Does strength training cause weight gain?

Strength training builds muscle, which is denser than fat, so the scale might show a slight increase. However, make sure you aren't consuming excess calories under the guise of 'protein intake' through heavy paneer or processed vegetarian protein bars.

Haha, for me, strength training causes weight gain because lifting weights makes me insanely hungry! I come home from the gym and end up eating double the portions of chole bhature. You really have to watch those post-workout cravings!

With my thyroid condition, any new exercise routine can temporarily affect my weight due to cortisol changes. Strength training is great, but keep tracking your hormonal levels with regular blood tests and consult your doctor to ensure your metabolism is on track.

Relax bro, it's just muscle inflammation and water retention. When you tear your muscle fibers during lifting, they hold onto water to heal. It's temporary, your weight will drop in a few weeks and you'll look leaner.

Between managing my baby's sleep and trying to lift weights, my body is just confused. I think I gained a kilo, probably because my muscles are swollen and I'm too tired to cook proper meals. It's a process, don't worry about the scale too much.

Haan yaar, shuru me toh weight thoda badhta hi hai, tension mat lo. My trainer told me it is just water weight in the muscles. Just keep going and junk food thoda kam khao, fir automatic weight control me aa jayega, okay na?

Unless you are secretly eating a whole pack of biscuits after lifting a 5kg dumbbell, that weight gain is just water! Your muscles are just holding onto water because they are shocked by the actual work. Keep calm and carry on lifting!

I started lifting dumbbells two weeks ago and the scale went up by 1.5 kgs! I am so stressed out because I wanted to lose weight. Has anyone else faced this when starting strength training? Is this normal or am I doing something wrong?

It is completely normal. Muscle is much denser than fat, so you might gain weight on the scale but actually look much tighter and smaller in the mirror. Focus on how your clothes fit rather than obsessing over the weighing scale.