question for those who lift

natashabefit

I have been lifting for 2 months but have not seen any changes in measurments. When did you notice inches being lost?

_HeartsOnFire_

I can't really answer, as I started 2 weeks ago, but I know some people on my list who lift and hopefully they'll see this.

I've hears some say it took a couple months.

Are you following a program? If so, which one?

acpgee

Are you noticing increased strength by being able to increase weight or reps? I would expect inches gained, actualy. Do you notice muscle mass that wasn't there previously?

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

Are you eating at a deficit?

What program are you following?


I started seeing results in about 6 weeks but I was eating at maintenance. I'm not sure how long it took for measurement changes, but that's when I started noticing more muscle definition.

fivethreeone

I was at a deficit. I saw changes in about a month, but it depends on what you mean by lifting, and on your diet as well.

deksgrl

What does your food diary look like?

4aces61

I have been lifting for 2 months but have not seen any changes in measurements. When did you notice inches being lost?

For starters, what and how exactly are you lifting, how often?. Weight, reps? Are you going for size, definition? There's a lot more to it then just picking up a weight and using it.

Unknown

This content has been removed.

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

I see from your other post that your weight has been the same for the past 2 months. In that case you're eating at maintenance. Which is fine (that's what I did) but it will mean that you won't see results as quickly. I also see that you're only measuring your waist-- you may be slowly losing fat (if you're recomping) but it'll come off of your problem areas last. Take measurements all over for a better idea of what's going on.

eslcity

Lifting is not the best way to lose weight... it is a great way to retain muscle while eating at a deficit.. I found it easier to lose the weight by walking... and just walking... found it more enjoyable then a stationary bike.. or treadmill but that is just me...

I would suggest lifting... but don't look for it to help you lose a lot of weight fast...

My strategy was to first lose the weight doing cardio first and then gain back the muscle I lose in the process later – (I got this strategy based on something I read on menfitness.com)..

-ms

natashabefit

I measure only my stomach because that is what I want to improve. I have actually gained an inch as I checked again this morning. I was eating a small deficit but since I'm happy with my weight I now eat maintenance and sometimes 100 calories over. (My maintenance calories is 1470) so says this app. I just signed up this morning after reading online about this site. My goals are just to have a flat, lean stomach. I do squats, ohp, dl, bench press and they aren't heavy to others but are to me. When I feel its getting to easy I up it by 10 lbs. For squats I do 60, bench 40, deadlift 70 and overhead 30.

natashabefit

Are you noticing increased strength by being able to increase weight or reps? I would expect inches gained, actualy. Do you notice muscle mass that wasn't there previously?

Actually, I did gain an inch! Why is that?

eslcity

I see from your other post that your weight has been the same for the past 2 months. In that case you're eating at maintenance. Which is fine (that's what I did) but it will mean that you won't see results as quickly. I also see that you're only measuring your waist-- you may be slowly losing fat (if you're recomping) but it'll come off of your problem areas last. Take measurements all over for a better idea of what's going on.

---

@OP he is totally right often the last place to lose weight is around your waist... (or the place you want to lose it the most)...

eslcity

Are you noticing increased strength by being able to increase weight or reps? I would expect inches gained, actualy. Do you notice muscle mass that wasn't there previously?

Actually, I did gain an inch! Why is that?

It could be two reasons depending on how long you have been lifting... first... water retention and secondly because you are gaining muscle mass under the layer of fat...

natashabefit

Are you noticing increased strength by being able to increase weight or reps? I would expect inches gained, actualy. Do you notice muscle mass that wasn't there previously?

Actually, I did gain an inch! Why is that?

It could be two reasons depending on how long you have been lifting... first... water retention and secondly because you are gaining muscle mass under the layer of fat...

How can I fix this?

Strokingdiction

Unless you're eating at a deficit, you're not going to lose inches. Lifting is great but it's your caloric intake that's going to affect your weight and measurements (mostly).

natashabefit

Unless you're eating at a deficit, you're not going to lose inches. Lifting is great but it's your caloric intake that's going to affect your weight and measurements (mostly).

But I don't need to lose more weight, I don't want to look sickly

natashabefit

I see from your other post that your weight has been the same for the past 2 months. In that case you're eating at maintenance. Which is fine (that's what I did) but it will mean that you won't see results as quickly. I also see that you're only measuring your waist-- you may be slowly losing fat (if you're recomping) but it'll come off of your problem areas last. Take measurements all over for a better idea of what's going on.

Should I do a small deficit in order to see results faster?

fivethreeone

Unless you're eating at a deficit, you're not going to lose inches. Lifting is great but it's your caloric intake that's going to affect your weight and measurements (mostly).

Partly true. Eating at maintenance will also result in inches lost, which is what the OP is doing.

OP, you're fine. The water retention (if it is that) will go away on its own (usually within 6 weeks of starting lifting). You should be measuring everywhere. As was stated above, your problem areas will shrink last, but you will see changes in other places.

If you don't need to lose weight, don't make a deficit. Just stick with it. Lifting isn't a quick fix, but it is a lasting one.

_HeartsOnFire_

I measure only my stomach because that is what I want to improve. I have actually gained an inch as I checked again this morning. I was eating a small deficit but since I'm happy with my weight I now eat maintenance and sometimes 100 calories over. (My maintenance calories is 1470) so says this app. I just signed up this morning after reading online about this site. My goals are just to have a flat, lean stomach. I do squats, ohp, dl, bench press and they aren't heavy to others but are to me. When I feel its getting to easy I up it by 10 lbs. For squats I do 60, bench 40, deadlift 70 and overhead 30.

You say you are eating at maintenance or sometimes 100 over...
Were you counting calories on another site or how were you tracking?

Achrya

Unless you're eating at a deficit, you're not going to lose inches. Lifting is great but it's your caloric intake that's going to affect your weight and measurements (mostly).

But I don't need to lose more weight, I don't want to look sickly

Then keep lifting. You're doing what's called a 'recomp' and it's a long slow process BUT it's worthwhile if you've got the dedication and determination to stick with it even if results are slow to come.

natashabefit

I would just keep a food journal and read labels

Strokingdiction

Unless you're eating at a deficit, you're not going to lose inches. Lifting is great but it's your caloric intake that's going to affect your weight and measurements (mostly).

Partly true. Eating at maintenance will also result in inches lost, which is what the OP is doing.

OP, you're fine. The water retention (if it is that) will go away on its own (usually within 6 weeks of starting lifting). You should be measuring everywhere. As was stated above, your problem areas will shrink last, but you will see changes in other places.

If you don't need to lose weight, don't make a deficit. Just stick with it. Lifting isn't a quick fix, but it is a lasting one.

I'm genuinely curious from a physiology standpoint but how would this work. If you're eating at maintenance so you're netting exactly what you burn from existing and exercise wouldn't you maintain the fat levels and increase muscle mass too? So wouldn't you gain inches in this scenario?

This is not my area of expertise but I've been mostly lifting at maintenance for over a year and I've not lost girth anywhere but gained slightly in my thighs and butt.

Corrections to my current way of thinking are quite welcome.

SezxyStef

Unless you're eating at a deficit, you're not going to lose inches. Lifting is great but it's your caloric intake that's going to affect your weight and measurements (mostly).

But I don't need to lose more weight, I don't want to look sickly

Then keep lifting. You're doing what's called a 'recomp' and it's a long slow process BUT it's worthwhile if you've got the dedication and determination to stick with it even if results are slow to come.

This...at a deficet of 20% it took me 10 weeks to lose an inch from my waist...while lifting.
Since then it's taken another 20 weeks to lose another inch...

Don't worry it happens...but slowly if you have a tiny deficet or are eating at maintenance...and continue if you don't want to lose more weight.

FatFreeFrolicking

Are you noticing increased strength by being able to increase weight or reps? I would expect inches gained, actualy. Do you notice muscle mass that wasn't there previously?

Actually, I did gain an inch! Why is that?

Increased muscle mass and or water retention.

SezxyStef

Unless you're eating at a deficit, you're not going to lose inches. Lifting is great but it's your caloric intake that's going to affect your weight and measurements (mostly).

Partly true. Eating at maintenance will also result in inches lost, which is what the OP is doing.

OP, you're fine. The water retention (if it is that) will go away on its own (usually within 6 weeks of starting lifting). You should be measuring everywhere. As was stated above, your problem areas will shrink last, but you will see changes in other places.

If you don't need to lose weight, don't make a deficit. Just stick with it. Lifting isn't a quick fix, but it is a lasting one.

I'm genuinely curious from a physiology standpoint but how would this work. If you're eating at maintenance so you're netting exactly what you burn from existing and exercise wouldn't you maintain the fat levels and increase muscle mass too? So wouldn't you gain inches in this scenario?

This is not my area of expertise but I've been mostly lifting at maintenance for over a year and I've not lost girth anywhere but gained slightly in my thighs and butt.

Corrections to my current way of thinking are quite welcome.

http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/adding-muscle-while-losing-fat-qa.html

fivethreeone

Unless you're eating at a deficit, you're not going to lose inches. Lifting is great but it's your caloric intake that's going to affect your weight and measurements (mostly).

Partly true. Eating at maintenance will also result in inches lost, which is what the OP is doing.

OP, you're fine. The water retention (if it is that) will go away on its own (usually within 6 weeks of starting lifting). You should be measuring everywhere. As was stated above, your problem areas will shrink last, but you will see changes in other places.

If you don't need to lose weight, don't make a deficit. Just stick with it. Lifting isn't a quick fix, but it is a lasting one.

I'm genuinely curious from a physiology standpoint but how would this work. If you're eating at maintenance so you're netting exactly what you burn from existing and exercise wouldn't you maintain the fat levels and increase muscle mass too? So wouldn't you gain inches in this scenario?

This is not my area of expertise but I've been mostly lifting at maintenance for over a year and I've not lost girth anywhere but gained slightly in my thighs and butt.

Corrections to my current way of thinking are quite welcome.

When muscle is trained, it condenses. Thus, inches lost.

Lyle McDonald is an excellent resource on the physiological and hormonal aspects of the process.

Timshel_

Post a pic of yourself. That would help.

Strokingdiction

Unless you're eating at a deficit, you're not going to lose inches. Lifting is great but it's your caloric intake that's going to affect your weight and measurements (mostly).

Partly true. Eating at maintenance will also result in inches lost, which is what the OP is doing.

OP, you're fine. The water retention (if it is that) will go away on its own (usually within 6 weeks of starting lifting). You should be measuring everywhere. As was stated above, your problem areas will shrink last, but you will see changes in other places.

If you don't need to lose weight, don't make a deficit. Just stick with it. Lifting isn't a quick fix, but it is a lasting one.

I'm genuinely curious from a physiology standpoint but how would this work. If you're eating at maintenance so you're netting exactly what you burn from existing and exercise wouldn't you maintain the fat levels and increase muscle mass too? So wouldn't you gain inches in this scenario?

This is not my area of expertise but I've been mostly lifting at maintenance for over a year and I've not lost girth anywhere but gained slightly in my thighs and butt.

Corrections to my current way of thinking are quite welcome.

http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/adding-muscle-while-losing-fat-qa.html

So this phenomenon occurs for individuals that are overfat and in seasoned people returning from a layoff. However, this would be very difficult to do if you've been lifting for over six months and don't have an overage of body fat. Got it. Consider me a bit more informed.

"There are a handful of situations where the combination of muscle gain and fat loss occur relatively readily. The first of those is in overfat beginners. I want to really stress the term overfat in the above sentence. This phenomenon doesn’t happen in lean beginners for reasons I’m going to explain in a second.

A second situation where this phenomenon occurs readily is folks returning from a layoff. Folks who are previously lean and muscular but who get out of shape (whether deliberately or not) often find that they get back into shape much faster than they did initially: they seem to magically replace fat with muscle. In fact, with the advent of before/after transformation pictures for supplements, this has become a growth industry: people who are already in great shape will deliberately get out of great shape so that they can quickly reattain their previous shape in a short period. Apparently there is huge money in selling such before/after pictures to help move supplements."

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

Unless you're eating at a deficit, you're not going to lose inches. Lifting is great but it's your caloric intake that's going to affect your weight and measurements (mostly).

Partly true. Eating at maintenance will also result in inches lost, which is what the OP is doing.

OP, you're fine. The water retention (if it is that) will go away on its own (usually within 6 weeks of starting lifting). You should be measuring everywhere. As was stated above, your problem areas will shrink last, but you will see changes in other places.

If you don't need to lose weight, don't make a deficit. Just stick with it. Lifting isn't a quick fix, but it is a lasting one.

I'm genuinely curious from a physiology standpoint but how would this work. If you're eating at maintenance so you're netting exactly what you burn from existing and exercise wouldn't you maintain the fat levels and increase muscle mass too? So wouldn't you gain inches in this scenario?

This is not my area of expertise but I've been mostly lifting at maintenance for over a year and I've not lost girth anywhere but gained slightly in my thighs and butt.

Corrections to my current way of thinking are quite welcome.

http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/adding-muscle-while-losing-fat-qa.html

So this phenomenon occurs for individuals that are overfat and in seasoned people returning from a layoff. However, this would be very difficult to do if you've been lifting for over six months and don't have an overage of body fat. Got it. Consider me a bit more informed.

"There are a handful of situations where the combination of muscle gain and fat loss occur relatively readily. The first of those is in overfat beginners. I want to really stress the term overfat in the above sentence. This phenomenon doesn’t happen in lean beginners for reasons I’m going to explain in a second.

A second situation where this phenomenon occurs readily is folks returning from a layoff. Folks who are previously lean and muscular but who get out of shape (whether deliberately or not) often find that they get back into shape much faster than they did initially: they seem to magically replace fat with muscle. In fact, with the advent of before/after transformation pictures for supplements, this has become a growth industry: people who are already in great shape will deliberately get out of great shape so that they can quickly reattain their previous shape in a short period. Apparently there is huge money in selling such before/after pictures to help move supplements."

That's what happened to me. I was a newbie when I started, although I continued to lose size while remaining the same weight for a year. It's just SLOW. So. very. slow.

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

I see from your other post that your weight has been the same for the past 2 months. In that case you're eating at maintenance. Which is fine (that's what I did) but it will mean that you won't see results as quickly. I also see that you're only measuring your waist-- you may be slowly losing fat (if you're recomping) but it'll come off of your problem areas last. Take measurements all over for a better idea of what's going on.

---

@OP he is totally right often the last place to lose weight is around your waist... (or the place you want to lose it the most)...

He's a she.