I thought I was supposed to be getting SMALLER?!

rmcminn89
rmcminn89 Posts: 37
in Health and Weight Loss
SO annoyed! I am following my diet plan & exercising 5-6 days per week. Mostly Treadmill, Elliptical, & strength training only 1-2 days per week. Usually my stomach fat is the LAST to go, but I've noticed after 2 weeks and only 6 pounds down, my stomach is noticably smaller, but my arms are bigger! You can see muscle at the top but then it makes my bat wings look bigger! I am grateful that my stomach fat is disappearing but my shirts look awkward. I wear scrubs 4 days per week and it's almost uncomfortbale to wear them they are getting so tight in the arms.

Sorry about my rant. I'm just frustrated! Anyone else have this issue? If so, did it resolve?
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Replies

  • caite1988
    caite1988 Posts: 13
    Sounds to me like you are building muscle.. maybe slow down on arm exercises for a few days? or lighter weights?
  • Gemmyw22
    Gemmyw22 Posts: 5
    Yeah, do more cardio rather than weights x
  • AmandaRhys
    AmandaRhys Posts: 25
    This happened to me. But I think maybe the arms aren't actually getting bigger...they just look it. Maybe because as the fat disappears the extra skin sags more? Keep going...it resolved itself with me. Arms look smaller now. I think they're going to take the most work with me though. good luck!
  • tricksee
    tricksee Posts: 835 Member
    more defined arms is you losing weight around the muscles therefore them becoming more visible. Not bigger.

    If you're sticking to your diet plan (at caloric deficit, then you cant build muscle)
  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    Unless she's taking steroids or has abnormally high test levels, I doubt the "muscle" gain in her arms is actual muscle gain
  • runs_in_heels
    runs_in_heels Posts: 97 Member
    i hear ya!
    i was a swimmer for over 10 years & a butterflyer... so if i even get near weights i bulk up and none of my cute dresses fit across my back/shoulders. i work really hard at balancing cardio with lighter weights and i do a LOT of toning with those stretchy band/tube things. (sorry - dont know their name) - they're fantastic and a commercial break option!
  • shearnerve
    shearnerve Posts: 37 Member
    Don't obesse on how you look for a while or ever. You are doing the right thing by losing weight & getting heathy.
  • lelaspeaks
    lelaspeaks Posts: 163 Member
    Maybe try higher reps with a lower weight for a while so you're burning fat and building muscle at the same time? Then switch to lifting heavy once you're comfortable again? I'm no expert though... actually, I'm just making this up, but it makes sense in my head?
  • AlohaKeAkua
    AlohaKeAkua Posts: 92
    I am afraid of bulking up muscles, so I am focusing on cardio over weights for the time being. Strength training is a huge part of it, but I want to lose some of the fat before I begin toning. I would ease up on the weights and keep up the good cario! Sounds like you're doing awesome!
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    Do people really think she is gaining muscle on a deficit, after a couple of strength training sessions? Wow, if it's that easy I am really doing something wrong.
  • mcrubino
    mcrubino Posts: 18
    I am currently trying to get my arms under control as well, and instead of strength training I have been doing a lot of pilates which works to tone the muscle. Perhaps try this type of exercise to see if you can get those arms firmed up while you lose weight. Great job on the workouts and weight loss!
  • _DaniD_
    _DaniD_ Posts: 2,186 Member
    So that would be 4 days of strength training overall.. you must be jacked.
  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    I actually heard Michelle Obama who is well known to have the most toned and awesome arms of any woman ever, also did only cardio first then went to lifting as to tone her arms not bulk them up
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    OP; what 'strength' training are you doing and how long have you been doing it for?

    If you just started it is glycogen/water retention in the muscle if anything.......totally normal and temporary...it's not muscle
  • acchickpea
    acchickpea Posts: 43 Member
    I agree with the others that say less on the strength training and more of the cardio... Good Luck!
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    I am afraid of bulking up muscles, so I am focusing on cardio over weights for the time being. Strength training is a huge part of it, but I want to lose some of the fat before I begin toning. I would ease up on the weights and keep up the good cario! Sounds like you're doing awesome!

    You will not 'bulk up muscles' on a deficit.
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    I agree with the others that say less on the strength training and more of the cardio... Good Luck!

    Why?
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    Maybe try higher reps with a lower weight for a while so you're burning fat and building muscle at the same time? Then switch to lifting heavy once you're comfortable again? I'm no expert though... actually, I'm just making this up, but it makes sense in my head?

    NO
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,973 Member
    ANY muscle that is exposed to exercise will increase in size slightly because of water/glycogen retention. If you're overweight and your arm look more "bulky" (most people really have no idea what this term actually means) it's because the muscle you've exercised and now is retaining more water/glycogen is pushing up against the fat.
    If body fat in the area reduces, then a more muscular definition will appear (this DOE NOT MEAN one built more muscle).

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • firstsip
    firstsip Posts: 8,399 Member
    No. No nono.

    Listen to Sarauk and all the GOOD advice on here: lifting weights will NOT make you bulk. You would have to eat at an incredible surplus, or have ridiculously out of whack hormones, to bulk so easily as a woman.

    You've only been lifting a few times recently? It's probably water retention. It's awesome your stomach got flatter; your arms probably haven't done that sort of effort (whereas your core is constantly supporting you) before, so they're retaining water. Keep doing what you're doing, stretch and warm up properly, and drink more water...

    But for the love of all things fitness, don't "lift lighter" or JUST do cardio if you're going for body recomposition (a.k.a, losing body fat).
  • MB_Positif
    MB_Positif Posts: 8,897 Member
    I agree with the others that say less on the strength training and more of the cardio... Good Luck!

    Nooooo! I went from a size 10 to a size 6 by doing mostly strength training. I only lost 2 pounds during that time.

    OP, maybe you are retaining some water in your arms due to your new program. Keep going, you will slim down.
  • cubbies77
    cubbies77 Posts: 607 Member
    This happened to me. But I think maybe the arms aren't actually getting bigger...they just look it. Maybe because as the fat disappears the extra skin sags more? Keep going...it resolved itself with me. Arms look smaller now. I think they're going to take the most work with me though. good luck!

    This is probably what OP is experiencing. There is no way her arms have bulked up that much after 3-4 days of weights. I know my arms looked bigger when my shoulders and collarbones started getting more defined after losing the padding over them, but a measuring tape showed my arms were exactly the same size. My shirts felt a little tighter, though, because they were loose in the shoulders. It created the illusion the arms were tighter, whereas they were just as tight as they'd always been.

    It could be water retention as well.
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    Lifting weights 1-2 days a week while on a deficit WILL NOT MAKE YOU GAIN MUSCLE.
  • RhinestoneRocky
    RhinestoneRocky Posts: 124 Member
    You will not bulk up lifting weights after lifting for only two weeks. If anything your muscles are swollen from the exercise.

    You need to peruse the forums and look at all the wonderful threads about how lifting does NOT bulk you up. You've also lost 6 lbs in two weeks! That's awesome! Don't sabotage yourself now by questioning your routine when it's clearly working for you.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/602973-wieghts-were-do-i-start

    This is one of my many idols on this website. Does she look bulky to you? NOPE! Healthy AND Fit!
  • Santerre1984
    Santerre1984 Posts: 60 Member
    Muscles weighs more than fat...and when you build muscle you start to speed up your metabolism.
    Keep it up I'm sure it will turn around.
  • girlinahat
    girlinahat Posts: 2,956 Member
    I am afraid of bulking up muscles, so I am focusing on cardio over weights for the time being. Strength training is a huge part of it, but I want to lose some of the fat before I begin toning. I would ease up on the weights and keep up the good cario! Sounds like you're doing awesome!

    You will not 'bulk up muscles' on a deficit.


    or even bulk up muscles when NOT on a deficit.........
  • da_bears10089
    da_bears10089 Posts: 1,791 Member
    Do NOT give up strength training. I used to be doing cardio only, and now i've switched to 3 days a week of strength training and hitting Zumba 2-3 times a week. I do Zumba mostly because it's fun, and cardio is important as far as heart health goes. Lift things up, and put them down. Lift, and lift heavy. None of this low weight, high rep crap. Get into stronglifts (which is what i do) or New Rules of Lifting for Women.
  • ladyraven68
    ladyraven68 Posts: 2,003 Member
    Sounds to me like you are building muscle.. maybe slow down on arm exercises for a few days? or lighter weights?
    Yeah, do more cardio rather than weights x

    No.

    Look at all the ladies in here - if it worked the way you think it does, they would all look like the hulk!


    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/884447-do-you-lift-heavy-are-you-bulky
  • MireyGal76
    MireyGal76 Posts: 7,334 Member
    If you build muscle that quickly... I'm so jealous.
  • elainecroft
    elainecroft Posts: 595 Member
    I noticed a similar thing, that my arms appeared to be getting (slightly) bigger, because the arms on a blouse were tighter. But I think it is mostly because the muscly parts are more defined and do not want to be constrained as much as the flab which was previously there - you can push flab around a lot more than muscle. :)

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