Expert: Joe Hofer - 4/20/2010

Question
Hi Joe,

I am a female 5'7" 132 lbs.  I have started Boxing training classes starting 2 weeks ago (3 to 4 classes per week).  Just after the first week, I gained about 6 pounds of weight (i.e. became 138 lbs)!  I was pretty shocked when I got off the scale, since my weight has been pretty stable and not changing at all in the last couple of years.  I understated that it could be because of building muscles, but I really don't see any obvious difference in my muscle appearance.  I also would like to add that my eating didn't change at all in that week, and I was eating pretty much the same amount of calories per day as I was before.  So is this normal you think?  And how could I maintain my weight and build lean muscle?

I'd greatly appreciate your advice.

Answer
I am sorry 6 pounds of solid muscle weight takes more time than that to add on, but perhaps you are consuming allot more water and you have water weight.  Remember a quart of water weighs 2 pounds.  This may be what you are adding on, but will disappear if it is.

Joe