Even if you successfully lose a significant amount of weight, you may experience rebound weight gain. This refers to an increase in body weight shortly following a successful diet program. There are many reasons for rebound weight gain, and this phenomenon may even occur if you follow a well-designed weight-loss plan.
Water Weight Gain
Water weight is a common source of rebound weight gain. As the website Families.com explains, carbohydrates hold water, which can add to your weight. If you lost your weight through a low-carbohydrate diet and add carbohydrates back into your diet, the increase in water retention may cause an increase in weight even if you haven't gained any fat.
Cessation of Weight Training
Weight training helps you build muscle as it burns calories. Even if you're still burning the same amount of calories through other activities, ceasing to work out with weights can cause you to lose muscle. MayoClinic.com says muscle mass burns more calories than other tissue and boosts your metabolism, so ending a resistance training plan can cause you to gain weight through the loss of muscle and slowed metabolism.
Reduction of Protein Intake
Many diets recommend consuming higher quantities of protein than you might normally eat. If you switch to a diet lower in protein after losing weight, you may experience rebound weight gain. Research in the May 2004 Journal of the American College of Nutrition explains that high protein intake increases satiety, can encourage reduced calorie intake and results in a higher thermogenic -- or calorie-burning -- effect than fat or carbohydrates.
Cessation of Supplements
If you lost weight using fat-burning supplements, ceasing to use those supplements may result in rebound weight gain. Many fat-burning supplements have an appetite-suppressing effect, which aids in weight loss. If you stop using such a supplement, you may be hungrier throughout the day, which can lead to increased calorie intake and weight gain.
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