Weight gain from lifting not happening?

Koldnomore

I have been lifting heavy for almost a month and haven't gained any weight.. I am still losing just over .5 /lb a week. I am thrilled obviously but just wondering why I haven't been seeing this phenomenon that is apparently supposed to happen to everyone when they first start out on a lifting program.

I would have thought that by now I would be seeing 'something' especially since I have switched from my 3x 45 min cardio to 3x 30 min lifting and can't possibly be burning as many calories as I was before...OR can I be burning more and somehow be avoiding the weight gain?

What's the science here? Should I be expecting it soon? It's also ToM for me so that SHOULD have pushed me up also but I am at my lowest weight in 16 months. Thoughts?

heybales

Depending on what the cardio was and how good the lifting is, yes you can burn as much or more with lifting.

The during session calorie burn may not be as much as a lot of other cardio options, but the post workout fat burn from the elevated metabolism and repair can more than make up for it.

The wisdom of looking at body effects over more than just the 45-60 min of actual workout time, but the whole day.

FrnkLft

I have never experienced a weight gain when starting exercise. Honestly it's just something I hear about, and the explanation I've heard sounds feasible enough. It's always been a moot point for me anyhow because it's not muscle, and it's not fat... so who cares...

Now I figure it also depends a lot on what you're calling weight lifting. What program are you using?

Also, about burning calories. Weight training definitely burns fewer calories per hour than cardio. But I usually burn about 400 calories / hr when I lift. But I lift heavy and hard, 2 minute rests, big movements, etc...

All I can say is that, even a month from now, you won't give a damn. These little things that we worry about throughout the process are insignificant (this one especially, since it doesn't mean anything; that's not meant as a slight at all), and as you get stronger and lower your bodyfat %, it will be left in the rearview mirror.

astronomicals

oops... misread ...


must still be in a deficit.... 30 min weights vs. 45 minutes cardio isnt necessarily a big difference in calorie burn.... could be nearly identical.. not to mention, if you're using MFP as it was originally intended, you should be eating back the burn and maintaining a constant deficit...

FrnkLft

raise calorie goals

She said she is looking to loose weight. Her deficit isn't bad either, only .5lbs per week. That's a slow loss which is great.

astronomicals

I misread it Frnk... I thought she was trying to gain weight... just got home from the gym and my brain is fuzzy... excusses excuses... i was editing it as you corrected me

astronomicals

...