How to know if weight gain is muscle?

MrBiggiesworth
MrBiggiesworth Posts: 846 Member
in Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
If I am lifting heavy on my lifting days and giving adequate recovery time is it logical to think that my weight gain during this time is largely muscle mass? I've gained about 5 lbs since early June.

Replies

  • Fithealthyforlife
    Fithealthyforlife Posts: 866 Member
    That's right in line with ~0.5 lbs per week, which is supposed to amount to almost totally muscle gain. But you'll have to take a body fat percentage to get a better estimate.
  • rgrange
    rgrange Posts: 236 Member
    Get calipers and keep track of your body fat percentage
  • LJCannon
    LJCannon Posts: 3,636 Member
    :drinker: bump
  • AlongCame_Molly
    AlongCame_Molly Posts: 2,835 Member
    By taking measurements
  • laurynwithawhy
    laurynwithawhy Posts: 385 Member
    Calorie Surplus + lifting heavy, probably mostly muscle, or water and muscle. But as other said, if your bodyfat has not increased, then your weight gain was not fat.
  • FP4HSharon
    FP4HSharon Posts: 664 Member
    Scale that does body fat percentage, but to make as accurate as possible...

    1. Do before bed so you're well hydrated.
    2. Don't work out 12 hours before getting on the scale.
    3. Don't eat/drink anything, not even water 4 hours before getting on the scale.
    BUT
    4. Hydrate like crazy before the 4 hr cut off.
    5. Don't shower before weighing, as even a little moisture can affect the reading.

    When I was at my lowest body fat (14%), I actually weighed 6 lbs MORE than when it was a little higher, because of muscle.
  • grantdumas7
    grantdumas7 Posts: 802 Member
    Calipers would be your best bet. I know calipers are not as accurate in reading true bf as hydrostatic weighing or dexa, but calipers are cheap and you can track your progress easy. Here is a good video on why calipers are useful
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAcvqDld2h0
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    I'm going to go against the grain here.

    With the inaccuracies associated with body fat assessment I would instead just make sure you are doing things intelligently with your training and diet and trust that you are gaining muscle along with some fat.

    Are your lifts going up?
    Are you eating a reasonable amount of calories with a reasonable protein intake for your goals?
    Are you training with reasonable volume for hypertrophy while getting stronger?


    Then you're probably gaining muscle. You're probably gaining some fat too.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,989 Member
    Just lifting heavy doesn't build muscle. Reps and sets matter. And practically no surplus won't involve fat gain to an extent.
    Building muscle isn't as easy as some try to make it sound. Nurtrition, rest, exercise and hormones have to be in sync for maximizing.


    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • etoiles_argentees
    etoiles_argentees Posts: 2,827 Member
    Just lifting heavy doesn't build muscle. Reps and sets matter. And practically no surplus won't involve fat gain to an extent.
    Building muscle isn't as easy as some try to make it sound. Nurtrition, rest, exercise and hormones have to be in sync for maximizing.

    This, and a mirror.


    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • Warchortle
    Warchortle Posts: 2,197 Member
    Obviously if you're a bro it's 100% muscle gainnzzz

    If you're not... no one can answer that for you because it really depends on so many things.
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    It's highly unlikely that it is all muscle. It could be a combination of fluid retention, muscle and fat, depending on a number of factors, including, your age, how long you have been lifting for, the size of the surplus you are eating at etc.

    How long have you been lifting for?
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  • the_dude00
    the_dude00 Posts: 1,056 Member
    IDK.. your age, but once you're 'grown up' - which I'd call past age 22 to 24, it is nearly impossible to gain more than 15 pounds of Lean Muscle in a year (and 15 would be a lot & w./o the use of Steroids / GH). I would imagine you're gains are a combination of mostly Fluid, Muscle, then fat.

    If you are adding weight consistently to your lifts that's about all you can do, and it should work out for you.
  • torjunk12
    torjunk12 Posts: 11
    It's all about the eye test, if you're looking more muscular, isn't that what matters? If you don't think you're looking bigger, and that's what you're going for, you may want to investigate eating habits (are you hitting your macros?) or the varying strength training techniques (building mass is not the same as building strength, etc.) to help you gain that mass you're looking for!

    As far as just wanting an accurate gauge, I'd suggest myotape measurements & body caliper (cheap on Amazon.com, about 6 bucks) multiple site measurements every 3-4 weeks. Good luck!
  • reegordon
    reegordon Posts: 97 Member
    **bump**
  • takumaku
    takumaku Posts: 352 Member
    I would suggest calling and asking your primary care physican if they have a body fat machine. My primary tracks mine because I'm on replacement therapy ...
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    I've been lifting regularly for almost two years now, but only heavy lifting for the last 2-3 months.
    I do about 3 sets of 6-10 reps(to failure) per exercise, and I do 3 to 4 exercises for each targeted muscle, so around 9 to 12 sets for each targeted muscle in all.
    I have been getting progressively stronger through the summer but only a little bit.
    My measurements haven't changed much.
    Before this summer I was not lifting as heavy on a regular basis and would do as many as 20 reps before failure. I have also limited cardio from everytime I exercise down to my in between days.

    Are you trying to lose body fat or are you trying to bulk? Have you changed your caloric intake over the period?
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  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    I've been lifting regularly for almost two years now, but only heavy lifting for the last 2-3 months.
    I do about 3 sets of 6-10 reps(to failure) per exercise, and I do 3 to 4 exercises for each targeted muscle, so around 9 to 12 sets for each targeted muscle in all.
    I have been getting progressively stronger through the summer but only a little bit.
    My measurements haven't changed much.
    Before this summer I was not lifting as heavy on a regular basis and would do as many as 20 reps before failure. I have also limited cardio from everytime I exercise down to my in between days.

    Are you trying to lose body fat or are you trying to bulk? Have you changed your caloric intake over the period?

    I have been trying to bulk up this summer while before I was going for weight loss. I have not really changed calorie intake but I have lowered the amount of cardio I do by quite a bit so I always am eating more than I burn off.

    As you do not have 'newbie' gains (or at least I would not expect much as you did lift before albeit in a higher rep range), a small amount may be muscle but the rest will probably be a combination of fat and water/glycogen.
  • Chadomaniac
    Chadomaniac Posts: 1,785 Member
    Fat + muscle

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