Beginner Weight Trainer question

Dad_of_3

Ok, so I'm a big guy, right? I weigh 320 (now). I began a workout routine at our work gym this week. I have only worked out twice (Monday and Wednesday). Tuesday, in between workouts, I walked 2 miles, in one mile increments.

I have been eating back my exercise calories, and I have been watching what I eat (except dinner last night- my wife cooks wonderfully, can't resist her casserole).

I have gained 2 pounds this week, so I am up from 318 to 320. Given the above information, could I have gained two pounds of muscle? Is it water rention from the muscle tear down? I had terrible DOMS in my arms, much better today after yesterday's workout.

jesz124

Nope. It will be water weight from exercising. Someone else will be able to explain this to you far better than me i'm sure lol. You can't put on that much muscle in a week i'm afraid. Well done for making a change though, keep it up!

jesz124

Sounds like you ate 2 lbs of casserole.

Sounds like you're a turd.

That made me LOL. I like you hahahaha

McLifterPants

From the way you phrased this, I think you already know that it's likely water in your muscles as a result of healing. You can't actually gain more than 2 lbs of muscle in a MONTH (http://stronglifts.com/how-much-muscle-can-you-gain-in-1-month-naturally/) without steroids etc, so at most it would be half a pound, and even that is really unlikely from 2 workouts. However, props to you for getting going! Keep your goals realistic, eat right, work hard, you'll be great

Dad_of_3

From the way you phrased this, I think you already know that it's likely water in your muscles as a result of healing. You can't actually gain more than 2 lbs of muscle in a MONTH (http://stronglifts.com/how-much-muscle-can-you-gain-in-1-month-naturally/) without steroids etc, so at most it would be half a pound, and even that is really unlikely from 2 workouts. However, props to you for getting going! Keep your goals realistic, eat right, work hard, you'll be great

Thank you! By the way, you speak about how much you can gain in muscle mass in a month- where can get that kind of information?

crobl

Sounds like water weight. I would suggest not weighing yourself so frequently to avoid getting obsessed with the number on the scale. Take measurements too!!

bdburch

It would be water weight. I wouldn't worry about it too much though. Your weight will fluctuate. As long as you are watching what you eat and maintaining an exercise program, the number on the scale shouldn't matter too much.

I just started working out 3 weeks ago. I've noticed that 2 weeks ago the scale said I'd gained 5 lbs and my clothes fit a little tighter. Now, I'm back down to my starting weight and my clothes fit the same as before but my body is tighter. Just keep at it and you will see a difference.

Dad_of_3

This whole weight training thing is totally new for me. Before this week I had not been in a gyn in over 25 years, and this is the first time I've ever had a real weight training regimen/plan.

HKooner

What I did when I started the gym was to have the instructor measure my body fat, muscle mass,weight and do all my other measurements like waist etc and then I kept getting re-measured every 3-4 weeks. It's a good way to determin how you are doing.
I not too keen on what the scales say to be honest.
Good Luck!!! you can do this!!!

Dad_of_3

What I did when I started the gym was to have the instructor measure my body fat, muscle mass,weight and do all my other measurements like waist etc and then I kept getting re-measured every 3-4 weeks. It's a good way to determin how you are doing.
I not too keen on what the scales say to be honest.
Good Luck!!! you can do this!!!

Our gym doesn't have that. Where can I have my body fat measured, other than a doctor's office?

jimmie65

Definitely water weight.
Congrats on getting started. I started working out at 330 lbs and wish I'd known enough to incorporate real weight training then. You've got a leg up on me already.

WalktoRun123

I had the same frustrations when I started to work with a trainer/step up my exercise. I know it feels awful and almost counterproductive but you will gain weight at first. Your body is really trying to figure out what is going on and also using the water to help repair/mend the muscles that are now working harder than before.

Hang in there!

wareagle8706

lol at the person who said "2lbs of casserole"

No you could not have gained 2 lbs of muscle. I wish it was that easy to gain muscle but it takes much much longer than that.

If you continue to look at things weekly while your weight training you're going to drive yourself nuts. With weight training it takes at least 6 weeks to start noticing results, and even those results might just be strength gains that you can't even see in a mirror. Just take your time, continue on the lifting path you're on and be patient.

Work hard and you will get results, but it's not as fast as that.

McLifterPants

From the way you phrased this, I think you already know that it's likely water in your muscles as a result of healing. You can't actually gain more than 2 lbs of muscle in a MONTH (http://stronglifts.com/how-much-muscle-can-you-gain-in-1-month-naturally/) without steroids etc, so at most it would be half a pound, and even that is really unlikely from 2 workouts. However, props to you for getting going! Keep your goals realistic, eat right, work hard, you'll be great

Thank you! By the way, you speak about how much you can gain in muscle mass in a month- where can get that kind of information?

If you copy paste the link in my comment that article is a decent amount of info, but honestly just googling "how much muscle can I gain in a month" will bring up lots of similar info! As for measuring body fat, you can buy calipers cheap on Amazon, or try a scale that measure it (I have one from Escali that seems to do a decent job)

wareagle8706

What I did when I started the gym was to have the instructor measure my body fat, muscle mass,weight and do all my other measurements like waist etc and then I kept getting re-measured every 3-4 weeks. It's a good way to determin how you are doing.
I not too keen on what the scales say to be honest.
Good Luck!!! you can do this!!!

Our gym doesn't have that. Where can I have my body fat measured, other than a doctor's office?

You can go to GNC and purchase body fat calipers. But at over 300 lbs I'm not sure how accurate they will be. You can use a tape measure as well and use the Military body fat measurement strategy, but I KNOW that is very inaccurate, but it's better than nothing.

HJMAYES

Your weight will fluctuate something fierce - not just now, but always until you get "normal" for you. I know that sounds odd, but you can't freak out every two days you step on a scale and it's a pound or two off. Keep moving, keep eating well, and keep seeing results.

Way to go on a great start to a healthy lifestyle!