Though you may exercise to stay in shape and lose weight, you may actually gain some weight after exercising. Sometimes weight gain after exercising is normal but only under certain circumstances. If you're gaining an abnormal or unusual amount of weight, more than a few pounds, you may need to seek medical attention for a proper diagnosis for an underlying medical condition.
Increased Muscle Mass
Exercise may cause you to gain muscle mass, according to KidsHealth. Muscle weighs more than fat, which would give you an artificial weight gain. Artificial weight gain means you're gaining muscle instead of fat. Gaining muscle is actually a good thing because not only will more muscle make you stronger, but muscle burns fat and helps boost your metabolism. So while you may gain weight, it's only temporary because once your metabolism increases from the increased muscle mass, you'll burn even more fat than before.
Fluid Retention
When you exercise, you sweat. If your body sweats too much and you consume too many carbohydrate beverages before or after exercising, it can lead to fluid retention, according to PubMed.gov. The fluid retention can result in a temporary weight gain until your body is able to shed the excess fluid. Carbohydrate beverages often contain a lot of sugar and sodium, which is where the water retention comes in. To avoid fluid retention, drink water before, during and after your workouts. Your body is primarily composed of water so it only makes sense to drink water instead of carbohydrate beverages.
Eating Disorders
Some people suffer from eating disorders such as binge eating, purging or anorexia, a starvation method. Binge eating is when you eat an enormous amount of food and either exercise strenuously to keep from gaining weight or purge, which means to vomit, to keep from gaining weight. Constant binging can cause weight gain after your workouts. When you suffer from a binge eating disorder, the amount of calories you consume in one sitting are more than most people would consume in one day. This is a very dangerous method for attempting to lose weight. According to Weight-control Information Network, those who suffer from a binge eating disorder often suffer depression. Binge eating affects approximately 3 percent of American adults.
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