hi Ladies, arms getting bigger, anyone??

TeaTimeMommy
TeaTimeMommy Posts: 18
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi!! Okay, so I am somewhat back on track after having a change in schedule. Anyway...I am gaining muscle in the top area of my my arms. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't mind if my arms were all sculpted and tone, I keep them covered anyway, but, they are gaining muscle. How do I make them *pretty* LOL Um, I don't know how to say what I'm trying to say..I wouldn't mind trim lean muscles, but it looks like they are going toward bigger and more *muscley* my own word, has anyone had this happen? I am not lifting weights, I have been helping people move over a week, and that's over, but I do use my arms for my kiddos and other lifting activities. Has anyone else had this happen?

Replies

  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    You aren't gaining muscle while eating at a deficet.

    what is happening is your are losing weight and the existing muscle is showing...no worries.
  • richardheath
    richardheath Posts: 1,276 Member
    If only it were that easy!

    Putting on muscle is hard, doubly so for a woman. You may have some slight swelling (water plus glycogen) from having shifted some boxes, but this will be temporary.
  • climbing_trees
    climbing_trees Posts: 726 Member
    Right after a workout, your muscles retain a lot of water. This gives them a "pumped" appearance, making them look way huger than normal.

    Don't be afraid, don't stop the exercises. You won't be able to gain muscle without trying VERY HARD and eating a TON.

    You're just losing fat that is on top of the muscles. Which is awesome, keep it up! ^__^
  • harphy
    harphy Posts: 290 Member
    Like mine? :)
    I see a definite bulk if I flex my arm and I'm eating aproximately 1300 calories so this surplus/bulk theory can't be entirely correct. Protein macro might have a bit more correlation.... Put focus on your lower body with exercises like calf raise, barbell squats, front and back lounges.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    Like mine? :)
    I see a definite bulk if I flex my arm and I'm eating aproximately 1300 calories so this surplus/bulk theory can't be entirely correct. Protein macro might have a bit more correlation.... Put focus on your lower body with exercises like calf raise, barbell squats, front and back lounges.

    actually surplus/bulk theory is entirely correct...you won't build muscle eating 1300 calories...

    with the except of being new to the exercise....or obese...and then it's only a few ounces.
  • weightedfootsteps
    weightedfootsteps Posts: 4,349 Member
    I don't know how people are saying you don't gain muscle on a deficit...I have gained muscle! I have gained quite a bit actually...its not bulky...but within a few short months my back, shoulder, arms, forearms have definitely gained muscles...Yes I'm working at it..and yes I'm on a deficit.

    Seriously Muscles have improved so much as when I started a year ago I couldn't hardly lift 10 lbs. with my left arm...I can lift over 25 lbs. now which is a major improvement to me. My muscles aren't showing but they have definitely gained as I could always tell where they were and I've measured showing some gains to a small degree, while losing weight.

    I will say that it was more of a birth defect that my muscles are so much smaller on my left side of my body...in fact I was missing some muscle in my hand when I was born...had to have surgery to correct it a bit when I was 5.

    I'm not saying that you are wrong...maybe I'm just a freak like that...LOL
  • JenMc14
    JenMc14 Posts: 2,389 Member
    No lifting on a deficit will not make bigger muscle. Strength gains do not equal muscle gains. You can get stronger without gaining muscle. You will also likely notice your muscle more as you lose fat because they will be more defined. This does not mean you gained muscle.

    If it was possible to gain muscle just from lifting your kids around there'd be a ton moms out their with tickets to the gun show, and we'd all be muscley beasts. But we're not. Because building muscle requires lifting heavy with progressive overload, eating at least at maintenance, if you have fat to spare and time for a recomp, and lots and lots of time.
  • TeaTimeMommy
    TeaTimeMommy Posts: 18
    Oh, cool! Thanks!! :)
    I'm just now seeing this! :)
  • TeaTimeMommy
    TeaTimeMommy Posts: 18
    Thanks!!! :)
  • Amelia7779
    Amelia7779 Posts: 53 Member
    I don't know how people are saying you don't gain muscle on a deficit...I have gained muscle! I have gained quite a bit actually...its not bulky...but within a few short months my back, shoulder, arms, forearms have definitely gained muscles...Yes I'm working at it..and yes I'm on a deficit.

    Seriously Muscles have improved so much as when I started a year ago I couldn't hardly lift 10 lbs. with my left arm...I can lift over 25 lbs. now which is a major improvement to me. My muscles aren't showing but they have definitely gained as I could always tell where they were and I've measured showing some gains to a small degree, while losing weight.

    I will say that it was more of a birth defect that my muscles are so much smaller on my left side of my body...in fact I was missing some muscle in my hand when I was born...had to have surgery to correct it a bit when I was 5.

    I'm not saying that you are wrong...maybe I'm just a freak like that...LOL

    Gains in muscular strength are not the same as building new muscle. Your existing muscles can become stronger. In terms of the muscle definition you are seeing, that is likely because you are losing fat (yay!) and simply revealing existing muscle to the world
  • TeaTimeMommy
    TeaTimeMommy Posts: 18
    My arms are firmer on top and flabby on the bottom.. yours look tone all over :) My left one is slightly bigger than my right one, I hold the kiddos and everything mostly with my left arm :)
    Thanks for the info :)
  • TeaTimeMommy
    TeaTimeMommy Posts: 18
    Oh okay :)
    I'm learning a lot on here, thanks! :)
  • TeaTimeMommy
    TeaTimeMommy Posts: 18
    97 pounds lost, way to go!!! Good job!!!! :)
  • TeaTimeMommy
    TeaTimeMommy Posts: 18
    That makes sense! :) I'm feeling better :)

    Welcome to the gun show!!! Just kidding, I can't claim guns since mine are still flabby in areas :) I imagine all of the mommies at the grocery store 'Where are the beans?" "That way!"
    hahaha
    Thanks for the input, I appreciate it!! :) Thanks!!!
  • vjohn04
    vjohn04 Posts: 2,276 Member
    I tried very hard to increase the size of my arms. It took a lot of time, calories, and lifting heavy weights!

    Unless you're doing all of those, you probably aren't getting bigger arms, you're probably either seeing definition from weight loss, or if your arms feel bigger after working out, it's probably fluid retention.

    And to the person that says you gain muscle on a deficit.... you can get new lifter gains, but they're very minimal, and especially minimal to nonexistent at a deficit.
  • TeaTimeMommy
    TeaTimeMommy Posts: 18
    OH WAIT!!! I forgot to mention..our support group measures our bodies and I actually have gained inches on my arms. Last measurement check, I had gained 2", so in 2 weeks, I gained 2" on my arms. I'm so sorry I forgot to mention this! I can get my arm measurements from the 1st weeks if that will help?? Lord willing, we will have our group again tomorrow/Tuesday night.
  • Amelia7779
    Amelia7779 Posts: 53 Member
    OH WAIT!!! I forgot to mention..our support group measures our bodies and I actually have gained inches on my arms. Last measurement check, I had gained 2", so in 2 weeks, I gained 2" on my arms. I'm so sorry I forgot to mention this! I can get my arm measurements from the 1st weeks if that will help?? Lord willing, we will have our group again tomorrow/Tuesday night.

    When you start a strength training routine, water retention is typical in the first few weeks. This is most likely what the gain in inches represents. Another possibility is that there was an error in one of the measurements
  • snapehbp
    snapehbp Posts: 64
    I don't know how people are saying you don't gain muscle on a deficit...I have gained muscle! I have gained quite a bit actually...its not bulky...but within a few short months my back, shoulder, arms, forearms have definitely gained muscles...Yes I'm working at it..and yes I'm on a deficit.

    Seriously Muscles have improved so much as when I started a year ago I couldn't hardly lift 10 lbs. with my left arm...I can lift over 25 lbs. now which is a major improvement to me. My muscles aren't showing but they have definitely gained as I could always tell where they were and I've measured showing some gains to a small degree, while losing weight.

    I will say that it was more of a birth defect that my muscles are so much smaller on my left side of my body...in fact I was missing some muscle in my hand when I was born...had to have surgery to correct it a bit when I was 5.

    I'm not saying that you are wrong...maybe I'm just a freak like that...LOL

    I agree!! I'm proof of that too!
  • TeaTimeMommy
    TeaTimeMommy Posts: 18
    Okay, thanks! :)
    Lord willing, we will have our support group tonight and I'll get my arms measured again. I'll try to remember the freckle it's being measured at :)Thanks!!
  • TeaTimeMommy
    TeaTimeMommy Posts: 18
    Guy in charge had to work late :(
    So....me and some of the girls went walking instead :)
    Didn't get measurements, maybe tomorrow night :)
    Thanks everyone for helping me out, yawl are very helpful :)

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