But the reason for it is simple: Weight training builds lean muscle mass, which is denser than body fat. A pound of lean muscle mass and a pound of body fat tissue might weigh the same, but they take up different amounts of space.
Yes, it's common to experience temporary weight gain before starting to lose weight, especially when beginning a new exercise or diet routine. This can be due to factors like water retention, muscle gain, or changes in eating habits.
Working out can cause short-term weight gain as your muscle mass increases. Post-workout inflammation may cause temporary weight fluctuations. Workout plateaus, supplement use, and dietary changes can also stall your weight-loss efforts. Try not to obsess over the number on the scale.
You're eating the wrong things
Research has shown that diet has a greater impact on weight loss than exercise. Be sure to eat enough fruits, vegetables and healthy protein, and try to avoid ultraprocessed foods or items with added sugar.
While at the gym, you'll be actively working your muscles and all the while dehydrating. The combination of your pumped up muscles, dehydration and overworked muscles might make you feel well toned then, a few hours later, you appear flabbier despite the exercise you know should be making you lean.
One of the main reasons why burning calories through exercise may still not result in weight loss is due to overexertion, or inflammation of your body. If you exercise too hard on a daily basis, there is an excess of inflammation in your body. All the added up inflammation makes you gain more weight than lose.
Your body composition may be another reason why you are still gaining weight while in a calorie deficit. If you have a higher body fat percentage and lower muscle mass, then you are probably burning fewer calories than if you had more muscle mass.
The 30/30/30 is a weight loss method that involves eating 30 g of protein within the first 30 minutes of your day and following it with 30 minutes of light exercise. This morning routine is rooted in sound science, and it could be a good way to increase your capacity to burn fat while keeping lean muscle.
Mostly, losing weight is an internal process. You will first lose hard fat that surrounds your organs like liver, kidneys and then you will start to lose soft fat like waistline and thigh fat. The fat loss from around the organs makes you leaner and stronger.
Stage 1: Fast weight loss
In the beginning, weight loss happens pretty rapidly. Over a period of 4-6 weeks, you'll likely see a noticeable difference in your body weight [1] — either on the scales or by the way your clothes fit.
This is because exercise—especially higher-intensity exercise—can produce a temporary inflammatory response in your body. This can also trigger temporary water retention.
Remember that weight is just one indicator of your overall health and wellness, and it can change from day to day. You may start gaining muscle but not losing fat when you first start your barre routine — and it's perfectly normal. A lot of people bulk up before slimming down, especially when they're new working out.
If you're asking yourself, “Why am I gaining weight when I barely eat,” several factors may be at play. Your body may be holding onto fat stores if your eating habits are inconsistent or restricted. Or, your weight gain may be the effect of a sedentary lifestyle, medical condition, or long-term stress.
Glycogen binds with water as part of the process, which can add 1 to 3 pounds of initial water weight gain. The effect, however, is short-lived and should end in a few weeks to a month.
Water weight is not usually a cause for concern, but it can be uncomfortable and recurring. Reducing salt and carbohydrate intake, keeping hydrated, and frequently exercising are all good ways to lose water weight and prevent it from returning.
Gaining weight after working out is likely due to muscle fiber inflammation, muscle glycogen and water weight gain, and over time, muscle mass gain. If weight loss is your goal, seeing an increase on the scale when you've been making an effort to exercise can be frustrating.
Water retention may clear without treatment in a few days. However, if there is a health problem causing you to hold onto fluid, your swelling may worsen over time. You may find that the body parts retaining water become tight, swollen, and painful. If untreated, heart or kidney problems may get much worse.
Building visible muscle generally takes time, specifically anywhere between eight and 15 weeks, the experts say. "Substantial muscle growth can take several months or even years, depending on your genetics, consistency and effort", Pelc Graca says.
Muscle helps keep up the rate at which you burn calories (metabolism). So as you lose weight, your metabolism declines, causing you to burn fewer calories than you did at your heavier weight. Your slower metabolism will slow your weight loss, even if you eat the same number of calories that helped you lose weight.