started high intensity fitness regime - GAINED WEIGHT!

2

Replies

  • suzywuzy90
    suzywuzy90 Posts: 20 Member
    Higher glycogen storage because of higher energy output. Not uncommon.
    Could you explain this for me? I thought it was just me who gained weight after increasing exercise.
  • jak2315
    jak2315 Posts: 47 Member
    You weigh more because you are losing fat and gaining muscle.
  • Spartan_Maker
    Spartan_Maker Posts: 683 Member
    i completely understand what everyone is saying

    but..

    everyone is also missing the point that i still want to lose weight. fine i wont look at a scale but non the less i still need to lose 5-10 lbs

    how can i do that if my body is retaining water and doesnt let me shed fat??

    Nobody is missing anything. If you're losing inches and your scale weight is going up, you're losing fat and gaining muscle at the same time -- that makes you part of a discrete and insular minority of lucky people. Congratulations.
  • Jules2Be
    Jules2Be Posts: 2,238 Member
    I weigh more than I did last summer.

    rear-view-1.jpg

    DILLIGAF? :happy:

    love it when you post this!!!

    OP do you SEE this?
    i get what you're saying, but just work hard and your body will take care of the rest..i lost 30 pounds, then for some reason stayed the same weight for 6 months!!! yes it was frustrating, but my body kept looking better and better from weight lifting, then 10 more came off. i would still like to lose more, but now I am just focusing on how I look
  • Esq88
    Esq88 Posts: 54
    i completely understand what everyone is saying

    but..

    everyone is also missing the point that i still want to lose weight. fine i wont look at a scale but non the less i still need to lose 5-10 lbs

    how can i do that if my body is retaining water and doesnt let me shed fat??

    Nobody is missing anything. If you're losing inches and your scale weight is going up, you're losing fat and gaining muscle at the same time -- that makes you part of a discrete and insular minority of lucky people. Congratulations.

    strict scrutiny? LOL
  • Jules2Be
    Jules2Be Posts: 2,238 Member
    I weigh more than I did last summer.

    rear-view-1.jpg

    DILLIGAF? :happy:

    love it when you post this!!!

    OP do you SEE this?
    i get what you're saying, but just work hard and your body will take care of the rest..i lost 30 pounds, then for some reason stayed the same weight for 6 months!!! yes it was frustrating, but my body kept looking better and better from weight lifting, then 10 more came off. i would still like to lose more, but now I am just focusing on how I look


    how much do you weigh?
    i cant tell by your profile..looks like your goal is 125, which at 5'7" seems very light.
  • mamagooskie
    mamagooskie Posts: 2,964 Member
    i completely understand what everyone is saying

    but..

    everyone is also missing the point that i still want to lose weight. fine i wont look at a scale but non the less i still need to lose 5-10 lbs

    how can i do that if my body is retaining water and doesnt let me shed fat??

    YOU CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS!!! That is what everyone is trying to tell you. If I could lose 2-3 clothing sizes and have a rock hard body but my scale would say I'm 20 lbs heavier than my "goal weight" I would fine with that.

    I think you need to decide if you want muscles/tone and to look great or if you want your scale to say a certain # no matter how you look.

    If you want muscles and a nice toned body keep doing what you are doing and never step on a scale again, if you want the scale to say 5-10 less than stop lifting, eat at a deficit and reach your "goal" weight and be happy not looking as good as you want.
  • aamberrr
    aamberrr Posts: 115 Member
    If you're losing inches while you're scale weight is going up, you've discovered the Holy Grail of fitness.
    but for a 20 something girl whos just trying to tone out her arms legs and abs its not the goal to see the scale go up

    Ok. If you are really interested and serious about lifting, please do yourself a favor and read "New Rules of Lifting for Women." The author does an amazing job of explaining why scale weight isn't a big deal, and how lifting works and benefits you. You cannot really "tone" muscle without actually building some muscle. If you gain muscle THE SCALE WILL GO UP. That DOESN'T mean you haven't lost your 5lbs of fat.

    Think of it this way, for an example:

    Let's say someone starts out at 135 lbs with the goal of "getting leaner and building muscle" (i.e.: Losing fat and looking more toned). She LOSES 5 pounds of fat, but GAINS 10 pounds of muscle (Obviously over time; this wouldn't happen quickly at all for a woman, but this is for example purposes). The scale is going to say she weighs 140. But she actually has 5 pounds LESS fat on her body than she did before.

    You are way, way too caught up on what that scale says. Have your body fat measured.
  • zaph0d
    zaph0d Posts: 1,172 Member
    i completely understand what everyone is saying

    but..

    everyone is also missing the point that i still want to lose weight. fine i wont look at a scale but non the less i still need to lose 5-10 lbs

    how can i do that if my body is retaining water and doesnt let me shed fat??

    Ah, now we've pinpointed your misunderstanding. Nothing is preventing your body from shedding fat. The water/glycogen has pretty much nothing to do with fat loss.
  • Spartan_Maker
    Spartan_Maker Posts: 683 Member
    i completely understand what everyone is saying

    but..

    everyone is also missing the point that i still want to lose weight. fine i wont look at a scale but non the less i still need to lose 5-10 lbs

    how can i do that if my body is retaining water and doesnt let me shed fat??

    Nobody is missing anything. If you're losing inches and your scale weight is going up, you're losing fat and gaining muscle at the same time -- that makes you part of a discrete and insular minority of lucky people. Congratulations.

    strict scrutiny? LOL

    We might be able to be friends after all. :smile:
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,022 Member
    Quit worry about scale weight and concentrate on body fat percentage if fat loss is your concern. If you lost all the fat you wanted and weighed the same you do now, how much does weight matter? If the weight does matter, then there's a misunderstanding of how you view your body image.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • BeautyFromPain
    BeautyFromPain Posts: 4,952 Member
    water retention
  • Esq88
    Esq88 Posts: 54
    I weigh more than I did last summer.

    rear-view-1.jpg

    DILLIGAF? :happy:

    love it when you post this!!!

    OP do you SEE this?
    i get what you're saying, but just work hard and your body will take care of the rest..i lost 30 pounds, then for some reason stayed the same weight for 6 months!!! yes it was frustrating, but my body kept looking better and better from weight lifting, then 10 more came off. i would still like to lose more, but now I am just focusing on how I look


    how much do you weigh?
    i cant tell by your profile..looks like your goal is 125, which at 5'7" seems very light.

    im 5'7 i weighed 125 and since i started weight training went up to 129-130
    i want to be 120
  • AliciaStinger
    AliciaStinger Posts: 402 Member
    Esq88,

    I'd like to help you. I'm not a fitness expert, but I can see that you're frustrated with the answers you're getting. I don't know whether or not the glycogen is permanent; I'll leave that answer to other MFPers, your coach/gym teacher/personal trainer, or Google. I think the reason you're getting these replies is that people can't figure out your motivation for losing five (now 10) pounds. Are you interested in a career or activity where you specifically need to be below a certain weight? It's none of our business anyway...but it's why people can't understand why someone who says she looks better still needs to lose that weight. It may seem to some like the problem is not your weight, but your view of yourself, which I've also seen in some of the replies; if you're already at a healthy weight, it'll probably be more difficult for others to understand why you want to lose this weight (which, again, isn't their business 'cause it's not their body).

    My suggestion to you is to drink more water. If it is some variety of water weight, then drinking water should help. The other thing is, try eating a little more for a few days. Stay under your Basal Metabolic Rate so that you don't gain weight (to find your BMR, look under the "TOOLS" tab in MFP), but increase your calories some. I know this seems like the last thing you'd want to do, but there are two reasons I say this: (1) the body gets used to what we do to it. If you do the same workout and eat the same amount of calories all the time, your body adjusts to living that way, and stops losing weight. To "confuse" your body, you can try eating extra calories for a little bit (so that your body gets used to eating more), and then drop your calorie count again so that it knows to lose weight. (2) It's possible that you're not eating enough and you're slowing your metabolism down. I know muscle burns more calories than fat, but if you're not eating enough, your body is going to do its best to stay at its current weight.

    If you want some straight, accurate answers, you should try talking to a personal trainer, or better yet, a dietician. My research online can't compare to years of specialized classes. Also, if you want, you're welcome to add me!
  • Esq88
    Esq88 Posts: 54
    i completely understand what everyone is saying

    but..

    everyone is also missing the point that i still want to lose weight. fine i wont look at a scale but non the less i still need to lose 5-10 lbs

    how can i do that if my body is retaining water and doesnt let me shed fat??

    Nobody is missing anything. If you're losing inches and your scale weight is going up, you're losing fat and gaining muscle at the same time -- that makes you part of a discrete and insular minority of lucky people. Congratulations.

    strict scrutiny? LOL

    We might be able to be friends after all. :smile:

    LOL ;)
  • Esq88
    Esq88 Posts: 54
    If you're losing inches while you're scale weight is going up, you've discovered the Holy Grail of fitness.
    but for a 20 something girl whos just trying to tone out her arms legs and abs its not the goal to see the scale go up

    Ok. If you are really interested and serious about lifting, please do yourself a favor and read "New Rules of Lifting for Women." The author does an amazing job of explaining why scale weight isn't a big deal, and how lifting works and benefits you. You cannot really "tone" muscle without actually building some muscle. If you gain muscle THE SCALE WILL GO UP. That DOESN'T mean you haven't lost your 5lbs of fat.


    Think of it this way, for an example:

    Let's say someone starts out at 135 lbs with the goal of "getting leaner and building muscle" (i.e.: Losing fat and looking more toned). She LOSES 5 pounds of fat, but GAINS 10 pounds of muscle (Obviously over time; this wouldn't happen quickly at all for a woman, but this is for example purposes). The scale is going to say she weighs 140. But she actually has 5 pounds LESS fat on her body than she did before.

    You are way, way too caught up on what that scale says. Have your body fat measured.


    can you please link me to this article?
  • Esq88
    Esq88 Posts: 54
    Esq88,

    I'd like to help you. I'm not a fitness expert, but I can see that you're frustrated with the answers you're getting. I don't know whether or not the glycogen is permanent; I'll leave that answer to other MFPers, your coach/gym teacher/personal trainer, or Google. I think the reason you're getting these replies is that people can't figure out your motivation for losing five (now 10) pounds. Are you interested in a career or activity where you specifically need to be below a certain weight? It's none of our business anyway...but it's why people can't understand why someone who says she looks better still needs to lose that weight. It may seem to some like the problem is not your weight, but your view of yourself, which I've also seen in some of the replies; if you're already at a healthy weight, it'll probably be more difficult for others to understand why you want to lose this weight (which, again, isn't their business 'cause it's not their body).

    My suggestion to you is to drink more water. If it is some variety of water weight, then drinking water should help. The other thing is, try eating a little more for a few days. Stay under your Basal Metabolic Rate so that you don't gain weight (to find your BMR, look under the "TOOLS" tab in MFP), but increase your calories some. I know this seems like the last thing you'd want to do, but there are two reasons I say this: (1) the body gets used to what we do to it. If you do the same workout and eat the same amount of calories all the time, your body adjusts to living that way, and stops losing weight. To "confuse" your body, you can try eating extra calories for a little bit (so that your body gets used to eating more), and then drop your calorie count again so that it knows to lose weight. (2) It's possible that you're not eating enough and you're slowing your metabolism down. I know muscle burns more calories than fat, but if you're not eating enough, your body is going to do its best to stay at its current weight.

    If you want some straight, accurate answers, you should try talking to a personal trainer, or better yet, a dietician. My research online can't compare to years of specialized classes. Also, if you want, you're welcome to add me!

    thank you for that!
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,022 Member
    im 5'7 i weighed 125 and since i started weight training went up to 129-130
    i want to be 120
    Again why would 120 matter if you look and have the body you want?

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • WestCoastPhoenix
    WestCoastPhoenix Posts: 802 Member
    So why exactly do you think you *should* weigh 120...or *want* that?
  • jesz124
    jesz124 Posts: 1,004 Member
    Seriously, you need to ignore your scales. It's just a unit of weight. It reflects very little about the appearance of your figure at your stage. I understand that it's ingrained in us to worry about the numbers but when your lifting it's just not helpful.
  • Esq88
    Esq88 Posts: 54
    So why exactly do you think you *should* weigh 120...or *want* that?

    i dont mean to be rude but the "reason" i want to be 120 is IRRELEVANT. that is just the goal i set for myself.
    Reading through everyones replies i now understand im focusing on the wrong thing and that i could have very well lost fat while gaining "weight"

    i guess ill stay more focused on my measurements then the scale (although i doubt ill be able to give it up)
  • theartichoke
    theartichoke Posts: 816 Member
    Esq88,

    I'd like to help you. I'm not a fitness expert, but I can see that you're frustrated with the answers you're getting. I don't know whether or not the glycogen is permanent; I'll leave that answer to other MFPers, your coach/gym teacher/personal trainer, or Google. I think the reason you're getting these replies is that people can't figure out your motivation for losing five (now 10) pounds. Are you interested in a career or activity where you specifically need to be below a certain weight? It's none of our business anyway...but it's why people can't understand why someone who says she looks better still needs to lose that weight. It may seem to some like the problem is not your weight, but your view of yourself, which I've also seen in some of the replies; if you're already at a healthy weight, it'll probably be more difficult for others to understand why you want to lose this weight (which, again, isn't their business 'cause it's not their body).

    My suggestion to you is to drink more water. If it is some variety of water weight, then drinking water should help. The other thing is, try eating a little more for a few days. Stay under your Basal Metabolic Rate so that you don't gain weight (to find your BMR, look under the "TOOLS" tab in MFP), but increase your calories some. I know this seems like the last thing you'd want to do, but there are two reasons I say this: (1) the body gets used to what we do to it. If you do the same workout and eat the same amount of calories all the time, your body adjusts to living that way, and stops losing weight. To "confuse" your body, you can try eating extra calories for a little bit (so that your body gets used to eating more), and then drop your calorie count again so that it knows to lose weight. (2) It's possible that you're not eating enough and you're slowing your metabolism down. I know muscle burns more calories than fat, but if you're not eating enough, your body is going to do its best to stay at its current weight.

    If you want some straight, accurate answers, you should try talking to a personal trainer, or better yet, a dietician. My research online can't compare to years of specialized classes. Also, if you want, you're welcome to add me!

    thank you for that!

    No! Jesus.

    OP -Do your own experiment. Put the weights down for a while and hit the treadmill/elliptical machine. Take lots of pictures from today on. After you lose the 10lbs see if you like your body better that way. If you do, win. If not, maybe you can live with the water weight for a tighter body from lifting. Good luck!
  • Nerdy_Rose
    Nerdy_Rose Posts: 1,277 Member
    I have one thing to say, to everyone in this thread....

    FOR SCIENCE!

    P.S. I ate an entire pizza and drank 2 beers last night. I didn't weigh myself today. My "skinny" pants are still falling off. My abs still look awesome. And now, I'm going to go work on squatting my own body weight for reasons of badassery and because my butt could be perkier.
  • Jules2Be
    Jules2Be Posts: 2,238 Member
    So why exactly do you think you *should* weigh 120...or *want* that?

    i dont mean to be rude but the "reason" i want to be 120 is IRRELEVANT. that is just the goal i set for myself.
    Reading through everyones replies i now understand im focusing on the wrong thing and that i could have very well lost fat while gaining "weight"

    i guess ill stay more focused on my measurements then the scale (although i doubt ill be able to give it up)

    Well, i wish you well. 120 is pretty underweight for your height. You probably look much better than you realize right now at your current weight. Its just a number

    I weigh 182 in this picture. I am 5'11". I dont think I look that weight, and I believe its due to the weight training.
  • Esq88
    Esq88 Posts: 54
    Which one weighs less??


    female-transformation-melissa-shadd_bsm3.jpg
    S8003482copy.jpg





    They both weigh the same.

    im not trying to look like either.
  • aamberrr
    aamberrr Posts: 115 Member
    If you're losing inches while you're scale weight is going up, you've discovered the Holy Grail of fitness.
    but for a 20 something girl whos just trying to tone out her arms legs and abs its not the goal to see the scale go up

    Ok. If you are really interested and serious about lifting, please do yourself a favor and read "New Rules of Lifting for Women." The author does an amazing job of explaining why scale weight isn't a big deal, and how lifting works and benefits you. You cannot really "tone" muscle without actually building some muscle. If you gain muscle THE SCALE WILL GO UP. That DOESN'T mean you haven't lost your 5lbs of fat.


    Think of it this way, for an example:

    Let's say someone starts out at 135 lbs with the goal of "getting leaner and building muscle" (i.e.: Losing fat and looking more toned). She LOSES 5 pounds of fat, but GAINS 10 pounds of muscle (Obviously over time; this wouldn't happen quickly at all for a woman, but this is for example purposes). The scale is going to say she weighs 140. But she actually has 5 pounds LESS fat on her body than she did before.

    You are way, way too caught up on what that scale says. Have your body fat measured.


    can you please link me to this article?

    It's actually a book: http://www.thenewrulesoflifting.com/nrol-for-women

    There is a group on MFP, as well. I really, really recommend this book.
  • Esq88
    Esq88 Posts: 54
    Which one weighs less??


    female-transformation-melissa-shadd_bsm3.jpg
    S8003482copy.jpg





    They both weigh the same.

    im not trying to look like either.

    my goal is something like this:

    http://images1.fanpop.com/images/photos/2200000/Angels-banners-victorias-secret-angels-2285385-400-267.jpg

    Yes they are thin but they are also muscular (and not overly muscular in my opinion like the photo that was just posted)
  • 2Bgoddess
    2Bgoddess Posts: 1,096 Member
    ADDITIONALLY,

    i wanted to lose the last 5 lbs before i started 4 weeks ago. (now that im 5 lbs up from that im trying to lose 10 lbs total) how do i lose that weight + keep getting lean muscles

    This! Me too! I tried going by measurments, but it's all over the place. Waist and hips, smaller, bicep and calf, bigger...grrrr
  • del54
    del54 Posts: 8
    Muscle weigh more. I agree. Have your BMI measure.
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    Use a site like this - http://www.scientificpsychic.com/fitness/diet.html - to calculate an estimate of your body fat percentage. It's not exact science or anything, but it will put you in the ball park.

    For me, at 134 pounds and approximately 20% body fat, I have about 107 pounds of lean mass. That's my bones, organs, muscle, etc. That means I have 27 pounds of fat.

    Ideally, you want to keep as much lean mass as possible if you lose weight. Some loss is inevitable. Let's say I wanted to get to 120 pounds. If I kept all or most of my lean mass, I'd have to have around 10% body fat at 120 pounds. That's not sustainable or healthy. I can't weight 120 pounds now without losing muscle. And I worked too damn hard for this to lose it.

    On the other hand, about 10 years ago, I had a jaw joint problem and couldn't eat normally, and lost a lot of weight. I was only about 120 pounds then. I also didn't have as much muscle then, and lost more of it in the process. Any article of clothing I have from that time period fits me now at 134 lbs.

    I'm about 15 pounds heavier, and the same exact same frickin' size. But much better shaped and less jiggley. :smile: