# Why do I lose more weight when I don't go to the gym? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 21, 2017, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-lose-more-weight-when-i-dont-go-to-the-gym/780379 "2017-02-21T07:13:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-lose-more-weight-when-i-dont-go-to-the-gym/780379/1 "2017-02-21T07:13:20Z")
Okay, this is confusing the ever-loving hell out of me. Most weeks, I do my best to eat well, count calories, hit the gym three times a week for a pretty strenuous workout. My weight does not seem to go down substantially. However, some weeks, this isn’t an option - in some weeks, due to travel situations, I end up eating like crap and getting extremely little exercise. My quite sedentary lifestyle (IT support, gamer, ride my bike to and from work every day, regular workout) becomes completely sedentary (student, gamer, take the train to and from school, no regular workout), and I also kinda pig out - eating not just more, but worse. So why the hell is it that almost every time after these weeks, when I weigh myself, my weight has gone down? Or at least, has never actually gone up? I asked the trainer at the gym I go to, and she was stumped. I have no idea what’s going on. It couldn’t be that going to the gym and eating healthy is making me fat, and I seriously doubt a lifestyle where I get _breakfast_ at KFC every morning is good for me, but I am really, _really_ confused. The fuck is going on? ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-lose-more-weight-when-i-dont-go-to-the-gym/780379/2 "2017-02-21T07:37:33Z")
according to [livestong.com](http://livestong.com) > [@](#): > > Exercise may cause temporary weight gain due to your muscles’ response to strenuous activity. Strength training, for example, tears muscle fiber and can cause your muscles to retain water. Cardiovascular exercise also triggers your muscles to store more glycogen, the form of carbohydrates that fuels aerobic activity. Not only do your muscles store more glycogen when you exercise, but the glycogen attracts water, according to Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist William Sukala. mc ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-lose-more-weight-when-i-dont-go-to-the-gym/780379/3 "2017-02-21T11:49:20Z")
Adding to that (glycogen retention), you may be eating less fiber, which carries its own water weight. Additionally, eating fatty foods may have you eating less food in general, as fat is more filling. Personally I eat less on the holidays because the food available leaves me feeling incredibly bloated. Not really a desirable long-term situation, but it could explain a short-term dip. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-lose-more-weight-when-i-dont-go-to-the-gym/780379/4 "2017-02-21T12:38:43Z")
A sample size of one, but when I caught a cold earlier this month I had to skip the gym for almost 2 weeks. Gained 2-3 pounds. Now that I’m back on the thing (high intensity stationary bike workout for a total of 2-3 hours/week), they’re coming right back off. ---
**Author:** ![jjakucyk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3d9bf3/32.png) [@jjakucyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjakucyk)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-lose-more-weight-when-i-dont-go-to-the-gym/780379/5 "2017-02-21T14:43:53Z")
When I first lost a lot of weight after starting bicycling seriously, even though I was riding regularly, my weight loss would go in spurts. So rather than losing say a pound every week or two, I’d plateau for a month and then drop three pounds or so in a short amount of time. It’s possible in your case that the weight loss when inactive is just this lag time. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-lose-more-weight-when-i-dont-go-to-the-gym/780379/6 "2017-02-21T14:46:20Z")
Weight loss is mostly an issue of eating, not exercise. You may be over eating after exercise because you feel like you’ve earned it, when in fact you’re eating enough to overcompensate for your exercise. It can also be a matter of hydration - do you drink a lot when exercising so you remain hydrated? ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-lose-more-weight-when-i-dont-go-to-the-gym/780379/7 "2017-02-21T18:12:42Z")
I’ve noticed the same thing when travelling for a couple weeks at a time. Always figured it was because muscle breaks down relatively quickly and weighs more than an equal amount of fat. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-lose-more-weight-when-i-dont-go-to-the-gym/780379/8 "2017-02-21T18:30:50Z")
If you notice this consistently, get your body fat tested in an accurate way before and after (electronic scanning or suspension in water rather than by caliper). It’s totally possible that your weight goes down but your body fat has gone up. Universities often provide fitness tests that can give you the information. High-end gyms will sometimes have testing equipment. See if there’s something like that in your area. It will be interesting to know if your body fat is really going down when you’re eating worse and not working out. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-lose-more-weight-when-i-dont-go-to-the-gym/780379/9 "2017-02-21T18:41:03Z")
Just another reason to skip the scale. Gauge your progress in the mirror. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-lose-more-weight-when-i-dont-go-to-the-gym/780379/10 "2017-02-22T01:32:31Z")
My weight gain/loss seems to lag behind my lifestyle (exercise/diet) by a fortnight. I’ll be surprised by a gain and then remember the blizzards that kept me from commuting by bike for the last few weeks. Right now, I’ve been eating less (and cutting my carbs in half), and exercising more, for a month with zero (zero!) weight loss. Sigh… it’ll come off eventually, but I guess as I get older I’m playing a longer game… and I won’t be svelte by spring break at disneyworld. ---
**Author:** ![JerrySTL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@JerrySTL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerrySTL)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-lose-more-weight-when-i-dont-go-to-the-gym/780379/11 "2017-02-22T02:09:58Z")
In 2006 I rode my bicycle over 6000 miles. However I basically quit riding right before Thanksgiving and didn’t start again until New Years. I lost weight during that period even though I was pigging out during the Holidays. However I did gain inches around the waist. Muscle weighs more than fat. As I lost muscle mass, my weight dropped. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-lose-more-weight-when-i-dont-go-to-the-gym/780379/12 "2017-02-22T03:26:51Z")
> [@JerrySTL](#): > > Muscle weighs more than fat. Really? I thought 16 oz of muscle weighed the same as 16 oz of fat? Am I missing something? ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-lose-more-weight-when-i-dont-go-to-the-gym/780379/13 "2017-02-22T03:55:18Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > Really? > > I thought 16 oz of muscle weighed the same as 16 oz of fat? Am I missing something? Yes. Per unit volume which was what clearly intended. Anyway no idea if it applies to the op but sometime fairly stringent dieting will hit a wall with various stress hormone levels contributing to water retention. Relieve the stress and some water comes off. Ambi has it right. Minimally don’t obsess on the scale. Success is the behaviors continued not the scale and it reflects not only in your mirror but in long term outcomes. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-lose-more-weight-when-i-dont-go-to-the-gym/780379/14 "2017-02-22T05:52:01Z")
Muscle takes up [approximately four-fifths as much space as fat](http://www.livestrong.com/article/438693-a-pound-of-fat-vs-a-pound-of-muscle/): > [@](#): > > Since it is denser, muscle does weigh more than fat if you compare same-size portions. On average, the density of fat is 0.9 g/mL. The density of muscle is 1.1 g/mL. Using the averages, 1 liter of muscle weighs 1.06 kg, or 2.3 lbs., while 1 liter of fat weighs .9 kg, or 1.98 lbs. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-lose-more-weight-when-i-dont-go-to-the-gym/780379/15 "2017-02-22T06:07:45Z")
Somewhat similar to what **Telemark** said, but… “Abs are made in the kitchen” is what they say. Exercise tends to make you hungrier and eat more to make up for the calories you’ve burned. I’m not paleo, but one paleo belief I think is true is that “chronic cardio” (as Mark Sisson calls it) isn’t good for you. The whole get on the elliptical for an hour or do Zumba three days a week. It’s not good for your health but instead puts oxidative stress on the body: [https://www.completehumanperformance.com/exercise-oxidative-stress/](https://www.completehumanperformance.com/exercise-oxidative-stress/) Instead, resistance training (weights, etc.) and sprinting (or similar quick burst exercise) is better for you and also more effective in weight loss. Just something to think about. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-lose-more-weight-when-i-dont-go-to-the-gym/780379/16 "2017-02-22T09:30:19Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Weight loss is mostly an issue of eating, not exercise. You may be over eating after exercise because you feel like you’ve earned it, when in fact you’re eating enough to overcompensate for your exercise. It can also be a matter of hydration - do you drink a lot when exercising so you remain hydrated? I’d say this, but I actually do a pretty good job counting calories normally. The last two weeks I did not - or rather, I did, and ate way too much anyways. > [@filmore](#): > > If you notice this consistently, get your body fat tested in an accurate way before and after (electronic scanning or suspension in water rather than by caliper). It’s totally possible that your weight goes down but your body fat has gone up. > > Universities often provide fitness tests that can give you the information. High-end gyms will sometimes have testing equipment. See if there’s something like that in your area. > > It will be interesting to know if your body fat is really going down when you’re eating worse and not working out. Thanks, I’ll give it a look. > [@Ambivalid](#): > > Just another reason to skip the scale. Gauge your progress in the mirror. The mirror always tells me I’m fat. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-lose-more-weight-when-i-dont-go-to-the-gym/780379/17 "2017-02-22T11:40:51Z")
Last summer and autumn when I exercised in the gym everyday I was about 200 pounds. Best shape for near a decade. When I hurt my knee and spent the 2 months basically pigging out, I weigh: 190. My trousers tells me that I have gained weight. OP is surprised that he gained weight in the gym? That’s pretty much a side effect of working out. ---
**Author:** ![Corry\_El](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecae2f/32.png) [@Corry\_El](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corry_El)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-lose-more-weight-when-i-dont-go-to-the-gym/780379/18 "2017-02-22T14:57:25Z")
There’s so much 180 degree opposite ‘expert’ advice on this topic, it can be really confusing. But it seems to me really unlikely you could sustain a long term trend, not just a couple of lbs, of weight loss by ‘pigging out’ and being sedentary, even in muscle loss/fat gain had some offsetting effect due to different density. Sooner or later you’d be a balloon, unless a real freak of nature. And it’s also obvious you can’t exercise your way out of a seriously bad diet or excessive eating even of good stuff.