Can running cause weight gain?

I totally get it, it feels so confusing when you work so hard but the scale goes up. Often, running makes us so hungry that we subconsciously eat more than we burn. Don't lose hope, just keep an eye on your portions.

Chill yaara, don't stress too much about the scale! When you start running, your muscles hold onto water to repair themselves, which looks like weight gain. It is temporary, so just keep going and enjoy your runs.

It happened to me too when I first started. I recovered by drinking warm fennel water after my runs to curb that extreme post-workout hunger. Try eating a small bowl of papaya or some soaked almonds before you go out to run.

Beta, running makes the digestive fire very strong, so you feel like eating more. Try drinking lukewarm water with a bit of lemon and honey in the morning. Focus on home-cooked simple meals instead of heavy post-run snacks.

I gained almost 2 kgs after starting my running routine three weeks ago and I am panicking. Is this normal? Did this happen to anyone else here, and does the weight eventually go down?

I was reading about this yesterday because I noticed the same thing. Apparently, running causes micro-tears in the muscles, leading to temporary water retention for healing. It's actually a scientific sign that your body is adapting!

As a health professional, I see this a lot. It is usually either muscle recovery inflammation holding water weight, or 'compensation eating' where we reward ourselves with extra calories. Try tracking your meals for a week to be sure.