Possible to improve metabolism without gaining weight?

Graelwyn75
Graelwyn75 Posts: 4,404 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I notice many, many suggestions of weight training, heavy weights, but from what I have read, it will result in a higher weight, even if a leaner look. Is there no way to improve metabolism and keep it ticking over well without gaining too much muscle weight? I have heard of some gaining up to 20Ibs from heavy weight lifting, including females. I am not adverse to gaining a little to get the lean look I desire, and a speedy metabolism, but really don't wish to add another 7Ibs +.
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Replies

  • ubermensch13
    ubermensch13 Posts: 824 Member
    7lbs of muscle really isn't that much, volume wise. Plus, you'd have to work pretty hard for a while to gain 7lbs of muscle as a woman. However, why do you care if you are 7lbs lighter if you are lean and fitting into clothes you would even lighter than that? What does weight have to do with it if you are fit and look the way you want?
  • Graelwyn75
    Graelwyn75 Posts: 4,404 Member
    I sort of have a thing about the numbers. Not overly keen on weighing more than my bf, as insane as that sounds,.
    I like being light, but also seem to enjoy lifting weights, from the little I have done.
  • LuluProteinFueled
    LuluProteinFueled Posts: 261 Member
    I sort of have a thing about the numbers. Not overly keen on weighing more than my bf, as insane as that sounds,.

    This is something you're just going to need to get over.

    Or tell him to go lift something heavy as well and then you won't have a problem.
  • danasings
    danasings Posts: 8,218 Member
    I notice many, many suggestions of weight training, heavy weights, but from what I have read, it will result in a higher weight, even if a leaner look. Is there no way to improve metabolism and keep it ticking over well without gaining too much muscle weight? I have heard of some gaining up to 20Ibs from heavy weight lifting, including females. I am not adverse to gaining a little to get the lean look I desire, and a speedy metabolism, but really don't wish to add another 7Ibs +.

    It took my ex-husband ten years to gain 20 pounds of muscle. Since you're female, I don't think you need to worry about it.
  • Noflexing
    Noflexing Posts: 60 Member
    yup definitely something you have to get over when it comes to changing body composition. anyone that has the body of their dreams knows that it's not the numbers that count it's the way you feel and look.
  • Jaulen
    Jaulen Posts: 468 Member
    I sort of have a thing about the numbers. Not overly keen on weighing more than my bf, as insane as that sounds,.

    This is something you're just going to need to get over.

    ^This
  • NocturnalGirl
    NocturnalGirl Posts: 1,762
    You need to overcome this and realise that the scale is absolutely meaningless.
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    I maintained when I started those things, I didn't gain. But it's when I should have been losing, at the beginning of my deficit. I probably would gain today. You're going to have to get over the numbers. Unless you're a pairs ice skater, where someone might get injured lifting you over their head, or perhaps a jockey, or maybe looking at the final weigh in on the biggest loser, there's no reason to be afraid of a few lbs of localized muscle water-weight gain. It's not like you're even talking all over sodium bloating- you will never SEE this weight. It's in your best interest to get over the scale obsession.
  • zaph0d
    zaph0d Posts: 1,172 Member
    no, you are not going to gain 7-20 lbs of muscle eating at maintanence for a few months. probably not even with steroids.
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member
    I sort of have a thing about the numbers. Not overly keen on weighing more than my bf, as insane as that sounds,.
    I like being light, but also seem to enjoy lifting weights, from the little I have done.

    Trade him in for the bigger model.
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    I sort of have a thing about the numbers. Not overly keen on weighing more than my bf, as insane as that sounds,.

    This is something you're just going to need to get over.

    ^This

    Yes. And how light is your BF? Even with an additional 7lb (which will take you about a year with a calorie surplus and pretty intensive training to do and assuming you have not been training for years already) would you really weigh more than him?
  • LuluProteinFueled
    LuluProteinFueled Posts: 261 Member
    no, you are not going to gain 7-20 lbs of muscle eating at maintanence for a few months. probably not even with steroids.

    No, definitely not. However you can gain a fair bit in fluid, especially at the beginning.

    I believe the OP is saying she doesn't want to gain any kind of weight. Though she shouldn't care if her composition improves, but she still does.
  • zaph0d
    zaph0d Posts: 1,172 Member
    no, you are not going to gain 7-20 lbs of muscle eating at maintanence for a few months. probably not even with steroids.

    No, definitely not. However you can gain a fair bit in fluid, especially at the beginning.

    I believe the OP is saying she doesn't want to gain any kind of weight. Though she shouldn't care if her composition improves, but she still does.

    Unfortunately, the OP seems to have some disordered thinking around body weight. Best course of action would be to stop weighing herself.
  • LuluProteinFueled
    LuluProteinFueled Posts: 261 Member
    no, you are not going to gain 7-20 lbs of muscle eating at maintanence for a few months. probably not even with steroids.

    No, definitely not. However you can gain a fair bit in fluid, especially at the beginning.

    I believe the OP is saying she doesn't want to gain any kind of weight. Though she shouldn't care if her composition improves, but she still does.

    Unfortunately, the OP seems to have some disordered thinking around body weight. Best course of action would be to stop weighing herself.

    Wholeheartedly agree. I daresay that would be the best course of action for about 99% of the people on this site.

    Unfortunately weight loss culture all around the world tends to measure success based on a stupid number that really has nothing to do with someone's fitness or body fat ratio.

    I know plenty of people that have educated themselves on this, and still will cry if the scale gives them a reading they don't want to see.

    It's sad.
  • ncbill
    ncbill Posts: 76 Member
    If you're leaner and healthy don't worry about the number.
  • postrockandcats
    postrockandcats Posts: 1,145 Member
    This is something you're going to have to come to terms with. There are plenty of women here that weigh 5-10 pounds more than they used to, but are smaller and have less body fat because they weight trained. Would you rather be 115 with a muffin top or 120 and firm?
  • sarahisme18
    sarahisme18 Posts: 574 Member
    I sort of have a thing about the numbers. Not overly keen on weighing more than my bf, as insane as that sounds,.
    I like being light, but also seem to enjoy lifting weights, from the little I have done.

    Trade him in for the bigger model.

    LOL


    But really. You do have to get over it. Maybe just toss the scale? Don't even weigh yourself. Go by your clothes and how you feel/look. Who cares about the number?

    I know how you feel—my DH weighs exactly the same as I do, and he's 6' tall, and I have 25% BF. :sad: However, I HAD to get over it and recognize that losing more weight wasn't going to change my body composition and give me the look I want. Do it for you, and do it to get the end result you want, not to compare to a member of the opposite sex.
  • Jennaissance
    Jennaissance Posts: 212
    There was a thread yesterday about heavy lifting photo results. Look it up and check out the girl who changed her entire body. Seriously look at those photos. Her weight didn't change much! I'm still totally fat but in the last 12 weeks of lifting I've gained 5 lbs and lost an inch in my waist. I have a lot to lose, so I know if I keep this up, the scale is going to move soon!
  • Graelwyn75
    Graelwyn75 Posts: 4,404 Member
    Thanks all for the responses, and yes, due to a past history of EDs, it is very difficult to forget the scale entirely, although having said that, I have not checked my weight in over 2 months now which is progress, and I am caring less, but still care sometimes, if that makes sense.
    To the person who asked, my bf is probably around 147Ibs at 5'11.
    And I am about 130-133, at 5'10.
  • postrockandcats
    postrockandcats Posts: 1,145 Member
    Thanks all for the responses, and yes, due to a past history of EDs, it is very difficult to forget the scale entirely, although having said that, I have not checked my weight in over 2 months now which is progress, and I am caring less, but still care sometimes, if that makes sense.
    To the person who asked, my bf is probably around 147Ibs at 5'11.
    And I am about 130-133, at 5'10.

    Totally makes sense. This isn't something you can turn off like a switch. You seem like you're on the right track, but please keep at it. 130 at 5'10 is quite slender, even if you can't see it yet :)
  • Jennaissance
    Jennaissance Posts: 212
    Thanks all for the responses, and yes, due to a past history of EDs, it is very difficult to forget the scale entirely, although having said that, I have not checked my weight in over 2 months now which is progress, and I am caring less, but still care sometimes, if that makes sense.
    To the person who asked, my bf is probably around 147Ibs at 5'11.
    And I am about 130-133, at 5'10.

    Well at those stats you have a good time before an issue would surface for you. Try it for a month. Not much should happen anyway. You can decide if you want to keep it up longer or not based on the results from that month.
  • zaph0d
    zaph0d Posts: 1,172 Member
    I have not checked my weight in over 2 months now which is progress

    That sure is progress! Nice going! Have you found that you are able to gauge progress in other, more relevant ways, like how you look in the mirror, how your clothes fit on you, how you feel?
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
    Thanks all for the responses, and yes, due to a past history of EDs, it is very difficult to forget the scale entirely, although having said that, I have not checked my weight in over 2 months now which is progress, and I am caring less, but still care sometimes, if that makes sense.
    Congrats on the great progress with staying away from the scale! That is excellent, especially in light of your history.

    The quote below from Steve Troutman is the best thing I've ever read in regard to where weight fits in to the whole picture:

    "I simply don't think it's worth worrying about what your weight should be. Rather, worry about what your health, functionality, performance, and physique should be. Weight will settle where it needs to be once those things are optimized."
  • Chief_Rocka
    Chief_Rocka Posts: 4,710 Member
    You need to overcome this and realise that the scale is absolutely meaningless.

    Let's not get carried away
  • Game8
    Game8 Posts: 442
    You can improve metabolism while remaining close to maintenance. But if you're on a diet, naturally your metabolism will slow down over time.
  • drmerc
    drmerc Posts: 2,603 Member
    Do some jumping jacks or go for a jog

    This will speed up your metabolism
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    hitting the weights is not going to make you gain any significant amount of weight for a very long time. you will notice a small gain of a pound or two the day after a lifting session, but that is due to water retention that your body does to help repair the muscles.

    if you lift while still eating on a calorie deficit, you will most likely stay at the same weight, while reducing your body fat percentage. if you mix a calorie deficit, while lifting and doing cardio, i think you will see the results you want.
  • BeingAwesome247
    BeingAwesome247 Posts: 1,171 Member
    The woman on the left weighs more on the scale than the woman on the right yet the woman on the left has a LOWER body fat percentage and is way healthier....not to mention sexier looking

    thin_women.jpg

    aka TO HELL WITH THE SCALE ha ha
  • danasings
    danasings Posts: 8,218 Member
    The woman on the left weighs more on the scale than the woman on the right yet the woman on the left has a LOWER body fat percentage and is way healthier....not to mention sexier looking

    thin_women.jpg

    aka TO HELL WITH THE SCALE ha ha

    LOVE THIS COMPARISON!! Who looks healthier and sexier, indeed!
  • BinaryPulsar
    BinaryPulsar Posts: 8,927 Member
    The woman on the left weighs more on the scale than the woman on the right yet the woman on the left has a LOWER body fat percentage and is way healthier....not to mention sexier looking

    thin_women.jpg

    aka TO HELL WITH THE SCALE ha ha

    Yes, I agree that the woman on the left has higher muscle (with a low, but healthy bf%). She looks better and is healthier. But, I think it is very inaccurate to say that the woman on the right has a higher body fat percentage. She looks to me like she has a very low body fat as well as low muscle. It is probably more accurate to say she has less muscle, not more fat. Claiming she has fat is not going to help people that struggle with EDs. People on here tend to think extreme thinness means high fat, but some people are too thin and it does not mean they have high fat. It is their extremely low body fat that causes a lot of the health problems and loss of menstruation. This is a common misunderstanding on MFP and a misunderstanding about how the math works.

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