arms got bigger from lifting :/

operation_cute
operation_cute Posts: 588 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
well.. I guess a necessary evil of lifting before you've lost weight... my arms are getting bigger :/ but yet the only time you can see any definition is when I flex so it just looks like my arms got bigger :/ sooo now I wait for the fat to slowly melt away revealing my new arms underneath :/
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Replies

  • Jennisin1
    Jennisin1 Posts: 574 Member
    Ditto...............
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    It's probably just water from the stress you put on the muscles... it'll go away.
  • jakesfitness
    jakesfitness Posts: 123 Member
    decreas the weight, increase the reps...
  • SpecialSundae
    SpecialSundae Posts: 795 Member
    Is it possible that your arms aren't actually getting bigger, you're just seeing more muscles as the fat is stripped away. Mine feel solid and look quite large to me at times (in a good way) but they actually measure up smaller than they used to.
  • 1n2m3g
    1n2m3g Posts: 40 Member
    ditto
  • Nissi51
    Nissi51 Posts: 381 Member
    Yup! Keep pumping and nail your nutrition- melt the fat and your pipes will appear- worked for me !
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    Did you measure or do they just look bigger?

    Either way, muscle is good. And yes, it'll look awesome when you lower your body fat percentage.
  • ncahill77
    ncahill77 Posts: 501 Member
    decreas the weight, increase the reps...

    actually that will make the arms bigger though not neccesarily stronger.
  • ouandi
    ouandi Posts: 135 Member
    That's what happened to me until I nailed my nutrition down. Now they are an inch smaller with much more defintion. I had to drop the body fat to see it.
  • tubzzy77
    tubzzy77 Posts: 104 Member
    What's wrong with big sexy arms?
  • Mia_RagazzaTosta
    Mia_RagazzaTosta Posts: 4,885 Member
    decreas the weight, increase the reps...

    No thank you
  • operation_cute
    operation_cute Posts: 588 Member
    Did you measure or do they just look bigger?

    Either way, muscle is good. And yes, it'll look awesome when you lower your body fat percentage.

    They look bigger and they meassured about .5 inch bigger, I know they'll look better as I lose the overall weight, just frustrating seeing the inches go up and the progress pics look bigger lol
  • explosivedonut
    explosivedonut Posts: 419 Member
    decreas the weight, increase the reps...

    actually that will make the arms bigger though not neccesarily stronger.

    uh.... no it doesn't. 8-10 reps are what you want to do for "size" 12+ for "lean."

    And what did you expect from lifting? I mean, not to be an *kitten* here, but you are lifting weights, of course your muscle mass is going to increase.
  • operation_cute
    operation_cute Posts: 588 Member
    What's wrong with big sexy arms?

    because they're big minus the sexy right now lol
  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    decreas the weight, increase the reps...

    actually that will make the arms bigger though not neccesarily stronger.

    uh.... no it doesn't. 8-10 reps are what you want to do for "size" 12+ for "lean."

    And what did you expect from lifting? I mean, not to be an *kitten* here, but you are lifting weights, of course your muscle mass is going to increase.

    For all 3 posts....

    Confused-Jacksonville-Jaguars-fan-in-stands.gif
  • operation_cute
    operation_cute Posts: 588 Member
    decreas the weight, increase the reps...

    actually that will make the arms bigger though not neccesarily stronger.

    uh.... no it doesn't. 8-10 reps are what you want to do for "size" 12+ for "lean."

    And what did you expect from lifting? I mean, not to be an *kitten* here, but you are lifting weights, of course your muscle mass is going to increase.

    I never understand the mentality of people who go straight to the rude responses... I included in my original post that it was a "neccessary evil of weight lifting before losing weight" so obviously I knew it was going to happen, I was simply venting a bit that its hard seeing them get bigger for the time being. I didn't post omg I'm bulky (which I admit I was worried about happening when I first joined) ... you say your not "trying" to be one, well you sure do have a talent in being one without trying then.
  • zytah
    zytah Posts: 153
    I would rather my arms be big from lifting than big from being heavy. those "batwings" aren't cute!
  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    decreas the weight, increase the reps...

    actually that will make the arms bigger though not neccesarily stronger.

    uh.... no it doesn't. 8-10 reps are what you want to do for "size" 12+ for "lean."

    And what did you expect from lifting? I mean, not to be an *kitten* here, but you are lifting weights, of course your muscle mass is going to increase.

    I never understand the mentality of people who go straight to the rude responses... I included in my original post that it was a "neccessary evil of weight lifting before losing weight" so obviously I knew it was going to happen, I was simply venting a bit that its hard seeing them get bigger for the time being. I didn't post omg I'm bulky (which I admit I was worried about happening when I first joined) ... you say your not "trying" to be one, well you sure do have a talent in being one without trying then.

    You're not getting "bulky" or packing on the inches by lifting. Yes, there are some noob gains, but most of the size is most likely from water retention in the muscles that is being used to repair said muscle.
  • explosivedonut
    explosivedonut Posts: 419 Member
    decreas the weight, increase the reps...

    actually that will make the arms bigger though not neccesarily stronger.

    uh.... no it doesn't. 8-10 reps are what you want to do for "size" 12+ for "lean."

    And what did you expect from lifting? I mean, not to be an *kitten* here, but you are lifting weights, of course your muscle mass is going to increase.

    I never understand the mentality of people who go straight to the rude responses... I included in my original post that it was a "neccessary evil of weight lifting before losing weight" so obviously I knew it was going to happen, I was simply venting a bit that its hard seeing them get bigger for the time being. I didn't post omg I'm bulky (which I admit I was worried about happening when I first joined) ... you say your not "trying" to be one, well you sure do have a talent in being one without trying then.

    My apologies, I misunderstood the point of the post. I am not a smart man.
  • operation_cute
    operation_cute Posts: 588 Member
    I would rather my arms be big from lifting than big from being heavy. those "batwings" aren't cute!

    I still have the bat wings lol thats what sucks for right now, its pushing out my fat further lol I know it will go down and the muscle will come shining through but for now it kind of sucks :p
  • operation_cute
    operation_cute Posts: 588 Member
    decreas the weight, increase the reps...

    actually that will make the arms bigger though not neccesarily stronger.

    uh.... no it doesn't. 8-10 reps are what you want to do for "size" 12+ for "lean."

    And what did you expect from lifting? I mean, not to be an *kitten* here, but you are lifting weights, of course your muscle mass is going to increase.

    I never understand the mentality of people who go straight to the rude responses... I included in my original post that it was a "neccessary evil of weight lifting before losing weight" so obviously I knew it was going to happen, I was simply venting a bit that its hard seeing them get bigger for the time being. I didn't post omg I'm bulky (which I admit I was worried about happening when I first joined) ... you say your not "trying" to be one, well you sure do have a talent in being one without trying then.

    My apologies, I misunderstood the point of the post. I am not a smart man.

    :flowerforyou:
  • davideickelmann
    davideickelmann Posts: 87 Member
    When are you noticing this? Is it right after your workouts? When I have a pump (i.e., right after I've trained my arms), my bicep measurement is an inch bigger than when I measure the bicep before a workout, simply due to blood flow.
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    It's only a half inch. Could be swelling. Could be an error in measurement. Don't worry about it.
  • jdaley90
    jdaley90 Posts: 259 Member
    decreas the weight, increase the reps...

    actually that will make the arms bigger though not neccesarily stronger.

    uh.... no it doesn't. 8-10 reps are what you want to do for "size" 12+ for "lean."

    And what did you expect from lifting? I mean, not to be an *kitten* here, but you are lifting weights, of course your muscle mass is going to increase.

    For all 3 posts....

    Confused-Jacksonville-Jaguars-fan-in-stands.gif
    all of this...

    likely you are retaining water as your muscles repair themselves, realistically as a woman, you cannot 'bulk' that quickly because you just don't have the testosterone levels it takes unless you're taking it as a supplement.

    check out some of my pics.. thats all the 'bulk' i have to show for +1.5 years of lifting (heavy at that).
  • operation_cute
    operation_cute Posts: 588 Member
    When are you noticing this? Is it right after your workouts? When I have a pump (i.e., right after I've trained my arms), my bicep measurement is an inch bigger than when I measure the bicep before a workout, simply due to blood flow.

    Well I notice it like a lot right after my workout (I know that part is the water weight for repairing the muscles), but even on my weekend full rest days they still stay bigger than my original measurements... I've always build muscle easier than most girls though, I used to lift back in high school for sports, and hated how much easier it was to gain muscle because I felt "bigger" even though I was a low bf %, now I'm learning though that its more of a benefit, I think I was just afraid to have a non teenage figure back then lol
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    uh.... no it doesn't. 8-10 reps are what you want to do for "size" 12+ for "lean."

    Not really. 3-6 for strength. 8-10 for hypertrophy. 12+ is for endurance and doesn't do much to maintain muscle while in a deficit which is the point of lifting while dieting. "Lean" is produced by fat loss which is controlled primarily by calorie deficit.
  • operation_cute
    operation_cute Posts: 588 Member
    decreas the weight, increase the reps...

    actually that will make the arms bigger though not neccesarily stronger.

    uh.... no it doesn't. 8-10 reps are what you want to do for "size" 12+ for "lean."

    And what did you expect from lifting? I mean, not to be an *kitten* here, but you are lifting weights, of course your muscle mass is going to increase.

    For all 3 posts....

    Confused-Jacksonville-Jaguars-fan-in-stands.gif
    all of this...

    likely you are retaining water as your muscles repair themselves, realistically as a woman, you cannot 'bulk' that quickly because you just don't have the testosterone levels it takes unless you're taking it as a supplement.

    check out some of my pics.. thats all the 'bulk' i have to show for +1.5 years of lifting (heavy at that).

    I know that I"m not bulking :) I'm not worried about the long term results, just sucks feeling bigger right now till I lose the insulation I have around my pretty new muscles I'm developing
  • davideickelmann
    davideickelmann Posts: 87 Member
    uh.... no it doesn't. 8-10 reps are what you want to do for "size" 12+ for "lean."

    Not really. 3-6 for strength. 8-10 for hypertrophy. 12+ is for endurance and doesn't do much to maintain muscle while in a deficit which is the point of lifting while dieting. "Lean" is produced by fat loss which is controlled primarily by calorie deficit.

    I want to point out that hypertrophy and strength gains happen at all rep ranges, it's just that these are typically considered the "optimal" windows for these effects.
  • operation_cute
    operation_cute Posts: 588 Member
    decreas the weight, increase the reps...

    actually that will make the arms bigger though not neccesarily stronger.

    uh.... no it doesn't. 8-10 reps are what you want to do for "size" 12+ for "lean."

    And what did you expect from lifting? I mean, not to be an *kitten* here, but you are lifting weights, of course your muscle mass is going to increase.

    I never understand the mentality of people who go straight to the rude responses... I included in my original post that it was a "neccessary evil of weight lifting before losing weight" so obviously I knew it was going to happen, I was simply venting a bit that its hard seeing them get bigger for the time being. I didn't post omg I'm bulky (which I admit I was worried about happening when I first joined) ... you say your not "trying" to be one, well you sure do have a talent in being one without trying then.

    You're not getting "bulky" or packing on the inches by lifting. Yes, there are some noob gains, but most of the size is most likely from water retention in the muscles that is being used to repair said muscle.

    I'm confused on where I said I felt like I was bulky.
  • davideickelmann
    davideickelmann Posts: 87 Member

    I know that I"m not bulking :) I'm not worried about the long term results, just sucks feeling bigger right now till I lose the insulation I have around my pretty new muscles I'm developing

    If I may, I'd like to recommend that you focus on longer term goals. Take measurements, photos, etc for progress tracking, but don't sweat how you look yet. It's very easy to become very discouraged by the slow rate of progress from lifting, largely because we live in an "on-demand" world, and body-building (yes, what you're doing is body-building, the body you're building is simply a bikini body) is anything but.

    Keep in mind also that physique improvements from lifting are not linear. Nail your diet, do a mixture of HIIT/steady state cardio, and lift heavy things, and you'll be reaping the rewards for a lifetime, even if that doesn't include this moment.

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