Wait.. what? Highest weight in years?

running4thehigh

I usually don't weigh myself but rather go by the looks and feels of things. But I just stepped on a scale
and DANG, I've never actually weighed that much.

I'm a tad bit confused. I work out six days a week. I eat REALLY healthy.

The only thing I've changed is that I've started adding strength-training to my routine about 4 days a week around
ten weeks ago. I do feel stronger, and the clothes fit the same, but I weight about TEN pounds more than I did
a year ago when I bought those clothes.

What is happening?

Edit: this can't all be muscle mass, right? Help!

mehrunisan

it could be water retention. if you look and feel fine i don't think you should worry about your weight. i was recently going through this phase where i checked my weight like crazy, i've stopped now and i feel so much better about myself. why dont you get a fat test done so you know the exact % of fat in your body and your muscle mass? also try weighing yourself on a diff day, at a different time

running4thehigh

It's just super weird... I must have burned like 2000 calories in the last two days alone, and
nothing's changed. I feel like something is really off.
And I weighed myself first thing in the morning just now.

mehrunisan

exactly when was the last time you weighed yourself before this?

_Zardoz_

Your logging is inconsistent. Some days food aren't logged others are only partially logged. If you want to know what is going on you need accurate information. So I suggest logging your food accurately then weighing yourself over a period of a few weeks. Also this new weight even though it's higher than last time is it an unhealthy weight? Looking at your profile picture I would guess your still within a healthy weight range. So is it actually a problem?

agrafina

Your logging is inconsistent. Some days food aren't logged others are only partially logged. If you want to know what is going on you need accurate information. So I suggest logging your food accurately then weighing yourself over a period of a few weeks. Also this new weight even though it's higher than last time is it an unhealthy weight? Looking at your profile picture I would guess your still within a healthy weight range. So is it actually a problem?

This. Fatdoob speaks wisdom.

neandermagnon

I usually don't weigh myself but rather go by the looks and feels of things. But I just stepped on a scale
and DANG, I've never actually weighed that much.

I'm a tad bit confused. I work out six days a week. I eat REALLY healthy.

The only thing I've changed is that I've started adding strength-training to my routine about 4 days a week around
ten weeks ago. I do feel stronger, and the clothes fit the same, but I weight about TEN pounds more than I did
a year ago when I bought those clothes.

What is happening?

Edit: this can't all be muscle mass, right? Help!

it can be a combination of gaining muscle mass, increased bone density and water retention in the muscles due to them storing more glycogen. All of these things are very positive, healthy changes.

the fact you fit in the same clothes means it's not fat.

Unfortunately everyone is so focused on scale weight that most people don't realise that healthy muscles and bones and a healthy body generally (except for body fat) is healthier when heavier. If you remove fat from the equation, then heavier = healthier. It's only body fat that's the other way around, as in if you have too much of it it makes you heavier, and losing fat makes you lighter and healthier. Fact is you haven't gained fat, but your health has improved. In the time frame, it's not all going to be muscle mass, women can't put on that much muscle mass in that amount of time. However, it's very possible that your bone density was low before, and the strength training has improved your bone density enough to add a few lbs. This is really good news as it protects you from osteoporosis later in life. However, most of the lbs probably come from your muscles storing more glycogen. Glycogen is stored with water, so your muscles are retaining water, but this is a good thing.

So all in all, excellent progress, keep it up, and remember that scale weight doesn't mean a lot.... one piece of advice I heard which is very good, is that the goal is to be as heavy as you can be for an ideal dress size (this must be an ideal dress size that takes your frame size into account, not everyone has the bone structure to be size zero, but everyone looks great lean, so whatever size you look fit and lean at basically).

running4thehigh

@agrafina,fatdoob; I haven't been logging regularly because I just started doing that a couple of days ago. But I know what I'm eating and have been eating in combination with all the working out I'm doing, should AT LEAST help me maintain my weight, but certainly not make me gain any. I'm worried this has something to do with a possible hormone imbalance that I might have (PCOS, possible hypothyroidism)

and yes, health-wise, my weight is fine. I'm not worried about that. It's about that personal sense of well-being, which I'm lacking right now, especially since I'm so worried that my hormones are off too. Plus, I just want to be strong and lean!


@neandermagnon;
that does encourage me a little. it's exactly the reason why I barely ever weigh myself. It messes with my self-esteem. thanks for your encouraging words!

Swiftlet66

Could be more muscle mass... That's why you see that some lean person might weigh more than someone with some flab. Never depend solely on weight for your health and your self esteem...!

Laura8603

The older you get, the harder it is to maintain the same weight. Sad but true.....

tinkbaby101

It's just super weird... I must have burned like 2000 calories in the last two days alone, and
nothing's changed. I feel like something is really off.
And I weighed myself first thing in the morning just now.

That could be part of the difference. Intense workouts can cause water retention, adding to the number on your scale for a day or so.

running4thehigh

The older you get, the harder it is to maintain the same weight. Sad but true.....

BUT I'M ONLY 21....

Okay, let's just go with 'it's all muscle mass'.
that's my favorite excuse anyways.

RunnerStephe

Take measurements. The scale isn't going to give you that answer. If you are putting on muscle, measurements don't lie.

running4thehigh

I'll measure myself when Americans decide not to use inches and feet anymore.

I only have an American measuring tape and I'm sick of having to convert my measurements to centimeters.


:grumble:


:bigsmile:

RunnerStephe

I'll measure myself when Americans decide not to use inches and feet anymore.

I only have an American measuring tape and I'm sick of having to convert my measurements to centimeters.


:grumble:


:bigsmile:

My tape has both.

running4thehigh

Fancy. Can I borrow it ?

RunnerStephe

Send me a SASE and I'll give you one. I have several.

dt3312

It could be muscle mass that you gained. I was working out regularly and in good shape. I got pneumonia and was bedridden for a month. I lost 7 pounds. My measurements stayed the same, but I was flabby. I had lost muscle mass. So maybe you gained muscle mass.

brianpperkins

With the biological difficulty of a woman actually adding appreciable muscle mass without actually trying the more likely culprit is water weight from the change in exercise patterns.

tracydr

I love my scale that also calculates body fat percent, total body water and bone. I'm sure it's not perfect but it seems pretty consistent and gives me some idea of what's happening.

RekindledRose

Your profile picture looks really healthy and slim. It think that you're worried over nothing.

SezxyStef

I'll measure myself when Americans decide not to use inches and feet anymore.

I only have an American measuring tape and I'm sick of having to convert my measurements to centimeters.


:grumble:


:bigsmile:

My tape has both.

haha I live in Canada and prefer inches...mine has both too...US will never convert to metric system...ever...

JoRocka

so when was the last time you got on the scale?

honestly?

I mean you could have been this weight long before you started lifting weights if you haven't jumped on there in a while.

Ultimately if you feel like your body looks good- and you aren't buying new clothes- at 10 pounds you would start to be uncomfortable in your "skinny" jeans.

10-15 pounds typically translates to roughly 2 dress sizes.

Keep doing what you are doing- track more diligently and keep lifting. And don't panic.

UtahWI

^ This. And also, just for fun/add another twist, are you using the same scale you weighed in on before? Is said scale calibrated and level? There can be variations between scales...

running4thehigh

Yup, it's the same scale! But I just realized that I 'only' gained 6 and a half pounds.
(sorry, I still suck at converting kilos and pounds, although it's so easy technically)

....that COULD be muscle mass mostly, in three months, right?

I honestly wish I could get my body fat measured somewhere but most gym don't offer that here unfortunately.

anyways. thanks guys. feeling better already!

adiesilver

I'll measure myself when Americans decide not to use inches and feet anymore.

I only have an American measuring tape and I'm sick of having to convert my measurements to centimeters.


:grumble:


:bigsmile:

My tape has both.

My measuring tape has both, too. I don't think I've ever seen a tape that didn't have both, actually. Look for a seamstress measuring tape if you don't have one already, those are nice and soft/wrappable!

Holly_Roman_Empire

Yup, it's the same scale! But I just realized that I 'only' gained 6 and a half pounds.
(sorry, I still suck at converting kilos and pounds, although it's so easy technically)

....that COULD be muscle mass mostly, in three months, right?

I honestly wish I could get my body fat measured somewhere but most gym don't offer that here unfortunately.

anyways. thanks guys. feeling better already!

Highly unlikely. Even those that are actually trying to put on muscle mass have a hard time achieving that.

2013sk

Your building muscle!!

Look at pictures of yourself from before, Do you look better now? Feel better now? Or back then?

I think get a body fat test done!

The scale isn't the best way to measure your success!

If your eating right, working out, SOD THE NUMBER : )

Go by how YOU feel & look

running4thehigh

yeaaaaahh, my back and arms actually look pretty defined now. and half a year ago I could barely do one push up and now I do like fifteen of those with clapping in between in one session. HAH. SUPER-WOMAN!

;D

Anyone else really into cross fit? That stuff is awesome. Makes you so freaking strong.

Stupid scale, I don't want to let those numbers irritate me anyways. As long as I look good naked, you know...
:smokin:

3bambi3

yeaaaaahh, my back and arms actually look pretty defined now. and half a year ago I could barely do one push up and now I do like fifteen of those with clapping in between in one session. HAH. SUPER-WOMAN!

;D

Anyone else really into cross fit? That stuff is awesome. Makes you so freaking strong.

Stupid scale, I don't want to let those numbers irritate me anyways. As long as I look good naked, you know...
:smokin:

Strength gains =/= muscle gains. If you're not eating at a surplus and specifically training for muscle gain, it's not going to magically happen. it's incredibly difficult to intentionally put on muscle, let along accidentally add 6.5 pounds of it. Especially in 3 months of crossfit.

Calliope610

Just go run.