In your quest to lose fat and get toned arms, you may get discouraged if you constantly look at the scale. Why? Because scale readings can fluctuate a lot, irrespective of fat loss.
In fact, many women actually gain weight while losing fat when just starting off with an exercise program. Especially if there is a lot of resistance training involved. Why does this happen? Because of H20.
The issue most women have is identifying what is causing the excess water gain. So in this article I’ll show you 5 things that could be causing you to gain weight instantly:
1. The weight of food. Although this sounds simplistic, many women overlook this factor. If you eat a big meal, you’ll instantly gain the weight of that meal. Period. Food has weight, and if the food goes into your mouth you gain that weight. And if the food is loaded with salt expect additional water weight.
2. Carbohydrates. You need carbohydrates to function properly. Without them, your brain would become extremely sluggish and you’d lose most of your ability to recover from exercise. And each gram of carbohydrate that gets pulled into muscle brings 3 grams of water with it.
3. Salt. We all know that salt can increase water retention. But what most women fail to realize is just how much water they can potentially retain-they usually drastically underestimate. The next time you eat a fast food meal or a big meal at a restaurant, notice how much water you HAVE to drink in order to quench your thirst.
4. Water. I’m not talking about drinking water, I’m talking about water hitting your skin. Believe it or not, you will absorb water when you shower or take a bath or enter any body of water. Many athletes have failed their weigh ins because of this skin-absorbing effect.
5. Lifting weights. Lifting weights will cause you to gain weight unless you are on an aggressive diet. But don’t freak out, the weight gain will eventually plateau and in the long run you’ll be much better off than the cardio bunnies. Where does the weight come from? And increased storage capacity for carbohydrates and water.
I strongly believe it’s in your best interest to NOT weigh yourself frequently. It will take you for an unnecessary emotional roller coaster ride. And if you feel like water retention is an issue, this article is a great starting point to ditch the excess H20!
