Weights Class

I've been lifting light weights (5-10 pounds) for a while now and have gained quite a bit of muscle mass.

I doubt that.

Should I expect a lot more weight gain? Should I be worried about bulking up too much?

1. Depends on how much you eat.
2. No.

Should I expect a lot more weight gain? Should I be worried about bulking up too much?

1. Depends on how much you eat.
2. No.

ditto.

2/10

I want to look toned. I have already gained about 10 pounds since I started working out; all muscle. My thighs have gone from 20 inches to 22 (basically I went from skinny fat to fit). I'm currently 5'9" and 135 pounds. I don't want to put on more than 5 pounds and definitely no more inches. That is my definition for "bulk up". What do you think?

I think it's ridiculously difficult for women to "bulk up" unless you're lifting heavy weights and eating a calorie surplus. Here's a good read on the subject: http://www.louschuler.com/blog/im-still-waiting-to-get-too-big/

You can see people are skeptical of a muscle gain using only 5-10 lb weights. That's not really lifting heavy. Have you had your body fat % taken - that will be a much better gage of your fitness and muscle than the scale.

When you first start lifting, your muscles may swell up from the new stress being put on them (water retention and that sort of thing). This is not muscle gain.

This!

You will not have gained 10lbs of "all muscle" since you started, I can guarantee it. When a person does gain muscle, they do gain fat as well for a start. Secondly, to put on any mass you have to be eating more than you burn in a day. If you have been doing that (which you likely have to have gained 10lbs) then it is possible you may have gained a little muscle. A little, not anywhere near 10lbs, especially with light weights.

What it likely is, is eating more than you burn, gaining a little fat, a little water weight (from the stress of starting to lift) and possibly a very small amount of muscle. Combined to give a gain in inches.

The kind of weightlifting you do in a class environmnent isn't the kind thar promotes muscle growth. It's more of a circuit training type workout which is primarily done for fat loss/endurance. The kind of weightlifting you want, if you're looking to add lean muscle to your body, is the kind you need to go over to the "dungeon" section of the gym for (where all the free weights are and the dudes who hog all the plates in the squat rack and bench press).

That being said, as a woman, you can not really "bulk up" without specialized training regimens designed specifically for bulking, accompanied by high calorie diets, more supplements than you can likely afford, and most likely steroids as well.

The weight gain you've seen is either fat gain caused by eating more than you think you have been, or water retention caused by the fact that muscles in a state of repair retain fluids to aid with repair.

Should I expect a lot more weight gain? Should I be worried about bulking up too much?

1. Depends on how much you eat.
2. No.

^^This.

18% body fat is the ideal for a normal female. The idea that you gained muscle from those light of weights is preposterous. You just confused the muscle you're now seeing with the fat you lost. Obviously you're a woman, so you'll never get muscle bulk unless you're on testosterone. As such, its a good idea to actually lift heavy to gain lean body mass. Not only will it help you burn more calories during rest, but also keep you from being "skinny fat," since that's as unhealthy as being fat. You should also limit intense cardio to 30-45 mins, as more makes your body release cortisol.

janejellyroll wrote: »

kuzmacombat95 wrote: »

18% body fat is the ideal for a normal female. The idea that you gained muscle from those light of weights is preposterous. You just confused the muscle you're now seeing with the fat you lost. Obviously you're a woman, so you'll never get muscle bulk unless you're on testosterone. As such, its a good idea to actually lift heavy to gain lean body mass. Not only will it help you burn more calories during rest, but also keep you from being "skinny fat," since that's as unhealthy as being fat. You should also limit intense cardio to 30-45 mins, as more makes your body release cortisol.

Why are you reviving a three year old thread?

Zombie day