not losing weight since I started lifting weights

This is kind of my situation too, although I know I have some outlying factors (i.e. I'm currently on my period, just got back on BCP, etc.) that could be playing into it. I'm wondering if I'm eating enough to compensate for my new activity level, because I am working out a lot more frequently and burning more calories because strength training will do that for ya... Or if my macros are off potentially? I don't know... So I guess this is more of a "I could use an answer too" - type response than an answer

How much are you eating every day, and how often are you working out?

Have you noticed that you're eating more? Strength training itself it's going to cause weight gain. However, there could be a couple of factors:

- Have you reduced your cardio to where you aren't burning as many calories as you used to?
- Are you eating more because your hunger has increased due to strength training?

Weight gain / loss is:

Calories In - Calories Out = ___ (negative if you want to lose, positive if you want to gain)

Hope this helps! Would really need to review your full diary / workout program to fully evaluate.

You are building muscle mass. Don't worry about it. It will help you by speeding up your metabolism in the long run. Keep at it and keep counting your calories. If you are under your calories you WILL lose weight.

Gaining muscle mass (especially the amount to stall the scale or raise it) takes a spot on diet, hours of progressive overload training, and is extremely hard....for guys...it's exponentially harder for women.

OP you probably have a mix going on here (your minute noob gains) and water retention. When you start a new workout routing or increase the intensity of a current one (especially weight training) your body will retain water. Your weight can raise in this time and can last a few weeks. Stick with it, keep measurements and all of a sudden the weight will drop.

This all is dependent that your tracking is on point and you are staying in your deficit. Also, in a deficit you lose water, fat, and MUSCLE. When you lift in this deficit you work to lose mostly fat and water while retaining that muscle, so you can see the scale move slowly as the tape measure gets smaller.

It's a good thing!!!! When you just diet and do cardio you lose a ton of muscle tissue and that's BAD. The more muscle you have the more calories you burn sitting there doing nothing. I would almost tell you to ditch the cardio and lift more and lift HEAVY.

Same problem here. Bumping to see what others have to say.

It's totally possible for your body composition to change and you stay the exact same weight.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/362906-can-you-build-muscle-on-a-calorie-deficit/

http://www.livestrong.com/article/362906-can-you-build-muscle-on-a-calorie-deficit/

Lulz. Livestrong is like using Wikipedia.

Livestrong has this one too.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/531879-how-to-lose-weight-in-your-arms-fast-without-getting-muscular/

'avoid lifting heavy weights with your arms, as this will build bulky muscles. Instead, pick light weights that allow you to do 10 to 15 reps, or opt for body-weight exercises like pushups and pullups. These exercises will allow you to tone your arms without adding weight to them.'

strangely, i take a week off heavy exersize every few weeks, only walking and bike riding and such, and i lose the most weight in these weeks. when i exersize more with intense cardio and weight training as i do, my scale moves more slowly but it is when my body looks strongest and i feel the best.

i cant explain why but it seems to be the way it is. i lost 2 1/2 pounds this week and havent been to the gym in 6 days.... the previous gym weeks it was 1/2 pound a week if that.

i can only say, you are doing good work, and only good can come of it.... in the long run.

If you just started, then your muscles will retain water for a bit in order to repair themselves. This is temporary.

My guess for 1.5lb...water retention. When I started lifting, my weight loss stalled at the beginning (for a little while). In just about a year and a half, I have lost just about 10lbs; BUT I am down from a size 8 to a 2. Seems like that should be more than a 10lb loss, right?

I noticed I had to increase the cardio on my lifting days to about 30 minutes. As the weight that I have been lifting has increased, so have the changes in my body. I've noticed the big changes with the "big" weights. So just give it time.

I didn't check your diary, but you said you are staying within your calorie limit...what is your protein intake like? On lifting days, I'm eating about 150 grams, which definitely helps me stay fuller longer and helped to decrease snackiness.

you're not building muscle mass yet, if you've only been lifting for a few weeks. What happens is that when a person starts a new exercise routine, in your case lifting, your muscles will retain water for cushioning and repair, until they get used to the different routine. This can mask weight loss significantly - and it can happen over and over as you progressively increase the amount of weight you're lifting. So... Don't sweat it, just keep on. You'll see the water weight drop and the scales shift soon enough. Patience is key here.

Ding! Right answer.

The first 10 pounds I lost was on diet and cardio only (during this time I went down 1 pant size), then I added weights 3 days a week, over the same amount of time I lost 5 pounds, but 2 pant sizes.