Have i done too much damage??

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Replies

  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member
    You can only "gain" muscle if you are eating a surplus. If she is strengthening current muscle, that muscle is more dense than fat, yes. But eating at a calorie deficit like she has been and even at the higher calories, she is still at a deficit, she is not gaining any muscles. Her muscles may be retaining water for the repair process.
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
    But she said she is running after years of weight loss with only dieting. I started running this year and have gained a lot of muscle in the process.

    You don't gain muscle, as in hypertrophy, from running or any other aerobic workout. You condition your existing muscle tissue but you don't "grow" it. Also, it is hard for women, without the benefit of the anabolic hormone testosterone, to grow much muscle. It take resistance training and caloric surplus and time.

    The fact that she started running is likely why she is gaining. It is water and glycogen as a repair and resotrative adaptation from starting an exercise program. It will normalize over time.
  • smilesalot1969
    smilesalot1969 Posts: 392
    Maybe you're gaining muscle?

    Likely not as a woman and not doing strength training.

    i do lift heavy 4 times a week does this count as strength training?
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member
    You have to be eating MORE than your TDEE and working really hard with specific training to be gaining muscle. It is very difficult for women body builders to do. You aren't doing that eating minimal calories.
  • NewMeAT33
    NewMeAT33 Posts: 33
    I added strength training and the scale did not move for 3 weeks. It is 100% water related. I read so much about DOMS. Now that the training is a regular part of my schedule, I still 'gain weight' after a work out.

    Measure. Not weigh.
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
    Maybe you're gaining muscle?

    Likely not as a woman and not doing strength training.

    i do lift heavy 4 times a week does this count as strength training?

    Yes! And that is great. If you are eating in a deficit you won't gain muscle but you will gain strength and maintian lean muscle mass and that is critical. To gain muscle you would have to eat in a calorie surplus. The lifting together with the cardio could very well be driving some water weight/ glycogen gain. Pretty normal.

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