Weight Gain with weight lifting

BodybyPlants

Okay, so I used to be an underweight distance runner... I now have taken up lifting... I have gained a good 5-8 pounds but my same jeans still fit about the same and such... Should I expect a little weight gain? Should I just ditch the scale and go by how things fit and how toned things are looking???

Thoughts???

Dhemeyer

My advice would be to rely more on measurements (how your clothes fit) and less on the scale. Muscle doesn't weigh any more than fat does, it's just denser so it takes up less room on your body. If you were underweight you might have actually gained some weight, but it sounds like it's weight in muscle and not in fat... that's ultimately what you're going for.
Also, depending on how long you've been lifting you may be weighing with some extra water weight. a 5-8lb increase in weight is quite a bit even for a long time lifter (unless you are loading up on supplements).
To put it shortly, go by how your clothes feel or formal measurements more often than not. If you're looking how you want to look and wearing the clothes that you expect to be wearing don't fret over your weight too much.
Hope this is helpful!

maryloo2011

Ditch-the-scale! Ditch-the-scale! </end chanting>

Go by how your clothes fit and keep in mind when you lift, you muscles will retain a little bit of water as they repair themselves. How long have you been lifting?

Get a tape measure (or calipers) and measure yourself on a monthly or bi-weekly basis to measure your progress. Being lean, we need to concentrate on those numbers instead of what's on the scale.

Case-in-point: prior to 02/2011 I didn't work out at all. Was 117 lbs and wearing size 4 jeans and small tops. If I fluctuated up to high 120s/low 130s, I would be muffin-topping over my jeans and wanting to wear medium tops. Finally started heavy lifting late 2011 with barbells & dumbbells - I now sit on average at 133 and wear size 2 jeans (sometimes have to pin them and 4s are definitely too big in the waist) and small tops. I bought 0 capris from Express last week, but I think that is a serious mistake on their part sizing. Have tracked my measurements over this entire time and (when I am great with my diet), I see the numbers get smaller even if the scale looks the same. So yeah, I gained weight

Good luck, keep it up!!!