Help! Too much muscle
FitnessasmyWitness
Posts: 67 Member
Okay I started a rigid fitness journey about a month back. I've been eating pretty consistantly at a net calorie allowance of 1500. I have a fantastic heart rate monitor that tells me almost exactly how many calories I burn each day, and I've been synching it to mfp.
Here's the deal. I've gained 4 or 5 pounds of muscle in the past month. I know it's muscle because of the deficit and because I can out push-up some men...
My goal, however was not to gain so much muscle but rather to slim down. I have lost some inches cause my clothes are slimmer.
My question is- how do I stop gaining muscle!? Is my body just prone to putting it on so easily when I workout?
I have been doing some intense sporting.
I don't have any goals of becoming a body builder.... So what should I do?
Here's the deal. I've gained 4 or 5 pounds of muscle in the past month. I know it's muscle because of the deficit and because I can out push-up some men...
My goal, however was not to gain so much muscle but rather to slim down. I have lost some inches cause my clothes are slimmer.
My question is- how do I stop gaining muscle!? Is my body just prone to putting it on so easily when I workout?
I have been doing some intense sporting.
I don't have any goals of becoming a body builder.... So what should I do?
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Replies
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If you're in a deficit and not on roids, you haven'tgained 5lbs of muscle in a month.
Especially as a female.0 -
lishie_rebooted wrote: »If you're in a deficit and not on roids, you haven'tgained 5lbs of muscle in a month.
Especially as a female.
Yeah... this.
Also, out pushuping some men doesn't mean you have more muscle... it just means you have more strength and endurance for that activity.
Gaining 4-5 lbs of muscle in a month on a deficit... just doesn't compute.0 -
I was on two different scales and maybe some was water weight? Regardless it was at least 3 lbs.0
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Yeah, water weight.0
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That doesn't make it muscle though. It's extremely hard and even more unlikely that you're gaining muscle on a deficit. You gain muscle through having a calorie surplus.FitnessasmyWitness wrote: »I was on two different scales and maybe some was water weight? Regardless it was at least 3 lbs.
More than likely it's water weight and the difference of scales. Even a scale on different surfaces (carpet vs. wood) will give different readings.0 -
So the difference between day one and today was 6.5 pounds. Can all of that really be water weight? I'm not drinking salt or anything...0
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Also, you said your goal was to slim down and then you said that you lost inches and your clothes are big. So no matter what, you are achieving your goal right? You like how you look?0
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A woman who trains and is dedicated to *actually* building muscle can expect maybe a pound per month. 5 pounds in a month? Not possible.0
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Where are you in your cycle?0
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FitnessasmyWitness wrote: »Okay I started a rigid fitness journey about a month back. I've been eating pretty consistantly at a net calorie allowance of 1500. I have a fantastic heart rate monitor that tells me almost exactly how many calories I burn each day, and I've been synching it to mfp.
Here's the deal. I've gained 4 or 5 pounds of muscle in the past month. I know it's muscle because of the deficit and because I can out push-up some men...
My goal, however was not to gain so much muscle but rather to slim down. I have lost some inches cause my clothes are slimmer.
My question is- how do I stop gaining muscle!? Is my body just prone to putting it on so easily when I workout?
I have been doing some intense sporting.
I don't have any goals of becoming a body builder.... So what should I do?
Are you using your HRM to get a calorie total for the entire day? If so you are likely overestimating the calories your burn. They are not accurate for low level intensity and cannot give you your daily total of calories.
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Oh, and what kind of exercise are you doing that you think is building this much muscle?0
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My hrm is a polar v800 that professional athletes use. I'd say it's the most accurate thing out there and it calculates my whole day based on intense formulas.
Some at least has GOT to be muscle because I didn't have this big of arms when I flexed before. I'm doing cross fit if that helps anyone reading.
I just don't believe none of it is muscle...
Good to know that it's most likely water. I should be about a week and a half from my period.0 -
FitnessasmyWitness wrote: »My hrm is a polar v800 that professional athletes use. I'd say it's the most accurate thing out there and it calculates my whole day based on intense formulas.
Some at least has GOT to be muscle because I didn't have this big of arms when I flexed before. I'm doing cross fit if that helps anyone reading.
I just don't believe none of it is muscle...
Good to know that it's most likely water. I should be about a week and a half from my period.
Well, when you lose fat you see definition! Makes sense.0 -
FitnessasmyWitness wrote: »My hrm is a polar v800 that professional athletes use. I'd say it's the most accurate thing out there and it calculates my whole day based on intense formulas.
Some at least has GOT to be muscle because I didn't have this big of arms when I flexed before. I'm doing cross fit if that helps anyone reading.
I just don't believe none of it is muscle...
Good to know that it's most likely water. I should be about a week and a half from my period.
Ah, that is a little more than a HRM (and by a little I mean a lot) It is similar to the Garmin 920 xt which has a HRM but is also an activity monitor.
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FitnessasmyWitness wrote: »My hrm is a polar v800 that professional athletes use. I'd say it's the most accurate thing out there and it calculates my whole day based on intense formulas.
Some at least has GOT to be muscle because I didn't have this big of arms when I flexed before. I'm doing cross fit if that helps anyone reading.
I just don't believe none of it is muscle...
Good to know that it's most likely water. I should be about a week and a half from my period.
When you exercise, your muscles can swell from water and glycogen retention, making them look temporarily larger. When I first started lifting, I gained about 5lbs, none of which was muscle.
ETA: if this is your first time doing any lifting, you may have some newbie gains, but not pounds and pounds worth.0 -
It's not scientifically possible. If you want muscle, EAT MORE
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FitnessasmyWitness wrote: »My hrm is a polar v800 that professional athletes use. I'd say it's the most accurate thing out there and it calculates my whole day based on intense formulas.
Some at least has GOT to be muscle because I didn't have this big of arms when I flexed before. I'm doing cross fit if that helps anyone reading.
I just don't believe none of it is muscle...
Good to know that it's most likely water. I should be about a week and a half from my period.
When you exercise, your muscles can swell from water and glycogen retention, making them look temporarily larger. When I first started lifting, I gained about 5lbs, none of which was muscle.
ETA: if this is your first time doing any lifting, you may have some newbie gains, but not pounds and pounds worth.
Okay that makes a lot of sense. That thought just crossed my mind- my muscles have been getting torn to shreds (or so it feels) and retention seems to make the most sense. Haha I'm not saying I'm some sort of roid lady, I just didn't know about some of this.
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FitnessasmyWitness wrote: »FitnessasmyWitness wrote: »My hrm is a polar v800 that professional athletes use. I'd say it's the most accurate thing out there and it calculates my whole day based on intense formulas.
Some at least has GOT to be muscle because I didn't have this big of arms when I flexed before. I'm doing cross fit if that helps anyone reading.
I just don't believe none of it is muscle...
Good to know that it's most likely water. I should be about a week and a half from my period.
When you exercise, your muscles can swell from water and glycogen retention, making them look temporarily larger. When I first started lifting, I gained about 5lbs, none of which was muscle.
ETA: if this is your first time doing any lifting, you may have some newbie gains, but not pounds and pounds worth.
Okay that makes a lot of sense. That thought just crossed my mind- my muscles have been getting torn to shreds (or so it feels) and retention seems to make the most sense. Haha I'm not saying I'm some sort of roid lady, I just didn't know about some of this.
You're doing a great job, OP. Keep it up and don't let "muscle" scare you. You want to save as much as possible, and you won't be building muscle in your deficit. You'll look great.0 -
FitnessasmyWitness wrote: »FitnessasmyWitness wrote: »My hrm is a polar v800 that professional athletes use. I'd say it's the most accurate thing out there and it calculates my whole day based on intense formulas.
Some at least has GOT to be muscle because I didn't have this big of arms when I flexed before. I'm doing cross fit if that helps anyone reading.
I just don't believe none of it is muscle...
Good to know that it's most likely water. I should be about a week and a half from my period.
When you exercise, your muscles can swell from water and glycogen retention, making them look temporarily larger. When I first started lifting, I gained about 5lbs, none of which was muscle.
ETA: if this is your first time doing any lifting, you may have some newbie gains, but not pounds and pounds worth.
Okay that makes a lot of sense. That thought just crossed my mind- my muscles have been getting torn to shreds (or so it feels) and retention seems to make the most sense. Haha I'm not saying I'm some sort of roid lady, I just didn't know about some of this.
It's okay, that's what the forums are for
Keep lifting, eating in your deficit (and be accurate with your logging) and soon the water weight will dissipate and you will see losses again. 0 -
I'm so glad I posted cause I was actually debating stopping since I don't want to get any "bigger" but it sounds like I should be safe for a while. If any of you are curious, pm me and I'll give you the password for my diary.0
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FitnessasmyWitness wrote: »I'm so glad I posted cause I was actually debating stopping since I don't want to get any "bigger" but it sounds like I should be safe for a while. If any of you are curious, pm me and I'll give you the password for my diary.
Lifting while eating in a deficit preserves that precious lean mass you've already got, ensuring that a greater portion of the weight you lose is fat. Lose the fat, see the awesome muscles.
You can gain strength while eating at a deficit, but not appreciable muscle mass. That's for later, when you decide to bulk
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Strength gains =/= muscle gains
If you're looking to maximize fat loss and minimize muscle loss, then continue eating at a moderate deficit, lifting progressively heavy and eating enough protein. That's what I'm doing right now. 0 -
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arditarose wrote: »
That is the thread that got me wanting to lift. It would be neat if there were some process by which helpful, informative threads like that one could somehow be given a permanent spot on the top of the boards...oh, wait...0 -
arditarose wrote: »
That is the thread that got me wanting to lift. It would be neat if there were some process by which helpful, informative threads like that one could somehow be given a permanent spot on the top of the boards...oh, wait...
Ugh. I know
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80 lbs down. Slimmer and sleeker than I've EVER been. Oh yea - almost 52. STRENGTH TRAINING. STRENGTH TRAINING. STRENGTH TRAINING. Developing and maintaining your lean body mass is what kicks FAT to the curb. What solidified my decision to start strength training for the first time ever @ age 47? Staci's story @ NerdFitness.com0
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arditarose wrote: »
That is the thread that got me wanting to lift. It would be neat if there were some process by which helpful, informative threads like that one could somehow be given a permanent spot on the top of the boards...oh, wait...
I haven't looked at that thread in a long time. Wow.0 -
It sounds like you've gotten a lot of good answers in here. I'm just going to add, in a 16 week bulk I gained only 8 pounds, probably 2-4 of them probably fat. That was on a 500-700 calorie per day surplus and following a linear periodization bulking routine. The "larger" appearance of your arms is absolutely a combination of fat loss and water/glycogen retention. Good luck!
Edited to add that people are constantly saying I look bigger lately even though I'm cutting. Fat loss just lets your muscles show!0 -
Okay I have a few more questions then:
1- How long should I wait till I start seeing loss again?
2- I run about 3-4 miles on the off days as cross training- does that help/
3- Is it just fact that I lose muscle if I'm eating at a deficit? There's no way for the body to say "okay, fat time"?0 -
FitnessasmyWitness wrote: »Okay I have a few more questions then:
1- How long should I wait till I start seeing loss again?
2- I run about 3-4 miles on the off days as cross training- does that help/
3- Is it just fact that I lose muscle if I'm eating at a deficit? There's no way for the body to say "okay, fat time"?
You should see a loss soon as long as you're logging correctly. Weight loss is not always linear so you might not see the scale go down for a week or two, then you might drop a pound or two all at once. And you don't lose just muscle. It's mostly fat, along with muscle.
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