Newbie lifter gaining more than anticipated!
jadebuilding
Posts: 90 Member
Hello to all of you lovely lifting ladies!
I'm a chick who's pretty new to lifting (started mid-January) & I've been keeping my diet consistent at 2000 cal (I've found that I maintain at about 1800, depending on activity level).
So, this should be giving me gains of roughly .5 lbs per week. However, I've noticed that I've been going up a whole pound a week, essentially, since I started. Have I miscalculated something? Do I need to bring my calories down, or could I possibly blame this on water retention?
an example of my weekly weight gains:
2/3 - 110.4
2/10 - 111.6
2/17 - 111.2 (not sure what happened here!)
2/24 - 112.2
3/3 - 113.6
3/10 - 114.8
Thank you all so much in advance! I had a dream last night that I stepped on the scale & weighed 142 lbs, so obviously, these unexpected gains are WEIGHING on my subconscious.
I'm a chick who's pretty new to lifting (started mid-January) & I've been keeping my diet consistent at 2000 cal (I've found that I maintain at about 1800, depending on activity level).
So, this should be giving me gains of roughly .5 lbs per week. However, I've noticed that I've been going up a whole pound a week, essentially, since I started. Have I miscalculated something? Do I need to bring my calories down, or could I possibly blame this on water retention?
an example of my weekly weight gains:
2/3 - 110.4
2/10 - 111.6
2/17 - 111.2 (not sure what happened here!)
2/24 - 112.2
3/3 - 113.6
3/10 - 114.8
Thank you all so much in advance! I had a dream last night that I stepped on the scale & weighed 142 lbs, so obviously, these unexpected gains are WEIGHING on my subconscious.
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Replies
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Women fluctuate horrible through out the month due to hormonal changes. Where at in this list is your monthly cycle?0
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How confident are you in your maintenance calories? How long did you stay there?
What lifting program are you doing now, and what were you doing before?
Have there been any changes in general activity, your energy levels, even fidgeting, hours of sleep etc since your maintenance?
Did you take measurements and photos when you started? How have those changed? If you didn't, do so now. How do your clothes fit?
Do you weigh/measure everything you eat?
Is it a struggle to eat enough or are you hungry?
I gained weight for the first 4-6 weeks of my first attempt at a bulk, even while keeping the same exercise routine, then suddenly I lost all of that weight at more. After 2 months of "bulking", I lost 2lbs. Digestion can take a while to catch up if you made a big jump in cals (straight from cutting to bulking), you have more energy to put more into your workouts which can cause more pump, and if extra cals come from carbs/salty foods that can affect water retention.0 -
^^^^ that we needs more information.
and
how tall are you too?
How are your lifts going?
Are you logging drinks?
how sure are you on the weight when you started? Had it been level?
My maintenance at 5'8" 55/160 was around 1800 and I stayed there for a month.
Also weight loss and gain is not linear- so the first 2 lbs could have been retention.0 -
HMVOL: I don't think I had a period in February (not uncommon for me… I didn't have one for quite some time), so I'm not sure if any of those fluctuations would have affected my weight during this time.
lila: I am quite confident in my maintenance calories - that's been where I've maintained since I started a new job last July, & my activity level has been mostly consistent since then. I've been going by my belt buckle which hasn't moved since I started lifting, so I know I'm not getting any fat around the middle (thank goodness!!!).
I sometimes have to estimate calories, but I'm mostly sure that my calculations are correct. If I'm still hungry at the end of the day, I'll eat, even if it goes over my calories for the day, & if I'm really full, sometimes I won't eat all of my calories. It evens out to about where it should be.
If this is helpful to all of you, I got my body fat percentage taken with calipers at the gym in November - at 5'4, 108 lbs, I was %13 body fat.0 -
^^^^ that we needs more information.
and
how tall are you too?
How are your lifts going?
Are you logging drinks?
how sure are you on the weight when you started? Had it been level?
My maintenance at 5'8" 55/160 was around 1800 and I stayed there for a month.
Also weight loss and gain is not linear- so the first 2 lbs could have been retention.
I'm about 5'4. My lifts are going well - I'm kind of puny, so I just chug along the best I can. I can see a lot of increased mass (firm like muscle) on my thighs & arms, maybe a little on the butt.
I do log drinks - even tea & coffee. My food diary is open, for anyone who wants a look.
I was at about 108 in November, but gained back to what I think is my normal weight (around 110) by the time I started lifting.0 -
Oh, as for my exercise regimen, in January, I did a beginner's weight lifting class at my university. Since completion, I've been working on The New Rules of Lifting for Women. Before that, I would lift at the gym on a rare occasion (mostly arm stuff, like bicep curls), & do a lot of bodyweight strength training like pilates exercises, push-ups, roll-ups, sit ups.0
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My guess is that your body is trying to rebound to a more healthy/sustainable weight since you were, in my opinion, underweight as of November.
And…it could be an influx of water/glycogen weight since you were most likely depleted of both before.
I'd give it another few weeks of not changing anything before you decide that 2000 is too much.0 -
I agree that giving it some more time might be good. At 5'4" and 110 lbs and low BF, you could be going through a lot of adjusting right now. That could also be why you haven't been getting periods. The same thing happened to me. From January through June of last year I didn't get one and I was 5'5" and 111 lbs - not sure on BF% but likely sub 16 - and eating an average of 1800-1900 calories. I thought it was great at the time but in retrospect, it really wasn't. If you're increasing calories than your body could be trying to adjust to a more accurate level for you. It sounds like you are doing a bit more lifting too if you've switched to NROLFW over body weight stuff. My best advice would be to stay where you are a bit longer and hopefully maybe through getting your period again. It might make your bulk a bit longer but it might be a good slow process for you to go through since you were a bit low before. You might find that it starts to adjust and your maintenance actually goes up. I'm back up to about 119-120 pounds now (with more muscle I think) and a maintenance of somewhere in the 2200-2300 range.0
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^^^
I agree
Sounds like you still have newb gains working in your favor- push the lifting and see if it's still jumping to much in a month.0 -
Thanks, ladies!!! I will take all of your advice, & just ride this thing out for a while, maybe check back with all of you in a few weeks.
Happy lifting 0 -
I've gone up as much as 3 lbs in a week depending on the time of the month and then I'll be back down 2 weeks later. What I started doing is keeping a spreadsheet of my weight in Excel. So I will weigh in every Monday morning as soon as I wake up. In addition to just looking at that number, I also average the previous 4 weeks of weigh-ins and graph it to make sure I am seeing an upward trend in gains. I'm shooting for about a 1.5-2 lb average gain over 4 weeks time. Hopefully that kind of made sense..... :-)
Even just trying to gain 1-2 lb per month is hard to monitor because its just so insignificant. I weigh 135 right now and a fluctuation of +/- 2lb is barely a 1% change in weight. Losing is so much easier to monitor!0 -
My scale broke last week (cheap scale/worn out battery) & it's driving me crazy not being able to weigh in for the week! Last Monday, I'd gone down to 114.2, but I'm dying to know how much it's changed since then.
I'll probably just end up buying a new scale, since efforts to fix this one have been pretty unsuccessful, but I'm strapped until next week. Sigggghhhhh.0 -
Finally, an update on the continuing weight situation. I'm still gaining at 2000-2100, but my measurements seem to be headed in the right direction. My waist measurement has gone from 27 to 26 in, & my hips measurement has gone from 30 to 31 in! Progress! I can also see increased muscle mass on my arms & thighs.
Even though the rate at which I'm gaining is a little high, since my measurements are improving, should I just keep doing what I'm doing?
Also, slightly unrelated, do you think that I can ever hope for more of an hourglass figure? Right now, I'm pitiful, at 31-26-31 & I feel like maybe hoping for 3-5 inch gains in my hips is unrealistic. I'd love to hear some success stories, though, lol.0 -
Finally, an update on the continuing weight situation. I'm still gaining at 2000-2100, but my measurements seem to be headed in the right direction. My waist measurement has gone from 27 to 26 in, & my hips measurement has gone from 30 to 31 in! Progress! I can also see increased muscle mass on my arms & thighs.
Even though the rate at which I'm gaining is a little high, since my measurements are improving, should I just keep doing what I'm doing?
Also, slightly unrelated, do you think that I can ever hope for more of an hourglass figure? Right now, I'm pitiful, at 31-26-31 & I feel like maybe hoping for 3-5 inch gains in my hips is unrealistic. I'd love to hear some success stories, though, lol.
Also wanted to add latest weight - 116.4 lbs this morning, a gain of 2.2 lbs from 114.2 lbs 3 weeks ago (the last weigh in I was able to do before my scale died).0 -
yes- you can add some width to your shoulders with a bulk- and it will give you a nice \/ shape up top and make your waist look smaller.0
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yes- you can add some width to your shoulders with a bulk- and it will give you a nice \/ shape up top and make your waist look smaller.
True that. I started off wider on the bottom, but my bulk evened out the top. Keep doing what you're doing!0 -
Well, the time has come where I seem to be staying at around 118 lbs, so I'm thinking of upping my calories from 2080 to 2200.
Most recent weigh-ins have been:
4/14 - 117.6 lbs
4/21 - 118.2 lbs
4/28 - 116.4 lbs
5/5 - 119.4 lbs
5/12 - 118.2 lbs
What do you guys think? Should I stick it out a bit longer at my current calorie amount, or is this just a sign of my metabolism speeding up? Overall, I've been sticking to my calories pretty well. There are some days where I eat under, but just as many where I make up for it.0 -
still on a bulk?
I would definitely up the calories by at LEAST another 200- if not 300.0 -
still on a bulk?
I would definitely up the calories by at LEAST another 200- if not 300.
Woo, okay! Yeah, I've gained about 8 lbs so far, which I'm happy about, but I feel like I still have a ways to go before thinking about cutting (or maybe recomp). Not sure what my bf% is now, but I started at 13% & would like to ideally gain up to 16% bf as well as muscle.0 -
yeha 4 weeks at a solid weight is enough time to prove you are stable- jump up on the food.
WOOT WOOT more ice cream!!!0 -
yeha 4 weeks at a solid weight is enough time to prove you are stable- jump up on the food.
WOOT WOOT more ice cream!!!
Agreed.0 -
Took my measurements again today -
Bust: 32.5
Waist: 27.25
Hips: 32.25
So, I've basically gained an inch everywhere, but haven't changed my proportions at all this time. I'm happy about the gains on my bust & hips, but not so jazzed about the waist increase. If bulking is ultimately just going to turn me into a big ruler rather than a little ruler, uggghhhh. Not what I'm going for. I want to look like a woman, dangit. >:(0 -
Well, first of all, women come in thousands of shapes and sizes and we are all still women. I get what you're saying though.
With a bulk, you are hopefully gaining muscle but you will also be gaining fat. It's inevitable and part of the process. That's likely why you are seeing gains in all areas. When you cut, you then hopefully keep most of the muscle and lose fat. That would then ideally be when you would start seeing a loss in the waist since it's not a high muscle area. You would hopefully keep it in the bust area due to a wider back. Unfortunately your hips are really a matter of genetics plus cushioning.0 -
Well, first of all, women come in thousands of shapes and sizes and we are all still women. I get what you're saying though.
With a bulk, you are hopefully gaining muscle but you will also be gaining fat. It's inevitable and part of the process. That's likely why you are seeing gains in all areas. When you cut, you then hopefully keep most of the muscle and lose fat. That would then ideally be when you would start seeing a loss in the waist since it's not a high muscle area. You would hopefully keep it in the bust area due to a wider back. Unfortunately your hips are really a matter of genetics plus cushioning.
Good point - that is very true i've just always been super unhappy with my own body shape, so it's frustrating that amazing changes aren't happening yet, haha.
That definitely gives me hope for the future, though! I know the bulk is the uncomfortable part.![:\](https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/resources/emoji/confused.png ":\")
Though, can't I widen my hips by building my glutes? I do feel like I've made good muscle gain progress in that area, so it seems like I should retain a higher measurement once I cut down on some of the fat. 0 -
Welp- not for nothing- but your hips are bones.
Glutes are muscles.
Outside of very extreme and painful surgery- your hips will continue to be as wide or as narrow as they already are.
Your waist will give an impression of leaness- (or not depending on your size) and up to a point- my best friend is stick straight- no hip- no butt- no shoulders- her butt's getting better- and she's ripped- but she isn't willing to put on weight for size- if she worked on her glutes AND her shoulders- she would have more of an hour glass figure- but she doesn't' care- so she doesn't LOL. But unfortunately she will never have taht wide shoulder tiny waist- wide hip thing- because that isnt' her frame- so even when she has a 6 pack- she doesn't look as curvy as I do- she has a waist but it's not as pronounced as mine- because unfortunately that's her body.
But- up side: you can visually trick people into thinking you more shape than you do- glutes and shoulders.
A wide shoulder- which YES you can build your shoulders- and if you are bulking and dislike the lack of cuvres- work your shoulders- you can put size on them b/c they have muscle on the front side and back- and then include the lats and you can really give yourself a narrow looking waist simply by widening the top.
And YES you can build your glutes- they are a muscle- they will get bigger if you are training it.
But there just isn't anything to be done for the actual hip.0 -
Lol it sounds like you are describing me. Small from the side and wide facing front. I can't wear any loose tops because they make me look fat.0
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Thanks, Jo! I actually do have naturally v. broad shoulders already, & I've been working them pretty hard.
If it weren't for that lower half! Sigh. I really love the narrow waist wide hip on other people, but it just might not work out for me…Lol it sounds like you are describing me. Small from the side and wide facing front. I can't wear any loose tops because they make me look fat.
Bummer! I do know those feels. I hate it, because I don't even really have a lot of fat on my midsection, it's just wide! I think it's a combination of my big ribcage & broad shoulders. Even when I was underweight, my ribs would just project through a tight shirt. 0 -
Thanks, Jo! I actually do have naturally v. broad shoulders already, & I've been working them pretty hard.
If it weren't for that lower half! Sigh. I really love the narrow waist wide hip on other people, but it just might not work out for me…Lol it sounds like you are describing me. Small from the side and wide facing front. I can't wear any loose tops because they make me look fat.
Bummer! I do know those feels. I hate it, because I don't even really have a lot of fat on my midsection, it's just wide! I think it's a combination of my big ribcage & broad shoulders. Even when I was underweight, my ribs would just project through a tight shirt.
My ribs stick out too! Kinda sucks being large framed sometimes when society finds tiny women the most attractive. I just really need to get over my idea of "ideal" and just be happy.0 -
Thanks, Jo! I actually do have naturally v. broad shoulders already, & I've been working them pretty hard.
If it weren't for that lower half! Sigh. I really love the narrow waist wide hip on other people, but it just might not work out for me…Lol it sounds like you are describing me. Small from the side and wide facing front. I can't wear any loose tops because they make me look fat.
Bummer! I do know those feels. I hate it, because I don't even really have a lot of fat on my midsection, it's just wide! I think it's a combination of my big ribcage & broad shoulders. Even when I was underweight, my ribs would just project through a tight shirt.
My ribs stick out too! Kinda sucks being large framed sometimes when society finds tiny women the most attractive. I just really need to get over my idea of "ideal" and just be happy.
Sorry to interject, but tiny women are more attractive? Wha??? Screw that. I'm large framed. I will crush all the tiny, attractive women. I think if any of us really cared about what "society" found attractive, we wouldn't be bulking. Stand tall, put those broad shoulders back, stick that rib cage out and strut your *kitten*! :drinker:0 -
Sorry to interject, but tiny women are more attractive? Wha??? Screw that. I'm large framed. I will crush all the tiny, attractive women. I think if any of us really cared about what "society" found attractive, we wouldn't be bulking. Stand tall, put those broad shoulders back, stick that rib cage out and strut your *kitten*! :drinker:
LMAO!! Well said!!! :flowerforyou:0
