WTH???

dwrightlaw

So, I was 8 lbs from my initial goal weight. Have lost 43 lbs I had only been doing cardio: treadmill, stairs, swimming or hiking. Decided to begin strength training after reading many of the posts here & meeting with trainer at gym. I started doing what my trainer recommended about 2 weeks ago, then added SL5X5 this week and enjoy it but I have gone up 1.5 lbs
So, I upped my water & increased cardio time from ~30 mins to ~40. How long does it take to get rid of the increased (water) weight? I'm assuming that's what it is. And is the retained water associated with DOMS?
I had my BF rechecked & it supposedly went down 1% but the scale, as of today, is still up 1.5 lbs?
I really enjoy the lifting/SL but I was so close to goal, should I pause the weight training/SL until I reach my goal or just persevere?
FYI, I religiously track all food/liquids using a scale and measuring cups, over 300 consecutive days now. I have varied b/t 1200-1400 calories per day.
I'm 6 ft tall female.
Thanks in advance for your advice!

xsmilexforxmex

If your goal is entirely weight based and not based on looking good - then yes. Pause it, because lifting will make you look great at a likely higher weight and smaller size.
BUT, if you want to be strong and look good, and not stress over the numbers - it's probably water weight. Keep doing your thing and give it more than a week to see positive changes. If it's not working and you're gaining fat in a month, then change it.

jemhh

Congrats on the weight loss.

Do not stop lifting. The water retention is normal. If you quit now, it will only return when you start back up and you will have lost the benefit of lifting for that much longer.

1.5 lbs is an extremely small amount of weight anyway. Nothing to get upset over.

cgvet37

Yes, weight training will cause you to retain more water. Unless you are solely fixated on your weight, I would keep on keeping on.

usmcmp

dwrightlaw wrote: »

I had my BF rechecked & it supposedly went down 1% but the scale, as of today, is still up 1.5 lbs?

Maybe it's a good time to rethink a weight based goal and see what lifting can do for reducing body fat. The point of weight loss is to to lose body fat and lifting is the way you make sure all the weight you lose if fat rather than fat and muscle.

Ready2Rock206

Personally I'd rather look better than weigh less - unless you plan on carrying a scale everywhere you go to show people exactly what you weigh. Keep going with the strength training - it will be worth it.

lorrpb

Just keep on doing weights. You can still lose fat and isn't that what really matters, not a little extra water weight?

AnnPT77

Personally, I gained about 2 pounds when I (re-)started weight training, and dropped 2 pounds (for no other reason, in an otherwise predictable weight loss situation) when I stopped. I trained progressively and regularly while I was lifting, to the point where I was always triggering muscle repair, but continued lifting well past the early DOMS phase - several months.

So, if you're like me, I'd say you should expect to hold onto that water weight as long as you keep challenging yourself, though if you lose fat faster than you gain muscle, that fat loss could overtake the water weight gain and show you a net drop en route.

(Background: I am a lazy, self-indulgent slug, largely driven by pleasure. Sometimes I weight train in my rowing off-season. Last year, I did. That's when I observed the above. When the weather improved, I stopped lifting and started rowing, because fun.)

Granny sez: Keep weight training. Don't worry about the water weight.

canadianlbs

dwrightlaw wrote: »

And is the retained water associated with DOMS?

short answer: yes. but for me that uptick often outlasts the doms and can hang around for a couple of weeks.

i don't worry about it anymore, personally. if you really do just want to see that goal number for the sake of seeing it, then my experience has always been that as soon as something stops me lifting for a week or so, that weight drops back off.

jenilla1

I say who cares about 1.5 pounds of water weight when you have a 1% drop in body fat! Keep up the good work. How you look and feel is more important the the number on the scale.

firef1y72

dwrightlaw wrote: »

S And is the retained water associated with DOMS?

Most likely, although it could also be to do with your monthly cycle. 1.5lb is really nothing though, thanks to a combination of weights and time of the month I'm 5lb up on last week, but expect to have dropped that plus a bit more by Tuesday morning ready to start the week's lifting again.

dwrightlaw

Thanks, I will keep on keepin' on!