Muscle +, fat -. no weight change? When to worry.

RaggedyAnnazon

Hello All!
So I've been working out for a little over 9 weeks now. I am NO WHERE close to my "ideal" body weight**. 6' tall, 280lbs. I've gained a lot of muscle, just from my observation of more definition, ability to lift, and sudden ability to move muscles indepentantly. My figure has slimmed down dramatically too, enough that I know I've lost fat and I'm a few inches away from zipping up my size 16s (from a starting size 20). But when I step on the scale, I've only lost 5lbs.

I know muscle is denser than fat, therefore adding more weight without looking like there is more weight. But coming from fashion school I know that pant sizes are usually in 10-15 lb differences (i.e, 20's= 200, 18s= 185, 16s = 170, etc). So what's going on? I'm guessing it's my calorie intake and I'm not cutting it down enough. I'm not actually counting, which is probably half the issue.

How long will it be before I actually can tell whether it's just taking more time or that i need to actually change something? If it's myt muscles counteracting the weight loss, how much longer until I see the number on the scale actually go down? Do I actually need to watch my food intake to see more results?

I am mesuring myself too, and that has changed dramatically. I'm just confused because I know I can't seriously gain so much muscle I'm 280lbs forever, unless I'm trying to be a body builder.

Any help or advice would be appreciated. Thank you so much!
**I know it won't happen overnight. Information is presented to explain that it's not "I'm at my goal size and muscle is just outweighting".

SezxyStef

well...yes you have to count calories.

how else do you know if you are in a deficet if you don't count them...

You are losing weight (so you are at a deficet therefore not gain muscle) but you aren't at a big enough deficet to lose as fast as you want.

Mind you depending on how fast you want to lose is based on how much you have to lose.

2lb a week for over 100lbs
1.5 for 75-100
etc.

RGv2

Hello All!
So I've been working out for a little over 9 weeks now. I am NO WHERE close to my "ideal" body weight. 6' tall, 280lbs. I've gained a lot of muscle, just from my observation of more definition, ability to lift, and sudden ability to move muscles indepentantly. My figure has slimmed down dramatically too, enough that I know I've lost fat and I'm a few inches away from zipping up my size 16s (from a starting size 20). But when I step on the scale, I've only lost 5lbs.

I know muscle is denser than fat, therefore adding more weight without looking light there is more weight. But coming from fashion school I know that pant sizes are usually in 10-15 lb differences (i.e, 20's= 200, 18s= 180, 16s = 160, etc). So what's going on? I'm guessing it's my calorie intake and I'm not cutting it down enough. I'm not actually counting, which is probably half the issue. How long will it be before I actually can tell whether it's just taking more time or that i need to actually change something? If it's myt muscles counteracting the weight loss, how much longer until I see the number on the scale actually go down? Do I actually need to watch my food intake to see more results?

I am mesuring myself too, and that has changed dramatically. I'm just confused because I know I can't seriously gain so much muscle I'm 280lbs forever, unless I'm trying to be a body builder.

Any help or advice would be appreciated. Thank you so much!

You MAY have added some muscle in noob gains, but a professional bodybuilding female would be HARDpressed to put on 1-1.5lbs of muscle in that amount of time.

Also, strength gains =/= mass gains. You can have great strength gains without adding mass.

What you are seeing is; SOME noob gains, but mostly muscle mass retention. When you eat in a defict you lose water, fat, and muscle. When you exercise (progressive lifting) you work to maintain that mass, so you lose mostly fat and water. This will keep the scale from moving very fast as you are losing mostly just fat, some water (but you are also retaining for muscle repair so you don't lose it very fast then there will be a "whoosh"). This is why the scale may not be moving very fast, but the inches are dropping off.

WBB55

I've only lost 5lbs. ...
I'm not actually counting...

Congrats on taking charge of your health. But you already know what you need to do to lose. You've taken the first important step. You've stopped gaining, and now the trajectory is starting to aim south. If you eat at a deficit -- eating something like 500-1000 calories less than your TDEE -- then you're going to find a lot of success at a speed you might find more satisfactory.

But, you've lost half a pound per week. That's not bad. That's actually a very healthy way to go.

RaggedyAnnazon

You MAY have added some muscle in noob gains, but a professional bodybuilding female would be HARDpressed to put on 1-1.5lbs of muscle in that amount of time.

What you are seeing is; SOME noob gains, but mostly muscle mass retention.

I LOVE that term, "Noob Gains" this makes me happy : D