Deficit, Heavy lifting and Gaining Weight? Why?
ngaliyin
Posts: 71 Member
I lost 27lbs (from 205lbs to 178lbs) before having a Mommy Makeover sx.
For the 27lb loss ( which took 2.5 months), I was eating 1500 calories per day (per MFP) and doing Ice Cream 5x5 (weight lifting program) @ 3 times per week with a 20 min cardio thrown in 1x per week.
Started back again on MFP 2.5 weeks ago at 177.4lbs (I'm 5' 8") after a 6 month break. But had stated my strength training again 3 times per week for 2 weeks before starting to track food again.
This time, I'm supposed to eat 1640 calories per day (according to MFP) to lose 1.5lbs per week. But I mostly eat between 1200 and 1550 calories because I get very full and my body feels strong and good.
I weigh all food on my food scale and am meticulous about that ( Thanks to the OP of the thread, "I went from Morbidly Obese to Six Pack - ask me anything" ).
2.5 weeks ago, I increased my Ice Cream 5x5 to 5 days per week and 1 day with my fitness trainer weights with more cardio built in for about 30 mins. So I workout 6 days per week with a 5 to 10 min cardio before strength.
I love my strength triaining
However, instead of seeing a decrease in weight, I've gone from 177.4lbs to 181.2lbs this morning.
I'm firming up, cellulite is reducing and no increase in dress size.
But why am I gaining instead of losing weight?
If anyone knows what's happening, I'd greatly appreciate your answers and suggestions.
I'm up in all my compound exercises:
Squats: 60lbs
Deadlifts: 80lbs
Bent Over Rows: 54lbs
Shrugs: 80lbs
Thank you hugely
For the 27lb loss ( which took 2.5 months), I was eating 1500 calories per day (per MFP) and doing Ice Cream 5x5 (weight lifting program) @ 3 times per week with a 20 min cardio thrown in 1x per week.
Started back again on MFP 2.5 weeks ago at 177.4lbs (I'm 5' 8") after a 6 month break. But had stated my strength training again 3 times per week for 2 weeks before starting to track food again.
This time, I'm supposed to eat 1640 calories per day (according to MFP) to lose 1.5lbs per week. But I mostly eat between 1200 and 1550 calories because I get very full and my body feels strong and good.
I weigh all food on my food scale and am meticulous about that ( Thanks to the OP of the thread, "I went from Morbidly Obese to Six Pack - ask me anything" ).
2.5 weeks ago, I increased my Ice Cream 5x5 to 5 days per week and 1 day with my fitness trainer weights with more cardio built in for about 30 mins. So I workout 6 days per week with a 5 to 10 min cardio before strength.
I love my strength triaining
However, instead of seeing a decrease in weight, I've gone from 177.4lbs to 181.2lbs this morning.
I'm firming up, cellulite is reducing and no increase in dress size.
But why am I gaining instead of losing weight?
If anyone knows what's happening, I'd greatly appreciate your answers and suggestions.
I'm up in all my compound exercises:
Squats: 60lbs
Deadlifts: 80lbs
Bent Over Rows: 54lbs
Shrugs: 80lbs
Thank you hugely
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Replies
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Water retention.0
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Why worry so much about the scale if you're seeing improvements in other ways? I'd take firming up and cellulite reduction over a number on the scale any day!0
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You are retaining water.
I thought ICF was a full body program. You're not resting between days?0 -
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I thought ICF was a full body program. You're not resting between days?
Sounds like a made up 5x5 program now
I'm doing the Jason Blaha Ice Cream 5x5. I just didn't want to write the whole A and B program on here - just gave an idea of where I am with a few of the lifts.
I used to do it 3x per week but now I feel my body needs more and loves it so I do it 5 days per week (6 days if my trainer misses her day with me).
I'll see how long ! can go with 5/6 days per week.
Thank you so much.0 -
When my husband started strength training, he plateaued for two weeks. Before he got super mad, his weight dropped by 5 lbs in 3 days. Your body is holding on water to repair your muscle, so don't worry about it too much.0
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tigersword wrote: »Water retention.
This. Especially when increasing intensity and losing rest days, your cortisol levels will increase, which increases water retention.
Pay attention to your ability to recover, and if you start having problems, maybe add back in another rest day. And get lots of sleep.0 -
So you're squatting, pressing, etc 5 days a week. You're way overdoing it.Do the program correctly. You're not doing yourself any favors with this setup.
And what's a Mommy Makeover?0 -
Water retention
Thank you.
I'm certainly drinking way more water than before cos my body just craves it.
I hope that since it's only been 2.5 weeks that my body will eventually acclimate.
Why worry so much about the scale if you're seeing improvements in other ways? I'd take firming up and cellulite reduction over a number on the scale any day!
Yes, I know right I love the firming and less cellulite but I really do want to see the scale move in the weight department cos I'm eating at a deficit.
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It may be because you are gaining muscle which is heavier than fat but it will also burn more calories in which case your weight will start dropping again.-2
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It may be because you are gaining muscle which is heavier than fat but it will also burn more calories in which case your weight will start dropping again.
There is no way on earth that a woman who is eating 1200-1550 calories per day and lifting 5-6 days a week is putting on muscle (which is more dense than fat, not heavier than fat.)
OP, why don't you do anything according to directions? Your calorie goal, your exercise program, etc. Do you think that maybe if you follow the directions, your results would improve?0 -
When my husband started strength training, he plateaued for two weeks. Before he got super mad, his weight dropped by 5 lbs in 3 days. Your body is holding on water to repair your muscle, so don't worry about it too much.
Thank you for this. So very good to know. I look forward to a drop in weight on the scale
Pay attention to your ability to recover, and if you start having problems, maybe add back in another rest day. And get lots of sleep.
I find myself tuning more into my body now. I can feel more clearly its need for more food or water or rest and I easily give in since I know it's working hard for me. Thank you for the reminder.
So you're squatting, pressing, etc 5 days a week. You're way overdoing it.Do the program correctly. You're not doing yourself any favors with this setup.
And what's a Mommy Makeover?
Yes, I am and I looovvveee it Thank you for your concern. If my body tells me it needs a break, I'll take it. So far so VERY good.
A mommy makeover is a surgery some moms get post several kiddos to get tummy, boobies and some other parts back to some semblance of normalcy
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Why have the surgery before losing the weight?
Everything about this post seems backwards.0 -
OK, I'm male, 254 pounds, and I've been on a calorie deficit since February. I'm down a total of about 33 pounds, about 20 since February. I'm going to start at the gym tonight doing resistance training with the circuit machines. As long as I continue to maintain a deficit, this will not result in weight gain, correct? If I'm understanding you guys correctly you cannot gain weight on a deficit even if you are doing resistance training?0
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OP, why don't you do anything according to directions? Your calorie goal, your exercise program, etc. Do you think that maybe if you follow the directions, your results would improve?
Awwwww thank you. You really do care about me. You're awesome!!!!! What if I do this as I am right now for another 2 weeks since most replies feel it's just water retention and see what happens. Then I adjust accordingly if needed.
Sometimes, my body just wants to push the boundaries and i like to give it what it wants 0 -
maillemaker wrote: »OK, I'm male, 254 pounds, and I've been on a calorie deficit since February. I'm down a total of about 33 pounds, about 20 since February. I'm going to start at the gym tonight doing resistance training with the circuit machines. As long as I continue to maintain a deficit, this will not result in weight gain, correct? If I'm understanding you guys correctly you cannot gain weight on a deficit even if you are doing resistance training?
You may gain a bit of weight due to water retention but you will not gain fat. Your muscles will retain some water to help repair them but as long as you keep losing fat, the scale will continue downward. It may remain steady for a week or two or you might never notice the water retention on the scale. I'm not sure if men notice it any less than women or not or if it's totally individual.0 -
maillemaker wrote: »OK, I'm male, 254 pounds, and I've been on a calorie deficit since February. I'm down a total of about 33 pounds, about 20 since February. I'm going to start at the gym tonight doing resistance training with the circuit machines. As long as I continue to maintain a deficit, this will not result in weight gain, correct? If I'm understanding you guys correctly you cannot gain weight on a deficit even if you are doing resistance training?
If you actually stick to the deficit you should be fine. The scale might jump, but you're not going to be putting on fat as long as you're truely in a deficit.
I've basically given up on the scale entirely. I started a new program about 4 months ago now. I'm fluctuating the same 4-5lbs since then and have not really lost any weight. Granted, I'm sticking to a pretty small deficit, and I haven't been the strictest logger lately (aka, it's my own fault I'm not losing more consistently). But that said, my clothes are looser.0 -
Add another in the "OP asks for advice, gets it, discards it" column.-2
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OP, I would advise against doing the program 5 days/week, your body requires recovery, even if you think you are recovering, on that low number of cals there is no way the muscle will be repairing between workouts. the rest and recovery are just as important as the diet and work itself.0
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Why have the surgery before losing the weight?
Everything about this post seems backwards.
It was because I'd already scheduled and paid for the surgery that I ended up finding out about MFP at a check up and I had 2.5 months before sx which I used to lose 27lbs going from 205lbs to 178lbs.
Now that I'm fully recovered and back, i' hope it's okay to choose to lose some more and strengthen.0 -
The thing about rest days is that those are the days when your body actually builds the muscle tissue. I know it's tempting to go work out every day, believe me I know. How about you do some walking or swimming on the "off" days and lift every other day, because your muscles will build faster if you do this.0
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You're a beginner. You should just stick to the programme as written.
You won't actually know you've overtrained until stuff happens like: your sleep gets shot, your sex drive tanks, your strength falls off a cliff, you get repetitive nagging injuries, your form deteriorates due to fatigue and something goes snap, etc, etc
Or a combination, thereof. You literally don't have the experience under the bar (or designing programmes) to do what you're attempting. Even if you are lucky and don't overtrain, you will under-recover and hamper your ability to adapt to greater loads and therefore get stronger (and defeat the object of the whole exercise).
Remember: just because some of something is good, doesn't necessarily make more of that same thing better.0 -
Add another in the "OP asks for advice, gets it, discards it" column.
It's a shame you've categorized me already especially since you've given no advice of your own. The majority have told me It's just water retention. A couple have said just do the workout as it was recommended (3x per week).
Taking all into consideration, I said I'll do it 2 more weeks to see how it goes then adjust accordingly. I think it's a compromise, yes? Thank you for commenting all the same.0 -
OP, why don't you do anything according to directions? Your calorie goal, your exercise program, etc. Do you think that maybe if you follow the directions, your results would improve?
Awwwww thank you. You really do care about me. You're awesome!!!!! What if I do this as I am right now for another 2 weeks since most replies feel it's just water retention and see what happens. Then I adjust accordingly if needed.
Sometimes, my body just wants to push the boundaries and i like to give it what it wants
it may not be your body wanting to push the boundaries,it may just be you on a high at the moment. be careful not to injure yourself or just burn out. pace yourself there is no rush.0 -
No, doing it your way despite being advised to do the workout as recommended and being told that your body needs rest to build muscle isn't a compromise. It's ignoring sound advice from people with more experience than you have.Add another in the "OP asks for advice, gets it, discards it" column.
It's a shame you've categorized me already especially since you've given no advice of your own. The majority have told me It's just water retention. A couple have said just do the workout as it was recommended (3x per week).
Taking all into consideration, I said I'll do it 2 more weeks to see how it goes then adjust accordingly. I think it's a compromise, yes? Thank you for commenting all the same.
And I've "categorized" you based on what you've said you're going to do. That's hardly unfair or irrational.
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It may be because you are gaining muscle which is heavier than fat but it will also burn more calories in which case your weight will start dropping again.
One doesn't gain muscle in a deficit.
OP, its water retention due to the exercise. If after a couple of weeks you're not seeing that scale go down, drop the calories back down to 1500.0 -
Yes, I am and I looovvveee it Thank you for your concern. If my body tells me it needs a break, I'll take it. So far so VERY good.
Don't come back onto the forums, bitching about a torn rotator cuff, aches, pains, or dwindling strength, motivation, energy, etc.Sometimes, my body just wants to push the boundaries and i like to give it what it wants
This, to me, sounds like a psychological disorder. Many people with ED think in much the same way.0 -
The thing about rest days is that those are the days when your body actually builds the muscle tissue. I know it's tempting to go work out every day, believe me I know. How about you do some walking or swimming on the "off" days and lift every other day, because your muscles will build faster if you do this.
You're a beginner. You should just stick to the programme as written.
You won't actually know you've overtrained until stuff happens like: your sleep gets shot, your sex drive tanks, your strength falls off a cliff, you get repetitive nagging injuries, your form deteriorates due to fatigue and something goes snap, etc, etc
Or a combination, thereof. You literally don't have the experience under the bar (or designing programmes) to do what you're attempting. Even if you are lucky and don't overtrain, you will under-recover and hamper your ability to adapt to greater loads and therefore get stronger (and defeat the object of the whole exercise).
Remember: just because some of something is good, doesn't necessarily make more of that same thing better.
I'm VERY grateful for these replies coming in. I'm seeing more recommending i cut back and include rest days. I want you all to know I appreciate and will do as recommended.
THANK YOU!!!!0 -
I would not be doing a programme like ice cream fitness without rest days in between
That's just nuts
You know there's a reason it was written with down days
Stop doing that0
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