Can someone explain...

[Cari]

My husband and I rode 83+ miles on the W&OD in Virginia into DC and back. I weighed myself yesterday morning and then I weighed myself this morning - only to find a 1.8 lb increase in weight! ....Any explanations out there - I don't feel as though I am retaining and water.
Thanks!

Since you just rode 83 miles (that's a lot!), your tissues are inflamed due to tissue injury and part of that inflammation involves retaining fluid. This will always happen after a heavy workout, and if 83 miles is a lot more than you usually do, you may notice it even more.

It sounds like you're well on your way to some serious weight loss, and like Nanci said, the effects are completely temporary. If you rest a few days and stick to the diet, you should lose that 1.8 pounds and a little more. Then again... you have a new bike... better to ride it as often as possible and just deal with the water weight!

Good luck with the weight loss, and 'gratz on the new bike!

~ Cari

[corrine]

Since you just rode 83 miles (that's a lot!), your tissues are inflamed due to tissue injury and part of that inflammation involves retaining fluid. This will always happen after a heavy workout, and if 83 miles is a lot more than you usually do, you may notice it even more.

It sounds like you're well on your way to some serious weight loss, and like Nanci said, the effects are completely temporary. If you rest a few days and stick to the diet, you should lose that 1.8 pounds and a little more. Then again... you have a new bike... better to ride it as often as possible and just deal with the water weight!

Good luck with the weight loss, and 'gratz on the new bike!

~ Cari

I just came back from my WW meeting and one of the receptionists just said the same thing. She used to do the 25 mile walk-a-thons and for a few days after the great exertion she used to weigh more too and she said the same thing you did. I just like to have an explanation. I wasn't truly freaked out about the gain - figured it had something to do with water, but I am sore and feel like I really worked harder than I have before (and I have ridden this kind of mileage before - just been many months). I know I worked harder on this bike - something to do with an attitude change in me going from my hybrid to a road bike. It was an awesome ride and can't wait to get back out again (as soon as my tushie is a touch less sore). Thanks again everyone!

[KnottedYet]

I second what Corrine and Cari said. Muscles inflame... they really do! Check out a marathoner's legs a day or two after the big run. Whoa! Think of inflammation like a construction crew. Lots of stuff going on, extra traffic, and congestion as houses are repaired and constructed (building muscle fibers) but when the crew leaves you have a quiet neighborhood again (sleek and stronger muscles).

That's why guys who pop ibuprofen everytime they work out just can't seem to build muscle - they've shut off the inflammation response so the construction crews never get to do their job.