Gaining muscle but not losing weight

bananabeancat

Hi all,

After a few years of being very inactive, I recently re-joined the gym and began exercising and watching my calorie intake at the same time.

5 weeks in, I have lost 30cm off of my body measurements , and I feel fitter and happier, I'm really enjoying being active. However my weight has not shifted at all. I can tell that I've exchanged some fat for muscle, but I was just wondering, for others who started exercising and dieting at the same time, when did you first begin losing weight?

Years back I lost a lot of weight purely through dieting, and doing it that way there was an obvious weekly decrease on the scales. Does it take a few months for the scales to notice when you are losing fat but gaining muscle?

Thanks

IsaackGMOON

How many pounds of muscle do you think you've gained? And in what time frame? And how do you know this?

MarziPanda95

It isn't possible, bar noob gains, to gain muscle in a calorie deficit. If you're actually gaining muscle, you're eating in a calorie surplus. It's also possible that you have lost weight, but water weight from exercise/sore muscles is masking it.

jeffpettis

If in fact you are gaining muscle and losing fat at the same time, which is possible if you are new to weight training, it will only last for a very short time. Then you will be like the rest of us and only be able to lose fat or gain muscle but not at the same time. You'll have to chose one goal or the other. If you are trying to lose fat you still need to be doing everything you can to hold on to the muscle you have.

bananabeancat

IsaackGMOON wrote: »

How many pounds of muscle do you think you've gained? And in what time frame? And how do you know this?

I have to assume that I am? I've kept measurements for my bust, waist, hips, legs etc. Lost about 6cm off of my waist, 6cm off of my hips etc. but my weight hasn't shifted at all.

jeffpettis wrote: »

If in fact you are gaining muscle and losing fat at the same time, which is possible if you are new to weight training, it will only last for a very short time. Then you will be like the rest of us and only be able to lose fat or gain muscle but not at the same time. You'll have to chose one goal or the other. If you are trying to lose fat you still need to be doing everything you can to hold on to the muscle you have.

Perhaps this is just because I am new to exercising then. I was very very unfit when I started. Thanks for the advice. I'm more focused on losing fat until I get back to a healthy weight, so I'll continue weight training but keep my main focus on cardio for the moment.

Amberonamission

I started at the gym 4 months ago. Decided then that I would start with that. Lost a pant size but no weight. September 1 I cut my calories by 350 and the weight is pouring off.

erimethia_fekre

So it's more than likely that you are burning off the fat and strengthening the muscles that you do have, not that you are gaining muscle in itself. True muscle mass gain is when you have an increasing your caloric value, not a decrease. And as long as your clothes are fitting you differently I wouldn't worry about the scale

bananabeancat

lmaharidge wrote: »

So it's more than likely that you are burning off the fat and strengthening the muscles that you do have, not that you are gaining muscle in itself. True muscle mass gain is when you have an increasing your caloric value, not a decrease. And as long as your clothes are fitting you differently I wouldn't worry about the scale

I'm so new to this I actually didn't realise there was a difference, but I do now. I'm pretty meticulous about my logging, weigh everything, so I don't think I'm eating more than my calorie goal. It must be water weight and strengthening muscles. When I started I had a long term issue with a hip flexor injury, I could barely do lunges without falling over. The difference in being able to rely on my own body is so rewarding!

Thanks guys

Yi5hedr3

If you are losing fat at the same time you are gaining muscle, you are much more successful than most!

jeffpettis

bananabeancat wrote: »

IsaackGMOON wrote: »

How many pounds of muscle do you think you've gained? And in what time frame? And how do you know this?

I have to assume that I am? I've kept measurements for my bust, waist, hips, legs etc. Lost about 6cm off of my waist, 6cm off of my hips etc. but my weight hasn't shifted at all.

jeffpettis wrote: »

If in fact you are gaining muscle and losing fat at the same time, which is possible if you are new to weight training, it will only last for a very short time. Then you will be like the rest of us and only be able to lose fat or gain muscle but not at the same time. You'll have to chose one goal or the other. If you are trying to lose fat you still need to be doing everything you can to hold on to the muscle you have.

Perhaps this is just because I am new to exercising then. I was very very unfit when I started. Thanks for the advice. I'm more focused on losing fat until I get back to a healthy weight, so I'll continue weight training but keep my main focus on cardio for the moment.

Your main focus should still be on lifting to preserve lean muscle tissue. Fat loss can be achieved with by diet alone with no cardio whatsoever. Sure you can do cardio to help achieve your deficit, but don't let cardio hamper your lifting.

jeffpettis

lmaharidge wrote: »

So it's more than likely that you are burning off the fat and strengthening the muscles that you do have, not that you are gaining muscle in itself. True muscle mass gain is when you have an increasing your caloric value, not a decrease. And as long as your clothes are fitting you differently I wouldn't worry about the scale

^^^good advice^^^

Use the scale as a tool not as your main focus for progress.

barryplumber

It is also possible you are eating at or around maintenence, with the added excersise would run a small deflict accounting for the burn. All this will slow down soon, so keep weighing your food and concentrate on tracking. As far as a scale i like a measuring tape it tells all.
Good luck