15
11/1/12 12:45 P

I just started (2 weeks ago) NROLFW and I'm curious to know how much water weight gain others have experienced from the program or strength training in general. I know that the water weight is temporary, but would like to know how weight lifting affects other women.



Thanks!