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Gaining once you begin building muscle

BluePHX
BluePHX Posts: 184 Member
in Social Groups
About how much have you gained/do you usually gain when you build muscle, after achieving a weight loss goal? I recently hit my loss goal and now I'm strength training, and I've gained a little of my weight back. I know it's okay because my fat percentage is still declining even though my weight is increasing. I'm just curious to know how much other ladies gain after building muscle.

Replies

  • ladyonaquest
    ladyonaquest Posts: 605 Member
    For me, I'm still losing as I'm gaining muscle and I'm sure it's because I still have lots of body fat to lose. My macros are 40 % carbs 40 % protein and 20 % fats. Since I have decreased my fat intake by 10 %, my weightloss has picked up again, even though I'm lifting weights! I have heard that it is very normal to gain while lifting if you are already at your goal, especially if you are not being to strick about your macronutrients. I very new to all of this but I'm enjoying it and I'm enjoying seeing the definition transform! I love it!!
  • Beeps2011
    Beeps2011 Posts: 12,157 Member
    My understanding is that it's pretty tough for women to put on muscle (mass) very quickly...so, FAST weight gain would be either:

    1. water weight; or
    2. fat gain

    (and potentially a combination of them both)

    Even when people think they have "gained muscle" (because the tape measure is BIGGER or they LOOK bigger in photos or whatever), this might not be the case. A bigger tape measure can mean:

    1. inflammation; or
    2. fat; or
    3. muscle

    (and potentially a combination of all 3)

    The way I see it, unless you had a DXA scan at your lowest weight, and then a DXA scan at your now weight, you really won't be able to compare whether or not the "weight gain" was, indeed, LBM (i.e. NOT fat).
  • lilawolf
    lilawolf Posts: 1,690 Member
    I am close to goal weight, eating my TDEE of 1170 + 140 on lifting days (this wasn't included in my TDEE calc), 30c/30p/40f. I have gained 3.2lbs in 3 weeks. Weigh-in and measurements Sunday, so I am not sure what my BF% is. Since I am eating at maintenance, I believe that I have gained ~0.7lbs of muscle, ~2.5lbs of water and glycogen, and ~0 fat. Women can put on at MOST .25lbs of muscle a week, but since I am a beginner (beginner gains are the best) and I am pushing hard, I am hoping that I am managing close to the max.

    BTW, I lost 1.1lbs a week steadily on 30c/30p/40f. Don't be afraid of fat.
  • stephaniemejia1671
    stephaniemejia1671 Posts: 482 Member
    I like knowing that I'm building muscle, even if that means that I gain a little weight. I look good and feel stronger. Awesome.

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