lifting and gaining?

saramea

I'm sure this has been asked before, but I am not a big fan on how the search function lay's out the results.

I'm about 4 weeks into the New Rules of Lifting for Women (Did stage 1 workout 5 yesterday).

I've been doing well with tracking my food. There have been day's where I've gone over, but per the book, you are supposed to eat more on days you lift. I'm still under 2000 calories a day, and usually hover between 1600-1700. Water intake is good, but could be more. I'm working on cutting out processed foods and eating more "real" food, and that is probably what I am struggling with the most. Still- no fast food, soda's,etc.

Initialy I dropped a couple of lbs. Earlier this week I was at 162.6- so so close to my "goal" and pre-pregnancy weight .

Today I'm at 165.4.

Measurements have not changed for the last 2 weeks. Appearance is about the same as it did two weeks ago, and while clothes are looser, still about the same as after the initial weight drop.

Yes, I know its just a number, but I am very dissapointed and feel like ditching the lifting for now. It's taken me over 2 years to be this close to my goal weight and I feel it slipping away.

I guess my first question is- Is this normal? Will I lose whatever excess weight this is? Any idea's on how long it will take to even out?

ChanniVincent

Muscle weighs more than fat.

Boottothehead

"Muscle weighs more than fat." Spot on. You have to understand that you are going to have an initial rise in weight even as you get rid of fat simply becuase you are building muscle. Instead of worrying too much about the number on the scale, think about this.... Every bit of lean muscle you add is going ot burn fat 24 hours a day! Muscle by its very nature and existence consumes energy. So after the initial increase, you will lose weight. Don't be discouraged!

greggags2

A lot of the time the scale can be decieving because you are gaining muscle and not fat. It is better to go on if you feel better and if your clothes fit better. If you are losing fat and gaining muscle your number on the scale may be the same or higher but you will definitely feel better and your clothes will fit better

saramea

I've heard the "muscle weighs more than fat" before, but I've never understood it. A lb is a lb, right? I understand muscle is smaller and takes up less "space" than fat but I never really understood how that factors in.