Gaining Muscle while still 'fat'?
VanillaBeanSeed
Posts: 562 Member
I know the whole concept "Muscle weights more than fat - its not about the number on the scale, its about how your clothes fit"
BUT -- I find it hard to believe that at my weight 155+ with plenty of fat to lose, that I have gone up several pounds of muscle since my weight lifting regimen started 8 weeks ago but have lost NO weight/NO inches - but my clothes still fit the same..... HELP!
Please tell me I am not crazy!! AHH!!
BUT -- I find it hard to believe that at my weight 155+ with plenty of fat to lose, that I have gone up several pounds of muscle since my weight lifting regimen started 8 weeks ago but have lost NO weight/NO inches - but my clothes still fit the same..... HELP!
Please tell me I am not crazy!! AHH!!
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Replies
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Hello
Muscle does not weigh more then fat... A pound of muscle is still a pound
- its in its density that it counts. SO 3 pound of muscle could amount to the same space as 1 pound of fat.
YOu cannot gain muscle on a deficit, So when lifting weights and losing weight at the same time you are trying to keep muscle "mass" - I can tell you now if you have been dieting you have not gained ANY muscle, more likely kept it.
Weight lifting to lose weight is good, because of the HIIT aspect, but you cannot GAIN to LOSE.0 -
Its like saying 1 pound of concrete is heavier then a pound of feathers.0
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So000o0o0o that would mean that I am either not being honest with myself and not eating at a deficit and therefore gaining muscle mass (because I definately see a change in my arms and back) o0o0o0o0o0orrrr I have kidding myself and am just gaining over all weight..
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WolverhamptonFitness wrote: »YOu cannot gain muscle on a deficit,
She can if she has never lifted weights before (newbie gains) and or has a significant amount of weight to lose. Other then those 2 rare cases I agree with you...
OP, is this your first time lifting? How much weight do you have to lose?
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Muscle weighs more than fat by volome...WolverhamptonFitness wrote: »Its like saying 1 pound of concrete is heavier then a pound of feathers.
I put it this way...
One gallon of muscle weighs more than one gallon of fat....just like one gallon of concrete weighs more than one gallon of feathers...
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That's not all muscle. If you do everything right you might put on 1lb of muscle/month. Gaining some fat along with muscle is normal. This is why bodybuilders do a bulk cycle and then a cut cycle. They are cutting the fat that was added along with the muscle.VanillaBeanSeed wrote: »I have gone up several pounds of muscle since my weight lifting regimen started 8 weeks ago
Also, when you first start lifting your body will store water to repair the muscles and replenish your glycogen stores. It's not fat or muscle, but it will make the scale move up. Just keep going and re-evaluate after another 8 weeks. Adjust your diet if needed. You want to eat a a surplus, but if the surplus is too big the fat gains will be greater.
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Thanks for all the great responses.
I have 30 pounds+ left to lose and this is the first time I have done a program for lifting weights. So over the course of eight weeks I have been upping my amount of lifting.0 -
Another thing that happens when you lift is that the muscles will retain more fluid. This will add weight. Many people link that to gaining actual muscle but its just fluid.0
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Muscle weighs more than fat by volome...WolverhamptonFitness wrote: »Its like saying 1 pound of concrete is heavier then a pound of feathers.
I put it this way...
One gallon of muscle weighs more than one gallon of fat....just like one gallon of concrete weighs more than one gallon of feathers...
I did kinda explain this, but you sure cleared it up ....WolverhamptonFitness wrote: »YOu cannot gain muscle on a deficit,
She can if she has never lifted weights before (newbie gains) and or has a significant amount of weight to lose. Other then those 2 rare cases I agree with you...
OP, is this your first time lifting? How much weight do you have to lose?
Yeah, I never think its fair to say noobie gains count!!
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Are you wanting to lose more fat? Add more cardio to go along with the strength training.
url=http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker]
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Wolver- not being able to gain muscle on a deficit is completely false.0
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WolverhamptonFitness wrote: »Yeah, I never think its fair to say noobie gains count!!
They do. Making a statement like that derides the effort newbies are putting in. Well done.0 -
First, WTG on your loss, awesome. Second with the exception of newbie gains, its very difficult for a woman to gain muscle and not possible while in a deficit. Third, muscle does NOT weigh more than fat, its denser than fat therefore a pound of muscle takes up less room than a pound of fat. THEY WEIGH THE SAME. Finally, if you just began an exercise program, you're likely retaining water, which is normal as the muscle repairs.0
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I don't have much to add to this, except holy crap-you look great.0
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Some think it's possible: http://scoobysworkshop.com/gain-muscle-lose-fat/0
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If you still have 30+ lbs to lose and you are new to strengh training then you will build muscle even if at a deficit. Enjoy this as it will become much harder to gain any muscle when you reach a good body comp.
Having said that, even if you are building muscle you should still lose weight if doing this properly. It should be more of a body recomp type of idea then building more muscle than losing fat therefore weighing more. If that makes sense.
If eating at a deficit, even when strenght training and gaining muscle you should see those numbers drop. You need to do some adjustments, probably eat less or be more accurate on your counting and measuring.0 -
LOL why do people think it is so easy to put on muscle???????0
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Fitteacherc wrote: »Some think it's possible: http://scoobysworkshop.com/gain-muscle-lose-fat/
don't believe everything you read on the internet.
Look at it this way…you need to eat in a calorie surplus (energy) to build muscle, and you need to be in be in a calorie deficit (negative energy) to lose body fat….
how is it possible to do add muscle (need more energy) and lose body fat (need less energy) at the same time, when they are directly opposed to one another.
That is like saying you can fill up your gas tank and empty it at the same time ….or that you can build a house and tear it down at the same time...0 -
arditarose wrote: »I don't have much to add to this, except holy crap-you look great.
HAhaha thanks!0 -
Love all the reply's!!
I think I havent been honest with what Im eating lately. So I believe thats why I saw the gain (whether it be muscle or fat).
Still looking to lose those last 30ish pounds so Im keeping with my cardio and strength and watching more closely what I am eating! Lets see how this goes
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Fitteacherc wrote: »Some think it's possible: http://scoobysworkshop.com/gain-muscle-lose-fat/
don't believe everything you read on the internet.
Look at it this way…you need to eat in a calorie surplus (energy) to build muscle, and you need to be in be in a calorie deficit (negative energy) to lose body fat….
how is it possible to do add muscle (need more energy) and lose body fat (need less energy) at the same time, when they are directly opposed to one another.
That is like saying you can fill up your gas tank and empty it at the same time ….or that you can build a house and tear it down at the same time...
This really depends on your definition of 'at the same time' and the scope you're looking at. It's how calorie cycling and intermittent fasting work (essentially pulsing micro bulk/cut cycles from day to day). The overall effect is that you can gain muscle and lose fat. Plenty of people successfully recomp rather than following the traditional cut/bulk/cut/bulk
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Liftng4Lis wrote: »First, WTG on your loss, awesome. Second with the exception of newbie gains, its very difficult for a woman to gain muscle and not possible while in a deficit. Third, muscle does NOT weigh more than fat, its denser than fat therefore a pound of muscle takes up less room than a pound of fat. THEY WEIGH THE SAME. Finally, if you just began an exercise program, you're likely retaining water, which is normal as the muscle repairs.
Muscle is not denser than fat. If you put the fat at the bottom of Mariana Trench and the muscle into a vacuum then fat is denser. Density is not absolute. Water is more dense than water, if you boil one and freeze the other.0 -
Fitteacherc wrote: »Some think it's possible: http://scoobysworkshop.com/gain-muscle-lose-fat/
don't believe everything you read on the internet.
Look at it this way…you need to eat in a calorie surplus (energy) to build muscle, and you need to be in be in a calorie deficit (negative energy) to lose body fat….
how is it possible to do add muscle (need more energy) and lose body fat (need less energy) at the same time, when they are directly opposed to one another.
That is like saying you can fill up your gas tank and empty it at the same time ….or that you can build a house and tear it down at the same time...
This really depends on your definition of 'at the same time' and the scope you're looking at. It's how calorie cycling and intermittent fasting work (essentially pulsing micro bulk/cut cycles from day to day). The overall effect is that you can gain muscle and lose fat. Plenty of people successfully recomp rather than following the traditional cut/bulk/cut/bulk
Your basic genetics also have a large part to play in this. For some people what are called "newbie" gains can amount to quite a lot of muscle. And some stall very early on and can't put on anything significant in a deficit. Also your body can be anabolic at times in a deficit and not catabolic enough to lose muscle which can result in small gains over a long period. And it's true that large amounts of body fat can change this equation in muscles favor somewhat. It's true that if you want to see highly significant results or be a bodybuilder that some level of bulking is going to be required at some stage as well.
That doesn't mean that you can't build any muscle at a deficit. That is an over simplification of the process.
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WolverhamptonFitness wrote: »Yeah, I never think its fair to say noobie gains count!!
They do. Making a statement like that derides the effort newbies are putting in. Well done.
oHHHHHH your one of them people... Yes I offended the entire world (well all the "newbies") in it by stating that I dont think its "FAIR" to say them gains count... forgive me for my opinion! I was making light of a situation. (But I have just started lifting, Im over wieght, I have gained weight from lifting ((PROBALLY NEWBIE GAINES)) But i cannot see the muscle as much as I would if my BF% was 13ish, So I dont count it)
It is impossible (OTHER THEN THE OCCASION MENTIONED) to gain muscle on a deficit, You hold Muscle Mass, when burning fat - instead of burning (in a broad term) muscle.
Lifting also gives you a HIIT addition to your work out, burning fat over time on the days you lift.
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stevencloser wrote: »Liftng4Lis wrote: »First, WTG on your loss, awesome. Second with the exception of newbie gains, its very difficult for a woman to gain muscle and not possible while in a deficit. Third, muscle does NOT weigh more than fat, its denser than fat therefore a pound of muscle takes up less room than a pound of fat. THEY WEIGH THE SAME. Finally, if you just began an exercise program, you're likely retaining water, which is normal as the muscle repairs.
Muscle is not denser than fat. If you put the fat at the bottom of Mariana Trench and the muscle into a vacuum then fat is denser. Density is not absolute. Water is more dense than water, if you boil one and freeze the other.
Sorry for double post... but really? like REALLY? why would you go out your way to post this irrelivant information.
a Desk is more dense than a desk, if one is ground into sawdust and the other stays as a desk... get real.
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Fitteacherc wrote: »Some think it's possible: http://scoobysworkshop.com/gain-muscle-lose-fat/
don't believe everything you read on the internet.
Look at it this way…you need to eat in a calorie surplus (energy) to build muscle, and you need to be in be in a calorie deficit (negative energy) to lose body fat….
how is it possible to do add muscle (need more energy) and lose body fat (need less energy) at the same time, when they are directly opposed to one another.
That is like saying you can fill up your gas tank and empty it at the same time ….or that you can build a house and tear it down at the same time...
This really depends on your definition of 'at the same time' and the scope you're looking at. It's how calorie cycling and intermittent fasting work (essentially pulsing micro bulk/cut cycles from day to day). The overall effect is that you can gain muscle and lose fat. Plenty of people successfully recomp rather than following the traditional cut/bulk/cut/bulk
those that do a 'recomp' typically eat at slightly under maintenance so they are still in a deficit, so the basic "energy" principles still apply.
if it was so easy to add muscle and lose fat then why aren't we all walking around shredded with 10% body fat..????
i love how people think that this is something that is so easy to do …besides the fact that it is against physics...0 -
Fitteacherc wrote: »Some think it's possible: http://scoobysworkshop.com/gain-muscle-lose-fat/
don't believe everything you read on the internet.
Look at it this way…you need to eat in a calorie surplus (energy) to build muscle, and you need to be in be in a calorie deficit (negative energy) to lose body fat….
how is it possible to do add muscle (need more energy) and lose body fat (need less energy) at the same time, when they are directly opposed to one another.
That is like saying you can fill up your gas tank and empty it at the same time ….or that you can build a house and tear it down at the same time...
This really depends on your definition of 'at the same time' and the scope you're looking at. It's how calorie cycling and intermittent fasting work (essentially pulsing micro bulk/cut cycles from day to day). The overall effect is that you can gain muscle and lose fat. Plenty of people successfully recomp rather than following the traditional cut/bulk/cut/bulk
those that do a 'recomp' typically eat at slightly under maintenance so they are still in a deficit, so the basic "energy" principles still apply.
if it was so easy to add muscle and lose fat then why aren't we all walking around shredded with 10% body fat..????
i love how people think that this is something that is so easy to do …besides the fact that it is against physics...
and how everyone suddenly becomes an expert on the situation, yet there on here not hitting there own goals.
this is how it is: you could read 10000 different articles argueing with the information you believe in, and you wont agree with it, it wont change your mind. But you could read 1 single article that backs your theory, and you will defend that article to your death...
(THIS ISNT AIMED AT ANYBODY)
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if it was so easy to add muscle and lose fat then why aren't we all walking around shredded with 10% body fat..????
i love how people think that this is something that is so easy to do …besides the fact that it is against physics...
Lol, can't see where I wrote that it was easy?
those that do a 'recomp' typically eat at slightly under maintenance so they are still in a deficit, so the basic "energy" principles still apply.
So now you're saying that you can gain muscle (a key element of recomping) when in a deficit?
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No change in weight, size, or inches in eight weeks mean you've been spinning your wheels for 8 weeks. No fat loss or muscle gain or you'd have seen something change. Check your diet and get on a professionally designed lifting program.0
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WolverhamptonFitness wrote: »stevencloser wrote: »Liftng4Lis wrote: »First, WTG on your loss, awesome. Second with the exception of newbie gains, its very difficult for a woman to gain muscle and not possible while in a deficit. Third, muscle does NOT weigh more than fat, its denser than fat therefore a pound of muscle takes up less room than a pound of fat. THEY WEIGH THE SAME. Finally, if you just began an exercise program, you're likely retaining water, which is normal as the muscle repairs.
Muscle is not denser than fat. If you put the fat at the bottom of Mariana Trench and the muscle into a vacuum then fat is denser. Density is not absolute. Water is more dense than water, if you boil one and freeze the other.
Sorry for double post... but really? like REALLY? why would you go out your way to post this irrelivant information.
a Desk is more dense than a desk, if one is ground into sawdust and the other stays as a desk... get real.
Because it makes as much sense as saying "a pound of fat weighs the same as a pound of muscle so muscle and fat weighs the same." I just hate it when the umpteenth person says that.0
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