building muscle vs strength...what is happening to me?

Mistapholeezkat

Just starting lifting weights at the beginning of April ( 41 yr. old female...5'5 135lbs about 23% fat). My goal is to become leaner and have more muscle. I feel a lot firmer but don't really see any difference in the mirror yet. My weight hasn't changed but the tape measure has shown 1/2 loss in tummy area and other spots. I lift 3 days a week and do a whole body routine, my 3 sets are 8-10 reps and usually the last set is very difficult for me to finish. I add more weight when I can complete all 10 reps during my third set, but with some struggle. I have read posts on here about putting on muscle and how hard it is. If I am not putting muscle on am I just firming it up?? I eat between 1200-1500 calories depending on my hunger...I shoot for 80-100 gram of protein, as much fat as needed to feel full and about 25 net carbs. So, what's the difference between muscle gain and strength...aren't they related???? so confused

thanks in advance for any helpful info!!

LazSommer

Mistapholeezkat wrote: »

Just starting lifting weights at the beginning of April ( 41 yr. old female...5'5 135lbs about 23% fat). My goal is to become leaner and have more muscle. I feel a lot firmer but don't really see any difference in the mirror yet. My weight hasn't changed but the tape measure has shown 1/2 loss in tummy area and other spots. I lift 3 days a week and do a whole body routine, my 3 sets are 8-10 reps and usually the last set is very difficult for me to finish. I add more weight when I can complete all 10 reps during my third set, but with some struggle. I have read posts on here about putting on muscle and how hard it is. If I am not putting muscle on am I just firming it up?? I eat between 1200-1500 calories depending on my hunger...I shoot for 80-100 gram of protein, as much fat as needed to feel full and about 25 net carbs. So, what's the difference between muscle gain and strength...aren't they related???? so confused

thanks in advance for any helpful info!!

Hypertrophy and strength do not always go hand in hand. I don't see a time frame but you can replace fat with muscle, although not at the rate many on MFP believe.

rybo

Much of the strength gains people see, especially when new, are thru neuromuscular adaptation and not new physical muscle being created. However, your muscles may get bigger or feel firmer because they are filled with fluid which aids in repair, since they are now being stressed from working out. Stay the course you are on.

hill8570

You've only been lifting a month and you don't see any difference in the mirror yet? Be happy your measurements are improving -- that's a super positive sign. Take progress pictures monthly (or every couple of months) -- body comp changes so slowly you don't really see the changes unless you're comparing pictures. And be reasonable -- 1200-1500 sounds like a deficit, so the recomp is going to go at a snail's pace (but at least you're not losing muscle -- which is a huge win in itself).

IILikeToMoveItMoveIt

This might help: http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/the-basics-of-training-for-size-or-strength.html This is a great site for articles...

SonyaCele

for women to build muscle size it takes a long time and dedication, a spot on eating plan and lifting program. Strength and size are two different things. A month is not long enough to notice a difference. give it a few months 3 or 4 and more, you will notice your structure start to change, shoulders pull back into place, your bones will be held tighter in place, etc.

the difference between size and strength : Size is visual, although you do gain strength when you are bigger . Strength is determined by many other factors besides just size, such as form and energy level, efficiency of that lift, your mood etc.

cwolfman13

Mistapholeezkat wrote: »

Just starting lifting weights at the beginning of April ( 41 yr. old female...5'5 135lbs about 23% fat). My goal is to become leaner and have more muscle. I feel a lot firmer but don't really see any difference in the mirror yet. My weight hasn't changed but the tape measure has shown 1/2 loss in tummy area and other spots. I lift 3 days a week and do a whole body routine, my 3 sets are 8-10 reps and usually the last set is very difficult for me to finish. I add more weight when I can complete all 10 reps during my third set, but with some struggle. I have read posts on here about putting on muscle and how hard it is. If I am not putting muscle on am I just firming it up?? I eat between 1200-1500 calories depending on my hunger...I shoot for 80-100 gram of protein, as much fat as needed to feel full and about 25 net carbs. So, what's the difference between muscle gain and strength...aren't they related???? so confused

thanks in advance for any helpful info!!

You can make substantial gains in strength without putting on substantive mass...as you progress in your lifting, your body more efficiently utilizes existing muscle fibers and you also experience neural adaptation...your nervous system adapting to load.

Your muscle may also feel firmer and appear larger due to "pump"...which is basically fluid retention in your muscles which aids in repair...also losing fat to reveal muscle often gives the illusion of putting on mass when in reality what you're mostly seeing is what already existed...it's just being uncovered.

KiyaK

rybo wrote: »

Much of the strength gains people see, especially when new, are thru neuromuscular adaptation and not new physical muscle being created. However, your muscles may get bigger or feel firmer because they are filled with fluid which aids in repair, since they are now being stressed from working out. Stay the course you are on.

All of this.