Strength Training- Weight gain

empressjasmin

After strength training seriously for the last past few weeks I have gained about 8 lbs. I have strength trained for over a year but have recently gotten into a serious routine of 3-5 times a week. I feel and look smaller than I previously have but the number on the scale has gotten me down as I was so close to getting to what I considered "a happy weight" and now I'm up! I know most people say not to pay attention to the number on the scale but it is really discouraging. Just wondering if others have experienced this? Or should I be worried that my splurge on Mother's Day caused me to gain 8 lbs in a few days? Lol

sarahfherbalife

It's absolutely discouraging when the number goes up but I always try to remind myself that often inch loss is a better measuring tool then the scale! If you are building muscle and toning the scale might creep up a little but it's a healthy rise

usmcmp

How accurate is your logging? Are you around the time your period starts? Have you been eating more sodium than normal? The scale is one tool to measure progress and weight can be influenced by many factors. Double check your logging accuracy and use a food scale as much as possible.

empressjasmin

usmcmp wrote: »

How accurate is your logging? Are you around the time your period starts? Have you been eating more sodium than normal? The scale is one tool to measure progress and weight can be influenced by many factors. Double check your logging accuracy and use a food scale as much as possible.

I always think that my logging is accurate but I know that I could tighten up. Have had more salt than I would usually have but not enough for an 8 lb gain I would think. Thanks for your suggestions!

Okiludy

I think that it would be absolutely amazing if you gained weight while at a calorie deficit. Strength training might cause water retention as your muscles heal but not fat or muscle gains. Maybe check your sodium intake and a sharper look at your calories in and calories out if you are eating back exercise as MFP recommends. Then again I am no expert and could be completely wrong.

edit to clarify: I do think it's possible to add muscle mass at a deficit but it would still need fuel. That fuel would come from fat but very very slowly.

Luna3386

Are you taking measurements?

I usually hold onto a few pounds while lifting- muscle recovery. But look at other NSV like clothes fitting better, increased strength. Tighten up your food-use a food scale for solids and semi solid foods.

empressjasmin

Luna3386 wrote: »

Are you taking measurements?

I usually hold onto a few pounds while lifting- muscle recovery. But look at other NSV like clothes fitting better, increased strength. Tighten up your food-use a food scale for solids and semi solid foods.

I have been monitoring how my clothing fits, which I have been overall happy with. Guess I will try not to rely on the scale too much

soccerjerseyguy

"Weight" doesn't tell the whole story. If you are building muscle and losing fat, while gaining weight, that's not a bad thing at all! A lot of health food stores have a body composition machine, using that could give you a bench mark to compare future measurements to. This lets you know if what you are doing is getting you toward your goal, or not.

empressjasmin

soccerjerseyguy wrote: »

"Weight" doesn't tell the whole story. If you are building muscle and losing fat, while gaining weight, that's not a bad thing at all! A lot of health food stores have a body composition machine, using that could give you a bench mark to compare future measurements to. This lets you know if what you are doing is getting you toward your goal, or not.

Thank you. I had planned to get a body fat measurement as well.

rileysowner

It is likely water weight. That is quite common with increases of intensity or major changes in workouts. Assuming your logging it good, and measurements are going down, give it time.

CharlieBeansmomTracey

soccerjerseyguy wrote: »

"Weight" doesn't tell the whole story. If you are building muscle and losing fat, while gaining weight, that's not a bad thing at all! A lot of health food stores have a body composition machine, using that could give you a bench mark to compare future measurements to. This lets you know if what you are doing is getting you toward your goal, or not.

those things are not accurate,a bod pod,dexa scan or hydrostatic weighing is more accurate.and it pays to get one before you start losing weight/gaining and again later to see where you are in your goals

bbell1985

Yeah...water weight. I guess I'll be the first to say it does seem kind of high for water weight...no? Anyone else go up that much from added training?

empressjasmin

amyrebeccah wrote: »

Frankly, no. I might go up a bit from lifting hangries, and a bit from water retention from changing routine, and a bit of water retention from a recent splurge, plus OP has agreed she could tighten up accuracy.

So OP, I agree that water retention from lifting alone is unlikely to account for all of that. Might be time to tighten up--you might be like me and get hungrier when you increase intensity in weight training.

Thank you! Agree that tightening up should help tremendously!

empressjasmin

CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »

those things are not accurate,a bod pod,dexa scan or hydrostatic weighing is more accurate.and it pays to get one before you start losing weight/gaining and again later to see where you are in your goals

Thank you, Charlie. I have also heard that they are hard to use anyway.

Muscleflex79

soccerjerseyguy wrote: »

"Weight" doesn't tell the whole story. If you are building muscle and losing fat, while gaining weight, that's not a bad thing at all! A lot of health food stores have a body composition machine, using that could give you a bench mark to compare future measurements to. This lets you know if what you are doing is getting you toward your goal, or not.

she didn't put 8lbs of muscle on in a few weeks - I can guarantee you that! and those machines at health food stores are wildly inaccurate. OP, if you are sure your logging is right then it is likely just water weight, as others said. keep doing what you are doing and see how things go longterm.

clicketykeys

I'm a hair over six feet and I haven't seen that kind of water retention due to increased exercise. I *have* seen it after splurging on some wonderfully greasy, salty food, so it's not impossible. But tightening up your logging isn't a bad thing either way.