Why do muscles look 'small' after a workout, but big the next day?!
Question: I'm particularly referring to a weight lifting workout, of course. Before the workout, the muscles look average...during and shortly after the workout, the muscles have their 'pumped' look from the workout. Then hours after the workout, it's like some of my muscles look 'smaller'. Why does this happen? Does the muscle 'shrink' a little due to fluid buildup that goes away, or am I just thinking that they 'look smaller' a few hours after the workout?
Answers: I'm particularly referring to a weight lifting workout, of course. Before the workout, the muscles look average...during and shortly after the workout, the muscles have their 'pumped' look from the workout. Then hours after the workout, it's like some of my muscles look 'smaller'. Why does this happen? Does the muscle 'shrink' a little due to fluid buildup that goes away, or am I just thinking that they 'look smaller' a few hours after the workout?
The fibers tighten up so they can do their job of lifting that weight you're pumping, and they stay "on edge" so to speak, and tight, for a few hours after a work out, after a while they losen up and go back to normal. It's very frustrating. Good luck, God bless, good health and happy Easter.
tighten in the arms
because the tissue in them has been damaged and is growing and repairing so they get bigger as the body repairs and increases the mucscle:)
idk doesn't sound right. When im done lifting my arms are usually a lot bigger than before or the day after. Something isnt right there.
yes you actually shrink everynight, but during sleep you rejuvinate. Measure yourself and see. its the water retention
Mostly I seem to look bigger, but this may not be true with you.
I am thinking maybe of 'swelling' the next day due to the stress placed on your muscells...
Hope this helps!
before is because you hadn't stretched them, during work out you stretch them, the next day it's called balled up muscle from not being stretched and worked out.
Right after you work out your muscles are tight.
The next day they are somewhat swelled from their constant moving.
After a few weeks of working out your muscles will regulate this pattern, and the tightness and swelling won't be as dramatic.
Its because it takes time for muscle tissue to heal and grow. as you work out the muscles tissue gets torn so when it repairs it increases size ;)
Workout=sweat=>loss of water
Next day. Hyperaemia (increased blood flow) due to increased metabolic load => increased volume.
Tissue can't built up up in a day.
well 2 reasons why.. firstly, during the workout you've literally torn down the muscle tissue, especially if u were lifting heavy... that is why each muscle should only be trained once a week!
secondly, during the workout, your are depleting your glcyogen storage, the stuff that fuels your muscles and gives them the pump.. that is why after a workout u need good carbs with the protein!
Your muscles are small after a workout, because they are relaxed. You know, that when you contract a muscle it gets bigger, but after it is tired, it needs rest and you are not able to contract it.
The reason your muscles are bigger on the next day is because they need more food, and it is the blood that delivers that food to them. This is the way the muscles recover.