is it normal to gain weight when you start excersising?
 

I just joined the gym last week. so far I have gone 4 days in a row I do aqua aerobics for an hour with a class and then bounce between the treadmill, bike and elliptical.

anyways today I was pumped thinking all this exercise must have made me loose some good weight! yeah... not so much I gained 6 lbs in 5 days!!!!!! could this be right? I've been on plan eating the same amount of calories as before..

I'm not even close to starting my period so I know it's not related to that.. I weighed in first thing in the morning after going to the bathroom with out clothes on as I normally do! I'm so distraught :(.. ugh....

I don't think it could be that I'm gaining muscle .. it's only been 4 days of working out? I wouldn't gain muscle that quick would I?

You don't build muscle that fast, but sore muscle retain water. Especially large muscles like your legs.

oh and my legs have been KILLING ME!

Yes, I've definitely experienced this too! Don't worry, your body will clue in soon. When you work out hard, it causes tiny tears in your muscles, and then they retain water in an effort to repair the tears.
Congratulations on joining the gym- I'm sure you'll see the results soon! :)

Sounds like you're doing everything right -- just be careful that you are not eating more to compensate for exercising. It is VERY easy to misjudge how much you actually burn. The calorie burn of an hour walk can be easily "erased" by 5-10 minutes of eating junk.

I've read on here before that your muscles retain water when you start exercising...I wish I could remember more information than that. The same thing happened to me before though, but after a bit the weight dropped off. If you're exercising and getting a proper amount of calories it seems pretty much impossible to gain weight at the gym but is discouraging none the less :p

Yes, if your muscles feel sore, chances are they are holding fluid. It is part of the repairation process of the muscle. Have you eaten something containing lots of sodium--frozen meals, processed soups and the like are the culprits that come to mind. I would say UPPPP you fiber (without upping calories) and UPPPP your water for the next couple of days and then reweigh. Good luck. Please let us know how you are doing.

You know, I'm actually glad to hear this because I was going a bit nuts. Everyone else usually loses so much at first when they start a program, but this is what has been happening to me. I started a food program AND exercise program at the same time.

I hired a trainer and have been going 2x per week, and he just kills me, really makes me work, I can barely walk now for example. Then I've been doing cardio 4x per week. And I have kept track of every morsel I've put into my mouth and haven't gone over 1550 calories, all with good food too, no junk. I've been eating breakfast, drinking water, etc.etc. This is my fifth week.

And I've lost only 2 pounds !!!

Arghghghg. Any thoughts appreciated. CJ

well today I re weighed just for the heck of it and I've lost 2 of the 6 lbs I gained! now just 4 more to go.. blah! I do believe I must have retained water because my rings on my hands seem "tighter" like my hands are puffy. however my clothes still fit exactly the same and as a matter of fact they seem looser! go figure. could i be loosing inches and just not weight any more?

well today I have a work out with a trainer.. I'm scared she's gonna work me hard! LOL oh well thats what I'm paying her to do!

I'll keep you guys posted

just updating every one I have lost 5 of the 6 lbs I gained... so frustrating.. wish it had been 5 lbs from where I was at! but oh well It's coming off non the less and quickly too those 5 lbs have come off in only 4 days! I bet it was all water weight!