Is increased strength training causing this??

janadecker
janadecker Posts: 34 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I am 5'8.5", weigh 136 pounds. I have an excellent diet and regular exercise routine. Recently, to tone up for vacation I decided to incorporate some core and strength training. I've also been doing a lot of HIIT this past week. What I'm noticing is, after a few days of starting this, I had a normal weigh in and noticed a few extra pounds were there. Didn't think too much of it, chalked it up as water retention for muscle recovery. But then.....I'm now noticing my abdomen is somewhat distended. Pudgy even. I've had a nice, flat stomach and now that I'm doing the extra work its almost like its having an adverse affect on my midsection. I'm so confused. Can the extra work be causing these weird changes?

Side note: My diet is exactly the same. I'm not overeating to compensate for my increased metabolism. I track everything. The only change I've made is adding the strength training to my routine.
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Replies

  • aswearingen22
    aswearingen22 Posts: 271 Member
    Could it be hormonal? I get "pudgy" during that nice PMS time!;)
  • Leadfoot_Lewis
    Leadfoot_Lewis Posts: 1,623 Member
    Sounds like water retention to me...
  • janadecker
    janadecker Posts: 34 Member
    I wish. It's not that time. However, it does remind me of that bloating feeling that comes with that.
  • janadecker
    janadecker Posts: 34 Member
    In my abs? From the increase in training?
  • lacurandera1
    lacurandera1 Posts: 8,083 Member
    I don't really have an answer to your real question. I seriously doubt strength training has caused you to look, basically, bloated... unless it's just water retention. And yes, in your abs. Totally possible, especially if you're working your core with deadlifts and squats.

    But I noticed after Christmas (although I stayed within my calorie goals and still worked out and didn't really eat "too bad") that my stomach was noticeably distended, due to eating foods i don't normally eat, increased sodium, etc. I mean, big time. Went from being able to flex and almost look like I have abs from the side to what it looked like 3 months ago. It's back to normal now, but it took a couple weeks. I know you said your diet hasn't changed, though.
  • nguk123
    nguk123 Posts: 223
    have you introduced more HIIT and strength at the expense of LISS ? If so, you are likely burning fewer calories, and with the dietary side unchanged your caloric balance has tilted.
  • janadecker
    janadecker Posts: 34 Member
    Maybe more salt. Makes sense, I guess.
  • lacurandera1
    lacurandera1 Posts: 8,083 Member
    (I always expect my body to look different/worse if I eat at a restaurant or at someone else's house- even if it's "healthy" bc people tend to overuse salt and under use other seasonings)
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    When you start exercising or increasing exercise, your muscles increase the glycogen storage in anticipation of the next time. Glycogen requires water to be stored. Basically, your muscles are retaining water. This is often the cause of increase in weight when starting a new routine or increasing intensity. It's normal and one of the many reason why the scale is not an accurate measurement of progress.
    So the answer is yes, strength training is likely causing this. It is not additional fat or size, but is an increase in weight. It shouldn't reflect in your stomach though.

    Is it possible the additional scale weight is causing you to be over critical of your stomach? Have you gained any inches in your stomach?
  • janadecker
    janadecker Posts: 34 Member
    This is embarrassing to admit. I have no idea if I've gained inches in my stomach because I've never measured. Anything. Ever. I've always relied on my scale to gauge my progress. Which was good when I was 70 pounds over weight. The smaller numbers motivated me to push forward. But now that I've switched my focus more to strength than weight loss......the scale is no longer conducive. If anything, it's discouraging:/
  • NJL13500
    NJL13500 Posts: 433 Member
    The same thing happened to me! I started upping my strength training, doing more HIIT and I gained 3-5 pounds depending on the day. I have a BodyMedia armband that tells me exactly how many calories I burn and I log everything, so I knew that I had not really gained weight. I was patient and the weight came back off. I weighed in today at 129. I was concerned like you and did research. My best guess is that I was retaining water. I was making those small tears in my muscles by lifting and doing hard core HIIT and they needed water to repair. I also started upping my protein to feed them in recovery after my workouts.

    I'm not an exercise scientist. I'm only a google amateur, but I can tell you that I have been through what you are going through and it will pass. My stomach got bloated after I ate anything and I could actually put my hand on it and feel things moving around like when I was pregnant.

    So it's not in your head. Our bodies are incredibly complicated and don't always cooperate when we want them to. Be patient and keep up your healthy habits.
  • janadecker
    janadecker Posts: 34 Member
    Thanks so much! Im determined to move forward. I will look into the arm band thing as well. Thanks again!
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,031 Member
    What exercises have you changed/added to your routine?

    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
  • janadecker
    janadecker Posts: 34 Member
    I've added various HIIT routines as well as Pilates.
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    This is embarrassing to admit. I have no idea if I've gained inches in my stomach because I've never measured. Anything. Ever. I've always relied on my scale to gauge my progress. Which was good when I was 70 pounds over weight. The smaller numbers motivated me to push forward. But now that I've switched my focus more to strength than weight loss......the scale is no longer conducive. If anything, it's discouraging:/

    Which is exactly why a lot of women decide against weight training. The scale is a tool to help measure your progress, but it shouldn't be the only thing. Look at some of women who post their success stories (Lorinalynn is one I can think of) who weight more than they did before but look better and are smaller than they were.
    Don't let the scale scare you hang in there. Eventually the scale will catch up.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,031 Member
    I've added various HIIT routines as well as Pilates.
    So more "core" exercises that you didn't do before?

    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
  • janadecker
    janadecker Posts: 34 Member
    Oh, most def! For sure, without a doubt.
  • Greenrun99
    Greenrun99 Posts: 2,065 Member
    Abs are muscles and hold water just like your other muscles.. if you just started working them hardcore thats probably it.
  • thoeting
    thoeting Posts: 89 Member
    I'm going to throw out an idea my personal trainer shared with me....

    When you do crunches, make sure you are pulling your midsection in. She was telling me that some people let it pooch out and what happens is you train the muscles to pooch out and you end up with a midsection decidely NOT toned.

    She said she'd seen it happen many times and always, always cues me to pull in when using my abs


    Just a thought
  • janadecker
    janadecker Posts: 34 Member
    Good thought. I will remember that. Lets say, hypothetically, that this is the case. Are the muscles then, re-trainable.
  • janadecker
    janadecker Posts: 34 Member
    Thanks so much! I appreciate the push:)
  • janadecker
    janadecker Posts: 34 Member
    This is embarrassing to admit. I have no idea if I've gained inches in my stomach because I've never measured. Anything. Ever. I've always relied on my scale to gauge my progress. Which was good when I was 70 pounds over weight. The smaller numbers motivated me to push forward. But now that I've switched my focus more to strength than weight loss......the scale is no longer conducive. If anything, it's discouraging:/

    Which is exactly why a lot of women decide against weight training. The scale is a tool to help measure your progress, but it shouldn't be the only thing. Look at some of women who post their success stories (Lorinalynn is one I can think of) who weight more than they did before but look better and are smaller than they were.
    Don't let the scale scare you hang in there. Eventually the scale will catch up.


    Thanks so much! It's good to be encouraged:)
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    Start using a tape measure in addition to your scale and progress pics
  • janadecker
    janadecker Posts: 34 Member
    Start using a tape measure in addition to your scale and progress pics

    Good idea. I actually just texted my husband and asked him to pick me up a measuring tape after work. And I hadn't even thought of progress pics. Brilliant! Thanks!
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,031 Member
    Abs are muscles and hold water just like your other muscles.. if you just started working them hardcore thats probably it.
    This.

    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
  • westcoastgrl21
    westcoastgrl21 Posts: 172 Member
    I wish I had an answer for this, because I'm experiencing the same thing grrrr. I started strength training heavily in October, and I've been tracking my food since November. My stomach is so bloated, Im actually pretty concerned at this point. It just doesn't seem right. I thought maybe the (small) changes I made to my diet were to blame, perhaps I caused some digestion issues, but after 3 months my body should have adjusted by now. I'm going to check in with my Dr tomorrow about this, I'll come back and post if I get any interesting information there...
  • Heitor70
    Heitor70 Posts: 56 Member
    I am 5'8.5", weigh 136 pounds. I have an excellent diet and regular exercise routine. Recently, to tone up for vacation I decided to incorporate some core and strength training. I've also been doing a lot of HIIT this past week. What I'm noticing is, after a few days of starting this, I had a normal weigh in and noticed a few extra pounds were there. Didn't think too much of it, chalked it up as water retention for muscle recovery. But then.....I'm now noticing my abdomen is somewhat distended. Pudgy even. I've had a nice, flat stomach and now that I'm doing the extra work its almost like its having an adverse affect on my midsection. I'm so confused. Can the extra work be causing these weird changes?

    Side note: My diet is exactly the same. I'm not overeating to compensate for my increased metabolism. I track everything. The only change I've made is adding the strength training to my routine.


    Interesting post. This has been happening to me since I begun lifting heavily, for almost a month now. Yet, inches are the same. Thanks for the answers in the forum, as always, very helpful!
  • victoriannsays
    victoriannsays Posts: 568 Member
    this happened to me as well. I chalked it up to water retention and the weight came off within a week or so. don't stress too much over it.
  • mareeee1234
    mareeee1234 Posts: 674 Member
    Bump
  • janadecker
    janadecker Posts: 34 Member
    I wish I had an answer for this, because I'm experiencing the same thing grrrr. I started strength training heavily in October, and I've been tracking my food since November. My stomach is so bloated, Im actually pretty concerned at this point. It just doesn't seem right. I thought maybe the (small) changes I made to my diet were to blame, perhaps I caused some digestion issues, but after 3 months my body should have adjusted by now. I'm going to check in with my Dr tomorrow about this, I'll come back and post if I get any interesting information there...

    I would be interested in hearing what the doc has to say. Good luck!

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