WTH is going on?

pinkraynedropjacki

Ok so I'm 5'3" 130lb & no idea what BF% at all. I workout 7 days a week & basically exercise all day. I do a dedicated workout of 90 mins cardio a day & then spend about 11 hours walking non-stop (have to with my back injury or I get into pain) I don't sit for more than a few mins a day cause of my back...10mins at the most per day. I'm eating 1400 daily (plus eating most of what I burn off back....so close to another 1500)

Here is the problem......

I'm a size 12...can fit a size 10 easy but 12 is better (aussie size) I'm losing size, but not weight. I'm not gaining muscle but losing fat. I'm remaining still on the scale but I can get into smaller & smaller clothing no problem... even the size 10 are starting to become a little big.

How can I not be losing weight, not gain muscle... lose some fat & still not weigh less? Can tell I'm losing fat cause it's finally going from my stomach area & it is shrinking & toning up great...but still the scale says NO.

I'm losing size, not gaining anything and not losing weight or gaining any for that matter.

If I was losing fat & replacing with muscle then I could understand the no weight change. But eating lower means I wont get that.

Sorry if I'm speaking double here... it's just got me all baffled.

soysauce6626

Possible water retention. Are you consistent with you sodium and water intake?

godsgrl33

You probably are "gaining" muscle, because of the cardio and walking you do. Doing cardio is still using your muscles, hence toning them up. People want to talk so much about lifting, and that this is how you gain muscle. Not necessarily true. Because if you are doing the elliptical, for instance, you are working those leg muscles, and making them stronger. You are probably losing fat while gaining enough muscle for the scale to say the same, but you are getting a better body shape. Keep up the good work. It sounds like you are on the right track, and don't get discouraged.

pinkraynedropjacki

Yep & never have a problem with my water at all. Never have even when I was fat.

pinkraynedropjacki

You probably are "gaining" muscle, because of the cardio and walking you do. Doing cardio is still using your muscles, hence toning them up. People want to talk so much about lifting, and that this is how you gain muscle. Not necessarily true. Because if you are doing the elliptical, for instance, you are working those leg muscles, and making them stronger. You are probably losing fat while gaining enough muscle for the scale to say the same, but you are getting a better body shape. Keep up the good work. It sounds like you are on the right track, and don't get discouraged.

I'm not using an elliptical at all (cant it hurt me & feels un-natural) so I do walk at home, run outside, zumba, ride my bike (set up as a stationary bike) & then still just walk all day normally.

But I was always told on here that eating a deficit means you wont gain muscle at all & in fact you will lose it doing nothing but cardio. That would mean I'd be losing size like I am...but the scale is exactly the same.

I have no plans on ever lifting, cant with my back anyway. And I love my cardio.

sexymuffintop

Muscle is gained from strength training, calorie surplus and high protein diet, it doesn't happen by accident or from cardio. Especially without testosterone levels like a man.

pinkraynedropjacki

Muscle is gained from strength training, calorie surplus and high protein diet, it doesn't happen by accident or from cardio. Especially without testosterone levels like a man.

Yep see & none of those apply to me. So why the hell am I losing size but not weight?

LilMissDB

Muscle is gained from strength training, calorie surplus and high protein diet, it doesn't happen by accident or from cardio. Especially without testosterone levels like a man.

Actually, of course you can gain muscle from cardio! You can gain muscle through any use of muscle. You don't think you use muscles when you do cardio? Of course, strength training is more efficient at building muscle. You can also gain muscle when in calorie deficit if you have excess fat - this is because the excess fat creates the calorie surplus you need. You also don't need a high protein diet, you only need a diet adequate in protein. To the OP, not sure what exactly is going on but if you are losing size, I wouldn't be too worried about it

_Zardoz_

Muscle is gained from strength training, calorie surplus and high protein diet, it doesn't happen by accident or from cardio. Especially without testosterone levels like a man.

that statement is Just so wrong and full of so many myths

BrainyBurro

You probably are "gaining" muscle, because of the cardio and walking you do. Doing cardio is still using your muscles, hence toning them up. People want to talk so much about lifting, and that this is how you gain muscle. Not necessarily true. Because if you are doing the elliptical, for instance, you are working those leg muscles, and making them stronger. You are probably losing fat while gaining enough muscle for the scale to say the same, but you are getting a better body shape. Keep up the good work. It sounds like you are on the right track, and don't get discouraged.

you don't gain muscle with cardio. by DEFINITION. it's called cardio for a reason.

mimieon

Muscle is gained from strength training, calorie surplus and high protein diet, it doesn't happen by accident or from cardio. Especially without testosterone levels like a man.

Actually, of course you can gain muscle from cardio! You can gain muscle through any use of muscle. You don't think you use muscles when you do cardio? Of course, strength training is more efficient at building muscle. You can also gain muscle when in calorie deficit if you have excess fat - this is because the excess fat creates the calorie surplus you need. You also don't need a high protein diet, you only need a diet adequate in protein. To the OP, not sure what exactly is going on but if you are losing size, I wouldn't be too worried about it

This^

pinkraynedropjacki

Muscle is gained from strength training, calorie surplus and high protein diet, it doesn't happen by accident or from cardio. Especially without testosterone levels like a man.

Actually, of course you can gain muscle from cardio! You can gain muscle through any use of muscle. You don't think you use muscles when you do cardio? Of course, strength training is more efficient at building muscle. You can also gain muscle when in calorie deficit if you have excess fat - this is because the excess fat creates the calorie surplus you need. You also don't need a high protein diet, you only need a diet adequate in protein. To the OP, not sure what exactly is going on but if you are losing size, I wouldn't be too worried about it

I am a little worried though cause I'm starting to look more like a stick every day. Even hubby has said he thinks it's gone far enough, but for some reason i cant figure out what's going on. I wanted a little meat on me...not much but enough that I'm more than bones

BrainyBurro

Muscle is gained from strength training, calorie surplus and high protein diet, it doesn't happen by accident or from cardio. Especially without testosterone levels like a man.

Actually, of course you can gain muscle from cardio! You can gain muscle through any use of muscle. You don't think you use muscles when you do cardio? Of course, strength training is more efficient at building muscle. You can also gain muscle when in calorie deficit if you have excess fat - this is because the excess fat creates the calorie surplus you need. You also don't need a high protein diet, you only need a diet adequate in protein. To the OP, not sure what exactly is going on but if you are losing size, I wouldn't be too worried about it

This^

Not This^

you can lose fat and BF% with cardio and that can make your existing muscle mass more apparent. you can improve your cardiovascular fitness with cardio. but you can't add muscle mass (unless you include your heart muscle).

if you could, there would be no such thing as skinny fat. there would be no need to strength train. none of the cardio bunnies who lost large amounts of LBM while doing nothing but cardio on a large deficit would exist.

i'm a bit surprised that a dietitian would claim otherwise.

at the beginning, you may get some very minor benefit when starting cardio because some types can also act as a bodyweight calisthenic, but that benefit ends pretty quickly.

east2west14

Muscle is gained from strength training, calorie surplus and high protein diet, it doesn't happen by accident or from cardio. Especially without testosterone levels like a man.

Actually, of course you can gain muscle from cardio! You can gain muscle through any use of muscle. You don't think you use muscles when you do cardio? Of course, strength training is more efficient at building muscle. You can also gain muscle when in calorie deficit if you have excess fat - this is because the excess fat creates the calorie surplus you need. You also don't need a high protein diet, you only need a diet adequate in protein. To the OP, not sure what exactly is going on but if you are losing size, I wouldn't be too worried about it

This^

Not This^

you can lose fat and BF% with cardio and that can make your existing muscle mass more apparent. you can improve your cardiovascular fitness with cardio. but you can't add muscle mass (unless you include your heart muscle).

if you could, there would be no such thing as skinny fat. there would be no need to strength train. none of the cardio bunnies who lost large amounts of LBM while doing nothing but cardio on a large deficit would exist.

i'm a bit surprised that a dietitian would claim otherwise.

at the beginning, you may get some very minor benefit when starting cardio because some types can also act as a bodyweight calisthenic, but that benefit ends pretty quickly.

I am not sure what the true answer to the question is but have you seen the leg muscles on the soccer players? They are called muscles right?

pinkraynedropjacki

Muscle is gained from strength training, calorie surplus and high protein diet, it doesn't happen by accident or from cardio. Especially without testosterone levels like a man.

Actually, of course you can gain muscle from cardio! You can gain muscle through any use of muscle. You don't think you use muscles when you do cardio? Of course, strength training is more efficient at building muscle. You can also gain muscle when in calorie deficit if you have excess fat - this is because the excess fat creates the calorie surplus you need. You also don't need a high protein diet, you only need a diet adequate in protein. To the OP, not sure what exactly is going on but if you are losing size, I wouldn't be too worried about it

This^

Not This^

you can lose fat and BF% with cardio and that can make your existing muscle mass more apparent. you can improve your cardiovascular fitness with cardio. but you can't add muscle mass (unless you include your heart muscle).

if you could, there would be no such thing as skinny fat. there would be no need to strength train. none of the cardio bunnies who lost large amounts of LBM while doing nothing but cardio on a large deficit would exist.

i'm a bit surprised that a dietitian would claim otherwise.

at the beginning, you may get some very minor benefit when starting cardio because some types can also act as a bodyweight calisthenic, but that benefit ends pretty quickly.

At the start yes you would get that...noob muscle. But I'm far from being new at it. It's been about a year an a half so far.

east2west14

Try giving yourself a break. Give your body time to recover for 3 or more days.

Sarauk2sf

Muscle is gained from strength training, calorie surplus and high protein diet, it doesn't happen by accident or from cardio. Especially without testosterone levels like a man.

Actually, of course you can gain muscle from cardio! You can gain muscle through any use of muscle. You don't think you use muscles when you do cardio? Of course, strength training is more efficient at building muscle. You can also gain muscle when in calorie deficit if you have excess fat - this is because the excess fat creates the calorie surplus you need. You also don't need a high protein diet, you only need a diet adequate in protein. To the OP, not sure what exactly is going on but if you are losing size, I wouldn't be too worried about it

To gain muscle you need to progressively overload them. You *may* gain a very small amount at the very first, but unless you are doing something like hills sprints, you will not be gaining any appreciable muscle, especially with steady state cardio.

Sarauk2sf

Muscle is gained from strength training, calorie surplus and high protein diet, it doesn't happen by accident or from cardio. Especially without testosterone levels like a man.

Actually, of course you can gain muscle from cardio! You can gain muscle through any use of muscle. You don't think you use muscles when you do cardio? Of course, strength training is more efficient at building muscle. You can also gain muscle when in calorie deficit if you have excess fat - this is because the excess fat creates the calorie surplus you need. You also don't need a high protein diet, you only need a diet adequate in protein. To the OP, not sure what exactly is going on but if you are losing size, I wouldn't be too worried about it

This^

Not This^

you can lose fat and BF% with cardio and that can make your existing muscle mass more apparent. you can improve your cardiovascular fitness with cardio. but you can't add muscle mass (unless you include your heart muscle).

if you could, there would be no such thing as skinny fat. there would be no need to strength train. none of the cardio bunnies who lost large amounts of LBM while doing nothing but cardio on a large deficit would exist.

i'm a bit surprised that a dietitian would claim otherwise.

at the beginning, you may get some very minor benefit when starting cardio because some types can also act as a bodyweight calisthenic, but that benefit ends pretty quickly.

I am not sure what the true answer to the question is but have you seen the leg muscles on the soccer players? They are called muscles right?

And none do any strength training!

BrainyBurro

Muscle is gained from strength training, calorie surplus and high protein diet, it doesn't happen by accident or from cardio. Especially without testosterone levels like a man.

Actually, of course you can gain muscle from cardio! You can gain muscle through any use of muscle. You don't think you use muscles when you do cardio? Of course, strength training is more efficient at building muscle. You can also gain muscle when in calorie deficit if you have excess fat - this is because the excess fat creates the calorie surplus you need. You also don't need a high protein diet, you only need a diet adequate in protein. To the OP, not sure what exactly is going on but if you are losing size, I wouldn't be too worried about it

This^

Not This^

you can lose fat and BF% with cardio and that can make your existing muscle mass more apparent. you can improve your cardiovascular fitness with cardio. but you can't add muscle mass (unless you include your heart muscle).

if you could, there would be no such thing as skinny fat. there would be no need to strength train. none of the cardio bunnies who lost large amounts of LBM while doing nothing but cardio on a large deficit would exist.

i'm a bit surprised that a dietitian would claim otherwise.

at the beginning, you may get some very minor benefit when starting cardio because some types can also act as a bodyweight calisthenic, but that benefit ends pretty quickly.

I am not sure what the true answer to the question is but have you seen the leg muscles on the soccer players? They are called muscles right?

they didn't build those leg muscles with cardio (aerobic) exercise. they built them with anaerobic exercise. by definition, cardio doesn't build muscle mass. anaerobic exercise does. that can be strength training or even certain types of high effort, short duration exercises such as repeated sprints. if you look at Olympic sprinters, they have large leg muscles, but i'm sure they also augment their sprinting with strength training because it gives them overall better results.

j6o4

.

east2west14

Muscle is gained from strength training, calorie surplus and high protein diet, it doesn't happen by accident or from cardio. Especially without testosterone levels like a man.

Actually, of course you can gain muscle from cardio! You can gain muscle through any use of muscle. You don't think you use muscles when you do cardio? Of course, strength training is more efficient at building muscle. You can also gain muscle when in calorie deficit if you have excess fat - this is because the excess fat creates the calorie surplus you need. You also don't need a high protein diet, you only need a diet adequate in protein. To the OP, not sure what exactly is going on but if you are losing size, I wouldn't be too worried about it

This^

Not This^

you can lose fat and BF% with cardio and that can make your existing muscle mass more apparent. you can improve your cardiovascular fitness with cardio. but you can't add muscle mass (unless you include your heart muscle).

if you could, there would be no such thing as skinny fat. there would be no need to strength train. none of the cardio bunnies who lost large amounts of LBM while doing nothing but cardio on a large deficit would exist.

i'm a bit surprised that a dietitian would claim otherwise.

at the beginning, you may get some very minor benefit when starting cardio because some types can also act as a bodyweight calisthenic, but that benefit ends pretty quickly.

I am not sure what the true answer to the question is but have you seen the leg muscles on the soccer players? They are called muscles right?

they didn't build those leg muscles with cardio (aerobic) exercise. they built them with anaerobic exercise. by definition, cardio doesn't build muscle mass. anaerobic exercise does. that can be strength training or even certain types of high effort, short duration exercises such as repeated sprints. if you look at Olympic sprinters, they have large leg muscles, but i'm sure they also augment their sprinting with strength training because it gives them overall better results.

Sprint is a type of cardio.

j6o4

They didn't build those leg muscles with cardio (aerobic) exercise. they built them with anaerobic exercise. by definition, cardio doesn't build muscle mass. anaerobic exercise does. that can be strength training or even certain types of high effort, short duration exercises such as repeated sprints. if you look at Olympic sprinters, they have large leg muscles, but i'm sure they also augment their sprinting with strength training because it gives them overall better results.

+1
[/quote]

mimieon

Muscle is gained from strength training, calorie surplus and high protein diet, it doesn't happen by accident or from cardio. Especially without testosterone levels like a man.

Actually, of course you can gain muscle from cardio! You can gain muscle through any use of muscle. You don't think you use muscles when you do cardio? Of course, strength training is more efficient at building muscle. You can also gain muscle when in calorie deficit if you have excess fat - this is because the excess fat creates the calorie surplus you need. You also don't need a high protein diet, you only need a diet adequate in protein. To the OP, not sure what exactly is going on but if you are losing size, I wouldn't be too worried about it

This^

Not This^

you can lose fat and BF% with cardio and that can make your existing muscle mass more apparent. you can improve your cardiovascular fitness with cardio. but you can't add muscle mass (unless you include your heart muscle).

if you could, there would be no such thing as skinny fat. there would be no need to strength train. none of the cardio bunnies who lost large amounts of LBM while doing nothing but cardio on a large deficit would exist.

i'm a bit surprised that a dietitian would claim otherwise.

at the beginning, you may get some very minor benefit when starting cardio because some types can also act as a bodyweight calisthenic, but that benefit ends pretty quickly.

I am not sure what the true answer to the question is but have you seen the leg muscles on the soccer players? They are called muscles right?

they didn't build those leg muscles with cardio (aerobic) exercise. they built them with anaerobic exercise. by definition, cardio doesn't build muscle mass. anaerobic exercise does. that can be strength training or even certain types of high effort, short duration exercises such as repeated sprints. if you look at Olympic sprinters, they have large leg muscles, but i'm sure they also augment their sprinting with strength training because it gives them overall better results.

Then I guess the point is it may depend on exactly what kind of exercise the tc is doing that she qualifies as "cardio". Many forms of exercise may include both anaerobic and aerobic stuff.

sexymuffintop

Muscle is gained from strength training, calorie surplus and high protein diet, it doesn't happen by accident or from cardio. Especially without testosterone levels like a man.

that statement is Just so wrong and full of so many myths

Links to studies to validate your reasoning?

TMcChamp

get a new scale??
If your clothes are too big, you see you are shrinking, then perhaps your scale is shot...

sexymuffintop

Why do people have to insist on splitting hairs on this matter? The OP is NOT obese, is not going through the magical newbie gains. Why is it so difficult to understand that to create new tissue in the body naturally (ie muscle in this case) you need to eat at a surplus and overload the muscles. It's basic science. I am reminded yet again why it seems pointless to post on these boards.

hannakengu

Why do people have to insist on splitting hairs on this matter? The OP is NOT obese, is not going through the magical newbie gains. Why is it so difficult to understand that to create new tissue in the body naturally (ie muscle in this case) you need to eat at a surplus and overload the muscles. It's basic science. I am reminded yet again why it seems pointless to post on these boards.

I'm not obese either. I walk all day at work, and yes, lift some heavy boxes etc., but not enough to count it as strength training of any kind. My thigh muscles are visible and they've definitely grown during my two years at my job. Does strength training get faster and better results? Absolutely. Does cardio get results eventually? It's slower and less efficient, but yes.

Just to add, I haven't done much strength training for my legs at all, since doctors told me I'm not allowed to do squats, lunges etc. because of issues with my back, so any changes in my thighs are because of cardio. So maybe, to answer the OP's question, you're in a similar situation with me?

sexymuffintop

Why do people have to insist on splitting hairs on this matter? The OP is NOT obese, is not going through the magical newbie gains. Why is it so difficult to understand that to create new tissue in the body naturally (ie muscle in this case) you need to eat at a surplus and overload the muscles. It's basic science. I am reminded yet again why it seems pointless to post on these boards.

I'm not obese either. I walk all day at work, and yes, lift some heavy boxes etc., but not enough to count it as strength training of any kind. My thigh muscles are visible and they've definitely grown during my two years at my job. Does strength training get faster and better results? Absolutely. Does cardio get results eventually? It's slower and less efficient, but yes.

Just to add, I haven't done much strength training for my legs at all, since doctors told me I'm not allowed to do squats, lunges etc. because of issues with my back, so any changes in my thighs are because of cardio. So maybe, to answer the OP's question, you're in a similar situation with me?

Cardio doesn't build muscle, seriously I'm not lying to you lol. It's fat loss you are seeing. The muscle was always there, you are just losing fat that was covering it, hence why it looks more developed now.

meeper123

losing size is still losing inches are better than pounds any day -.o also sometime your muscles will store some extra water when you exercise a lot

mimieon

Why do people have to insist on splitting hairs on this matter? The OP is NOT obese, is not going through the magical newbie gains. Why is it so difficult to understand that to create new tissue in the body naturally (ie muscle in this case) you need to eat at a surplus and overload the muscles. It's basic science. I am reminded yet again why it seems pointless to post on these boards.

True, that she is not obese makes it quite unlikely. I think people are just trying to make sense of this, it also seems very unlikely that as she loses inches and clothing sizes she is gaining more and more waterweight .

j6o4

Why do people have to insist on splitting hairs on this matter? The OP is NOT obese, is not going through the magical newbie gains. Why is it so difficult to understand that to create new tissue in the body naturally (ie muscle in this case) you need to eat at a surplus and overload the muscles. It's basic science. I am reminded yet again why it seems pointless to post on these boards.

I'm not obese either. I walk all day at work, and yes, lift some heavy boxes etc., but not enough to count it as strength training of any kind. My thigh muscles are visible and they've definitely grown during my two years at my job. Does strength training get faster and better results? Absolutely. Does cardio get results eventually? It's slower and less efficient, but yes.

Just to add, I haven't done much strength training for my legs at all, since doctors told me I'm not allowed to do squats, lunges etc. because of issues with my back, so any changes in my thighs are because of cardio. So maybe, to answer the OP's question, you're in a similar situation with me?

Cardio doesn't build muscle, seriously I'm not lying to you lol. It's fat loss you are seeing. The muscle was always there, you are just losing fat that was covering it, hence why it looks more developed now.

But what if it was cardio plus a caloric surplus?