Very strange...

I had a tragic family event a week and a half ago and for 4 days ate nothing but some sunflower seeds, an occasional shake and maybe a sandwich each day. Under 1000 calories. After that time I began to compose myself and get my diet back on track and training as I know my loved ones would want. As I warmed up after not training for nearly 3 weeks I felt as I expected. Weak. Then as my workout progressed I got stronger and stronger and swelled up like a sponge. I was stronger than before! I weighed myself and was up 8lbs! How is that possible? I'm still lean and dry and not holding any water.

Sorry for your loss my friend. Believe it or not i do this sometimes when I feel like I have plateaud.and cant get any heavier or gain anymore. I do just that change diet and stop working out for almost two weeks(although i do still do some mild cardio and activities). then back on and hit the same weight I stopped at. It starts muscle memory and shocks the muscles into new growth ( definately feel sore the next few days). I dont know about the weight I do gain some fat since my metabolism changes and my body begins to store it. I currently consume 3-4000 calores a day depending on the day of the week and im at around 12% and 241lbs or so and 6ft.. I sometimes give that advice for those who have claimed they stopped growing andd dont know how to get past that plateau. Its just want is natural to the body.

The Dude said:

I had a tragic family event a week and a half ago and for 4 days ate nothing but some sunflower seeds, an occasional shake and maybe a sandwich each day. Under 1000 calories. After that time I began to compose myself and get my diet back on track and training as I know my loved ones would want. As I warmed up after not training for nearly 3 weeks I felt as I expected. Weak. Then as my workout progressed I got stronger and stronger and swelled up like a sponge. I was stronger than before! I weighed myself and was up 8lbs! How is that possible? I'm still lean and dry and not holding any water.

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Plain and simple....Rest! Gave ur muscles time to rest and solidified ur gains over the rest period! Maybe from the unintentional carb deplete you went through for 3 weeks, your body soaked up the sudden nutrients when u were back to normal. But 8 pound gains is pretty impressive since u say ur still lean and dry

Besides the rest, sometimes when you put your body in a caloric deficit like that then come back, you've essentially primed the pump so to speak, and your body is ready to pack it on when those calories come back.

saudades said:

Besides the rest, sometimes when you put your body in a caloric deficit like that then come back, you've essentially primed the pump so to speak, and your body is ready to pack it on when those calories come back.

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Exactly,

saudades said:

Besides the rest, sometimes when you put your body in a caloric deficit like that then come back, you've essentially primed the pump so to speak, and your body is ready to pack it on when those calories come back.

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I have to agree here- rest was a big part but change in diet from deficit to back to normal was good for your body.

First off, I'm sorry to hear about you loss and everything. It's like a shock to the system each way, a shock to noeat like you were then another shock once you start back. Like saudades said, you'll soak up the vitamins and nutrients your body was used to once you start back at it. l

I appreciate the kind words. Perhaps lean and dry was a little deceptive. I meant more that I was not holding anymore water or bodyfat than I had been prior to all of this. I really had no idea I needed a rest that bad, but I feel great now.

The Dude said:

I appreciate the kind words. Perhaps lean and dry was a little deceptive. I meant more that I was not holding anymore water or bodyfat than I had been prior to all of this. I really had no idea I needed a rest that bad, but I feel great now.

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most of us probably dont realize it either

I will bump that

Most of the people who train just won't take a break until something like this happens, but ti really opens your eyes up when you see the results.