Most people engage in workouts to stay fit and to keep their weight under control. Therefore, it can be immensely frustrating to discover that you are actually gaining weight after working out. But, you should bear in mind that it is usually a normal and common occurrence and is mostly temporary. There are a number of reasons why you might be putting on some weight after exercise. Some of the top reasons why you might be experiencing weight gain after a workout are highlighted below.
Muscle weight gain
When you start working out, it is a given that you will gain muscle. The type of workouts you do and the diet you eat will determine how much muscle you gain at the end of the day. But, there are likely to be improvements in muscle mass and strength when you start engaging in any kind of physical activity. If you engage in strength training and eat a protein-heavy diet, you will see considerable increase in your muscle mass.
Genetics also determine how much muscle mass you gain after starting an exercise program. When you gain muscle, the number of the scale will automatically go up. In fact, your weight may go up even if you lose fat. This is because muscle tends to be more dense than fat.
Water weight gain
Temporary weight gain often happens because of water retention. Pre-menopausal women may often see body weight fluctuations throughout the month because of hormonal changes. There might also be some bloating before and even during your period. Exercise is helpful in reducing pre-menstrual symptoms, so you should not skip your workouts, even if your weight goes up.
Sodium intake is another common reason why you might see water weight gain. Your body weight can increase when you consume high-salt foods. Many people increase their water intake after eating salty foods, but may not produce more urine. The extra fluid in their body can lead to higher numbers on the scale.
Post-workout inflammation
Your workout can also cause temporary weight gain. However, this increase shows that you are exercising hard and will eventually see results. To put it simply, your muscle tissue is damaged during exercise, especially weight training. Muscles grow and get stronger during the repair process, but inflammation happens in the tissues during this time. This inflammation and the build-up of fluid in your cells can lead to temporary weight gain after you work out.
Supplement use
There may also be a certain degree of weight gain after workout due to post-workout use of supplements or nutrition. The glycogen stores in the body are depleted due to exercise and post-workout supplements that contain carbohydrates are usually consumed. These carbs provide the muscles with glycogen. But, for every gram of glycogen stored in the body, it also retains three grams of water. This stored water can result in water weight gain. Likewise, other supplements can lead to fluid retention and increased muscle mass, which also leads to weight gain.
