Gaining weight with heavy lifting (female)

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Replies

  • jnh17
    jnh17 Posts: 838 Member
    I started lifting heavier about when you did and have gained 4 lbs. There's no way it's fat. I mean, how could it be if I'm not eating over maintenance EVERYDAY? I eat between 1700-1900/day (probably not enough. I'm thinking I'll up it - I 'm 5'11). However, my clothes aren't looser and the tape isn't going down, either. I mean, I cool with it. It hasn't really been that long and I don't have tons of fat to lose.

    I have been pretty good at meeting my target protein everyday (about 150g). I think my 4lbs is a combo of muscle and water -- mainly water though.
  • Spamee
    Spamee Posts: 148 Member
    bump for the good info here
  • RikanSoulja
    RikanSoulja Posts: 463 Member
    Buy a tape measure. Check those inches out instead of using the scale or just use a combination of both if you'd like.
  • turnerm65
    turnerm65 Posts: 58 Member
    bump..
  • lporter229
    lporter229 Posts: 4,907 Member
    Bump
  • KatieJane83
    KatieJane83 Posts: 2,002 Member
    just curious ladies......what is your definition of "heavy" weights? I've been doing weights for some time now, but since closer to my gw, being more focused on toning and building more muscle.... thnx for your input! Gayle ** btw I'm 5'4, 130 lbs....

    Lifting "heavy" is different for everyone. There is no set weight where suddenly it's considered heavy. What it means is that you're lifting at a weight where by around the 6th-10th rep or so you are really struggling. If you are not hitting muscle fatigue by around this point, you are not lifting heavy. Obviously, the amount of weight it takes to hit that point is different for everybody, and will increase the more you lift and the stronger you get. But, if you can breeze through 20 reps of something than it is not heavy! lol
  • Klamber26
    Klamber26 Posts: 212
    just curious ladies......what is your definition of "heavy" weights? I've been doing weights for some time now, but since closer to my gw, being more focused on toning and building more muscle.... thnx for your input! Gayle ** btw I'm 5'4, 130 lbs....

    Lifting "heavy" is different for everyone. There is no set weight where suddenly it's considered heavy. What it means is that you're lifting at a weight where by around the 6th-10th rep or so you are really struggling. If you are not hitting muscle fatigue by around this point, you are not lifting heavy. Obviously, the amount of weight it takes to hit that point is different for everybody, and will increase the more you lift and the stronger you get. But, if you can breeze through 20 reps of something than it is not heavy! lol

    But if you're struggling so much that you lose form, then it is too heavy. In my opinion, the best is when you feel an unpleasant burn that you can push through, but not when you get really shaky or wobbly. Pushing to failure is a bad idea. Start doing that with compound lifts and it's an injury waiting to happen.
  • katmont
    katmont Posts: 32 Member
    Bump
  • lilsassymom
    lilsassymom Posts: 407 Member
    BUMP
  • Fabnover40Kat
    Fabnover40Kat Posts: 300 Member
    BUMP
  • Katemarie34
    Katemarie34 Posts: 144 Member
    bump
  • I'm new to this forum.
    What the heck does 'bump' mean?
  • Klamber26
    Klamber26 Posts: 212
    I'm new to this forum.
    What the heck does 'bump' mean?

    The most recent posts show up at the top of the forum, so "bumping" is a way to get people back into the conversation.
  • KatieJane83
    KatieJane83 Posts: 2,002 Member
    just curious ladies......what is your definition of "heavy" weights? I've been doing weights for some time now, but since closer to my gw, being more focused on toning and building more muscle.... thnx for your input! Gayle ** btw I'm 5'4, 130 lbs....

    Lifting "heavy" is different for everyone. There is no set weight where suddenly it's considered heavy. What it means is that you're lifting at a weight where by around the 6th-10th rep or so you are really struggling. If you are not hitting muscle fatigue by around this point, you are not lifting heavy. Obviously, the amount of weight it takes to hit that point is different for everybody, and will increase the more you lift and the stronger you get. But, if you can breeze through 20 reps of something than it is not heavy! lol

    But if you're struggling so much that you lose form, then it is too heavy. In my opinion, the best is when you feel an unpleasant burn that you can push through, but not when you get really shaky or wobbly. Pushing to failure is a bad idea. Start doing that with compound lifts and it's an injury waiting to happen.

    True. Safety first. Good form is KEY
  • cutethang1
    cutethang1 Posts: 239 Member
    bump
  • deadstarsunburn
    deadstarsunburn Posts: 1,337 Member
    Your muscles retain water when you lift.
    My weight loss (appeared to have) stalled big time when I first started lifting heavy because of that.

    switching up the cardio later on is what I did and it broke my plateau, but I think that mainly has to do with simply switching up the routine.

    Keep up the great work!
  • autumnk921
    autumnk921 Posts: 1,374 Member
    This is something I would like to know as well...Great topic b/c I have the same issue with gaining or staying at this weight...
  • Pakitalian
    Pakitalian Posts: 218 Member
    bump
  • MamaWannaRun
    MamaWannaRun Posts: 273 Member
    bump
  • Angie_1MR
    Angie_1MR Posts: 247
    I wouldn't add cardio AND drop calories, do one or the other.
  • trudemeanor
    trudemeanor Posts: 60 Member
    BUMP
  • autumnk921
    autumnk921 Posts: 1,374 Member
    Bump...For reference...Great thread!! :)
  • ZB17
    ZB17 Posts: 92 Member
    bumping for later!
This discussion has been closed.