Lifting and Gaining Weight - Is this normal ?

jsmommy1999
jsmommy1999 Posts: 35 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Soo....I have read all about the water retention in muscles etc but am wondering if I should be expecting weight gain with my new routine. I am brand new to lifting. I have done so much cardio over the years that I damaged my metabolism and have had to take a break on cardio and just walk and start lifting. I have been lifting heavy 2x a week with a trainer and then doing a bodypump once a week for about 3 weeks. I eliminated the really high intensity cardio and instead walk about an hour on off days. My calories are in no way over although I have been slowly trying to up them to increase my metabolism. I have seen a pretty steady increase in the scale up to 2 pounds now (I am 110 so that is significant to me). Also my clothes are tight particularly in my thighs.

Is this expected as you start weight training?

Thanks!

Replies

  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    You understand that water retention causes scale weight gain right? Yes, it's normal...your muscles are retaining water for repair. Also, at 110 Lbs I really wouldn't worry about it...I don't know your height, but 110 Lbs is pretty small for just about anybody. If I were you, I'd just put the scale away...sounds like more deep seeded issues going on here to me.
  • jsmommy1999
    jsmommy1999 Posts: 35 Member
    Yes I knew scale weight gain was common - but my clothes are tight as well. Yes there are deep seeded issues...or likely I wouldn't be on MFP in the middle of the day LOL.
  • dollforlife
    dollforlife Posts: 41 Member
    Soo....I have read all about the water retention in muscles etc but am wondering if I should be expecting weight gain with my new routine. I am brand new to lifting. I have done so much cardio over the years that I damaged my metabolism and have had to take a break on cardio and just walk and start lifting. I have been lifting heavy 2x a week with a trainer and then doing a bodypump once a week for about 3 weeks. I eliminated the really high intensity cardio and instead walk about an hour on off days. My calories are in no way over although I have been slowly trying to up them to increase my metabolism. I have seen a pretty steady increase in the scale up to 2 pounds now (I am 110 so that is significant to me). Also my clothes are tight particularly in my thighs.

    Is this expected as you start weight training?

    Thanks!


    I seem to be gaining a lot in my thighs as well. Same thing;clothes still fit but are tight especially in that area. I do a run/walk routine and ChaLean Extreme burn circuit DVD 's (she really challenges the lower half incorporating a lot of squats). I messed up my metabolism when I stopped eating because I was sick. So I'm kind of in the same boat too.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Yes I knew scale weight gain was common - but my clothes are tight as well. Yes there are deep seeded issues...or likely I wouldn't be on MFP in the middle of the day LOL.

    Once again, perhaps you should step off the scale for awhile...focus on your nutrition and fitness and living on overall healthful lifestyle and stop vacillating over two pounds. It is quite typical for the average person to have natural body weight fluctuations of 2-5 Lbs either way day to day...2 Lbs could be water retention...it could be more waste in your system than the last time you weighed in...it could be bloat which would make your clothes tighter, etc.

    I'd also add that I'm just into health and fitness and nutrition...I have no deep seeded issues and I'm here on MfP in the middle of the day...being on MFP has nothing to do with having disordered thinking as it relates to food and your weight.
  • jstout365
    jstout365 Posts: 1,686 Member
    Your pants are most likely tighter around the thighs due to the water/glycogen retention in those muscles. The quads are the largest muscle in your legs and if you work them often, they will continue to fill with water/glycogen to repair. Working the muscle will cause it to swell a bit. After a leg session, I tend to notice my pants fitting tighter in the thighs and glutes since those tend to get worked the most. If you took some time off, I would be surprised if your pants didn't start to fit better. If you are concerned about gaining size there, start taking measurements for accurate tracking of size increases versus a qualitative observation that your pants feel tighter. This will give you a realistic view of changes in your legs.
  • jsmommy1999
    jsmommy1999 Posts: 35 Member
    Thanks everyone. Sorry I didn't see how snotty that comment seemed that I posted. I know the vast majority of people here don't have deep seeded issues and just are trying to get healthy. Didn't mean to sound judgmental. :)

    Thanks again!

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