Weight Gain After Centuries

[EliB]

All things equal is there any reasonable explanation as to why I gain a couple of pounds every time I do a century ride? (which is about once/month)

I have sometimes -again all things being more or less equal (intake etc.)- lost weight during sedentary periods.

I am not referring to fleeting alterations of the scale reading as occurs in relation to fluid volume changes. I am talking 2 or 3 lbs extra that show up on the scale for up to a week after.

Because it always happens and yet I continue my overall decline in weight, I have learned not to get too discouraged.

However, it does drive me nuts as far as it just not making sense!!!

Anyone relate or understand???

[socalrider]

This is very normal.. Your body retains a lot of fluid to help your muscles recover from your long rides.. Usually you will see a normalization 48-72 hours after you finish your century.

Once again the scale can be deceiving.. Give yourself 48-72 hours and your weight will normalize..

[ModelT]

+1

Lots of stuff going on with your body during and after a century ride.

[EliB]

This is very normal.. Your body retains a lot of fluid to help your muscles recover from your long rides.. Usually you will see a normalization 48-72 hours after you finish your century.

Once again the scale can be deceiving.. Give yourself 48-72 hours and your weight will normalize..

So I am learning re the retention of water. Thank you. I suppose it just takes me a bit longer to 'normalize' (but that would be consistent with other areas of my life as well!)

What is the rate or pattern of muscle gain, I wonder? I've always heard to be on the alert for extra pounds on the scale or plateau's that can be due to muscle hypertrophy.

[pcmike]

It happened to me yesterday... after doing a metric century plus some (67 miles)... I gained two pounds!!! And my caloric intake was very low.

I was still up a pound today but have notice a lot of urination... leading me to suspect as others posted, that the body holds on to fluids under stress and is now releasing them.

Tomorrow's my official weight in day on my weight loss plan (25 pounds since April 1!), so I'm hoping all those calories burned Saturday show up on the scale tomorrow!

[10 Wheels]

All things equal is there any reasonable explanation as to why I gain a couple of pounds every time I do a century ride? (which is about once/month)

I have sometimes -again all things being more or less equal (intake etc.)- lost weight during sedentary periods.

I am not referring to fleeting alterations of the scale reading as occurs in relation to fluid volume changes. I am talking 2 or 3 lbs extra that show up on the scale for up to a week after.

Because it always happens and yet I continue my overall decline in weight, I have learned not to get too discouraged.

However, it does drive me nuts as far as it just not making sense!!!

Anyone relate or understand???

I rode 413 miles in five days last week and gained one pound.

[Air]

Chew some cinnamon bark and licorice root (not the candy but the real bark of cinnamon and the root of licorice) - if it's fluid it'll be gone pretty quickly.

[socalrider]

There is a good reason your body holds onto the fluid, it helps with your muscle recovery..

Just don't obsess over the scale and take your baseline reading a few days after your long rides..