Expando-Quads?

[GLC1968]

What do you guys think muscles pump up with? Air? It's water! (or fluids anyway)! For every molecule of glycogen in your muscles, there are two molecules of water (I think that's the right ratio). It's different than general body bloat that you might get from salty foods or hormones...

And yes, I get this in my legs too. I would NEVER do a heavy lower body workout (or a tough hill-climbing ride) the day before weigh-ins as my legs can hold onto fluid for a couple of days after a tough workout. For others, it's just overnight. Depends on your body.

I have found that the Zoot Recovery Rx tights really do help to minimize this. They are super difficult to get on though, so unless it's a really hard workout, I don't bother. I don't know that regular tights that are too tight would necessarily work as it's the graduated tightness on the Zoots that supposedly does the work and regular tights would just be tighter in the spots where you are bigger. That's just a theory though - no scientific proof to back it up or anything.

[limewave]

What do you guys think muscles pump up with? Air? It's water! (or fluids anyway)!

And I thought it was my Go-Go-Gadget Super Quads!
Just water, well, that's boring.

[Catrin]

And yes, I get this in my legs too. I would NEVER do a heavy lower body workout (or a tough hill-climbing ride) the day before weigh-ins as my legs can hold onto fluid for a couple of days after a tough workout. For others, it's just overnight. Depends on your body.

This is good information. I've noticed that on weeks that I have heavy lower body workouts (most weeks) and long rides (most weeks) that I can only tell what weight I have lost the morning after a rest day...

[Owlie]

What do you guys think muscles pump up with? Air? It's water! (or fluids anyway)! For every molecule of glycogen in your muscles, there are two molecules of water (I think that's the right ratio). It's different than general body bloat that you might get from salty foods or hormones...

And yes, I get this in my legs too. I would NEVER do a heavy lower body workout (or a tough hill-climbing ride) the day before weigh-ins as my legs can hold onto fluid for a couple of days after a tough workout. For others, it's just overnight. Depends on your body.

Glycogen binds about twice its weight in water. But if you're burning that glycogen...Time to go find a physiology book rather than a biochem book. I suppose it just sits there for a bit until the cells get rid of it?