Can your weight go up when you start exercising / lifting weights?

[PicklePalace]

I’m a normal weight with a bmi of 23.5 so although I don’t want to lose weight particularly, I also don’t want to gain it!

I started going to the gym around 4 weeks ago. I’m doing upper and lower body strength workouts and trying to lift as heavy as I can and to failure. I’ve been on average 3 - 4 times a week in this past month

my diet hasn’t changed. But I’ve gone up a few lbs .. maybe 2 or 3 and I wondered if this was normal? I know I haven’t built any muscle yet that’s for sure but could it be water retention? Or err any other ideas?

thanks!

Yes I think water retention often happens with a new workout. Lots of people have the same issue. Nothing to worry about.

Oh thank you!

Yes muscle is heavier than fat

Unlikely to be muscle mass gain just yet, although this may start soon. Much more likely that it's water being retained in the muscles, which will probably resolve itself in the next few weeks.

They weight exactly the same! 1lb of muscle is the same as 1lb of fat!

I weigh more when my muscles are tired from the water retention.

I started doing weights in 2020. By the time I started, I'd gone up to about 9st 7 in lockdown and it was increased fat on my thighs and abdomen. Since then, the amount I can lift has gone up significantly and in circuits style activities I easily lift 3x more weight than I did and have introduced heavier lifting sets too.

My weight has gone up to around 10st but my thighs are slimmer. Where my clothes struggle is on my back and upper arms which are still lean but much stronger/more muscular. I've become more hourglass shaped rather than pear. My waist hasn't changed significantly but I've hit an age where hormonal change is in the mix too.
It's taken a long time though.