Deficit, Heavy lifting and Gaining Weight? Why?

1235»

Replies

  • ngaliyin
    ngaliyin Posts: 71 Member
    williamwj2014 wrote: »
    Why would you lift heavy on a deficit anyways? I just find that to be a challenge..extremely hard to build strength on a deficit and add on to the lack of energy..

    It helps to preserve muscle while losing weight. I do have lets of energy since I eat well.

  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    yopeeps025 wrote: »
    williamwj2014 wrote: »
    Why would you lift heavy on a deficit anyways? I just find that to be a challenge..extremely hard to build strength on a deficit and add on to the lack of energy..

    for fat loss.

    while you're retaining LBM.
  • dbienz
    dbienz Posts: 188 Member
    edited July 2015
    OP, I am in the same boat. I tried to go through this whole thread but ended up getting frustrated by many of these posters who think they know everything or because something worked for them it will work for everyone.

    I log around 1350 cals a day (yes sometimes I am under or over), have my macros manually set at 40c/35p/25f, and love working out. I usually lift 3 days per week. I also am training for a half marathon so I run 4 days a week. My rest days are Friday and Sunday (usually) but those change. For example, I worked out Sunday of this week so my rest day was yesterday. I used to be a competitive volleyball player so I follow an altered workout plan from my volleyball days that I laid out with my trainer.

    I started this journey last fall/winter and at the beginning I lost 20 pounds. Then I plateaued which I expected and now I am gaining weight back. I'm not losing inches either. Many people say deficit = weight loss but I eat on a deficit and still gain. I have heard the water weight argument and understand that. I also tend to gain a few pounds during that time of the month. I am stronger, lifting more and increasing my running pace, but I am still 30 pounds heavier than my goal (which was my average weight before recently and not an unreasonable weight for my height or history).

    I'm frustrated to say the least. I understand your post, I commend you for your calm responses, and I thank you for posting this so others can try and learn something from the conversation.... even if it is that people on the internet think they know everything :wink:

    EDIT: I am not pregnant. That was actually my first thought so I made sure to confirm it was not the case.
  • ngaliyin
    ngaliyin Posts: 71 Member
    dbienz wrote: »
    OP, I am in the same boat. I tried to go through this whole thread but ended up getting frustrated by many of these posters who think they know everything or because something worked for them it will work for everyone.

    I log around 1350 cals a day (yes sometimes I am under or over), have my macros manually set at 40c/35p/25f, and love working out. I usually lift 3 days per week. I also am training for a half marathon so I run 4 days a week. My rest days are Friday and Sunday (usually) but those change. For example, I worked out Sunday of this week so my rest day was yesterday. I used to be a competitive volleyball player so I follow an altered workout plan from my volleyball days that I laid out with my trainer.

    I started this journey last fall/winter and at the beginning I lost 20 pounds. Then I plateaued which I expected and now I am gaining weight back. I'm not losing inches either. Many people say deficit = weight loss but I eat on a deficit and still gain. I have heard the water weight argument and understand that. I also tend to gain a few pounds during that time of the month. I am stronger, lifting more and increasing my running pace, but I am still 30 pounds heavier than my goal (which was my average weight before recently and not an unreasonable weight for my height or history).

    I'm frustrated to say the least. I understand your post, I commend you for your calm responses, and I thank you for posting this so others can try and learn something from the conversation.... even if it is that people on the internet think they know everything :wink:

    EDIT: I am not pregnant. That was actually my first thought so I made sure to confirm it was not the case.


    Thank you! I better not be preggo after having my mommy makeover - LOL.

    Do you use a scale to measure your food before logging in MFP? If so, I'm really at loss as to why you'll be gaining back if not water weight or muscle.

    I've read that we can't gain muscle on a deficit, but I also saw the pics of the OP of the success Stories thread "From size 20 to size 8 in one year with weight lifting" and it looks clear she gained some muscle and looks awesome. Plus she was lifting what she said was heavy for her (from 5lbs to about 30lbs) I believe she lifts way more now but that wasn't the case before.

    Here's the link to that thread: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10151694/from-a-size-20-to-a-size-8-with-strength-training-in-one-year-pics/p1

    I only care that I'm not gaining fat. I'll take the water retention cos I know it'll go away and of course I'll take muscle mass any day since it's what i'm shooting for with deficit eating and lifting anyway.

    I also took a full day off yesterday as a result of the suggestions here. I decided to lift 3 days per week, do 1 day with my fitness trainer and then some form of cardio one other day for 20 to 30 mins.

    My weight wasn't up today so we'll see how I fair on the scale this week. I expect if it's water weight it will drop.

    Hoping someone more knowledgeable on here helps you get back on track with losing the fat :smiley:
  • yopeeps025
    yopeeps025 Posts: 8,680 Member
    dbienz wrote: »
    OP, I am in the same boat. I tried to go through this whole thread but ended up getting frustrated by many of these posters who think they know everything or because something worked for them it will work for everyone.

    I log around 1350 cals a day (yes sometimes I am under or over), have my macros manually set at 40c/35p/25f, and love working out. I usually lift 3 days per week. I also am training for a half marathon so I run 4 days a week. My rest days are Friday and Sunday (usually) but those change. For example, I worked out Sunday of this week so my rest day was yesterday. I used to be a competitive volleyball player so I follow an altered workout plan from my volleyball days that I laid out with my trainer.

    I started this journey last fall/winter and at the beginning I lost 20 pounds. Then I plateaued which I expected and now I am gaining weight back. I'm not losing inches either. Many people say deficit = weight loss but I eat on a deficit and still gain. I have heard the water weight argument and understand that. I also tend to gain a few pounds during that time of the month. I am stronger, lifting more and increasing my running pace, but I am still 30 pounds heavier than my goal (which was my average weight before recently and not an unreasonable weight for my height or history).

    I'm frustrated to say the least. I understand your post, I commend you for your calm responses, and I thank you for posting this so others can try and learn something from the conversation.... even if it is that people on the internet think they know everything :wink:

    EDIT: I am not pregnant. That was actually my first thought so I made sure to confirm it was not the case.

    That is because for the folks who have lost more than you have know that is it about CICO. You lost 20 pounds have you not lower your calorie intake?

    I would think your altered volleyball program would have some sort of resistance training. Am I correct?
  • ngaliyin
    ngaliyin Posts: 71 Member
    dbienz wrote: »
    OP, I am in the same boat. I tried to go through this whole thread but ended up getting frustrated by many of these posters who think they know everything or because something worked for them it will work for everyone.

    I log around 1350 cals a day (yes sometimes I am under or over), have my macros manually set at 40c/35p/25f, and love working out. I usually lift 3 days per week. I also am training for a half marathon so I run 4 days a week. My rest days are Friday and Sunday (usually) but those change. For example, I worked out Sunday of this week so my rest day was yesterday. I used to be a competitive volleyball player so I follow an altered workout plan from my volleyball days that I laid out with my trainer.

    I started this journey last fall/winter and at the beginning I lost 20 pounds. Then I plateaued which I expected and now I am gaining weight back. I'm not losing inches either. Many people say deficit = weight loss but I eat on a deficit and still gain. I have heard the water weight argument and understand that. I also tend to gain a few pounds during that time of the month. I am stronger, lifting more and increasing my running pace, but I am still 30 pounds heavier than my goal (which was my average weight before recently and not an unreasonable weight for my height or history).

    I'm frustrated to say the least. I understand your post, I commend you for your calm responses, and I thank you for posting this so others can try and learn something from the conversation.... even if it is that people on the internet think they know everything :wink:

    EDIT: I am not pregnant. That was actually my first thought so I made sure to confirm it was not the case.


    I wanted to find out if you've found a solution. I've read many heavy lifting forums comment to increase calories because all that activity on only 1350 cals will cause a stall/gain/metabolism imbalance, etc. Did you try increasing calories?

    As for me, I weighed in at 184.4 today - ha ha. I've kept gaining even though I reduced my workouts to lifting heavy ICF 5x5 to 3 days p week plus 1 day with my fitness trainer (4 days workouts) and eating between 1500 to 1700 cals p day (some days a little more when at a party) as per the advice I received here.

    There was a day I dropped down suddenly to 173lbs and I was SO happy thinking perhaps it was indeed the water retention, but I think it was an error cos I was back up to 179lbs the very next day.

    I don't really do much cardio - I don't want to.

    I used to think the "science" of it was solid, but now I find it's NOT!!!

    So, I've increased my calories to eat between 1700 to 1900 calories per day and keeping my activities the same. I shall see how I do on this for the next 2 weeks.

    I wish us the very best. My goal weight is 140lbs around which time I would love to do the whole ulk/cut cycle to show muscles. I'm 5' 8".

    Please let me know if you have come across any helpful information. Thank you.
  • ngaliyin
    ngaliyin Posts: 71 Member
    ngaliyin wrote: »
    dbienz wrote: »
    OP, I am in the same boat. I tried to go through this whole thread but ended up getting frustrated by many of these posters who think they know everything or because something worked for them it will work for everyone.

    I log around 1350 cals a day (yes sometimes I am under or over), have my macros manually set at 40c/35p/25f, and love working out. I usually lift 3 days per week. I also am training for a half marathon so I run 4 days a week. My rest days are Friday and Sunday (usually) but those change. For example, I worked out Sunday of this week so my rest day was yesterday. I used to be a competitive volleyball player so I follow an altered workout plan from my volleyball days that I laid out with my trainer.

    I started this journey last fall/winter and at the beginning I lost 20 pounds. Then I plateaued which I expected and now I am gaining weight back. I'm not losing inches either. Many people say deficit = weight loss but I eat on a deficit and still gain. I have heard the water weight argument and understand that. I also tend to gain a few pounds during that time of the month. I am stronger, lifting more and increasing my running pace, but I am still 30 pounds heavier than my goal (which was my average weight before recently and not an unreasonable weight for my height or history).

    I'm frustrated to say the least. I understand your post, I commend you for your calm responses, and I thank you for posting this so others can try and learn something from the conversation.... even if it is that people on the internet think they know everything :wink:

    EDIT: I am not pregnant. That was actually my first thought so I made sure to confirm it was not the case.


    I wanted to find out if you've found a solution. I've read many heavy lifting forums comment to increase calories because all that activity on only 1350 cals will cause a stall/gain/metabolism imbalance, etc. Did you try increasing calories?

    As for me, I weighed in at 184.4 today - ha ha. I've kept gaining even though I reduced my workouts to lifting heavy ICF 5x5 to 3 days p week plus 1 day with my fitness trainer (4 days workouts) and eating between 1500 to 1700 cals p day (some days a little more when at a party) as per the advice I received here.

    There was a day I dropped down suddenly to 173lbs and I was SO happy thinking perhaps it was indeed the water retention, but I think it was an error cos I was back up to 179lbs the very next day.

    I don't really do much cardio - I don't want to.

    I used to think the "science" of it was solid, but now I find it's NOT!!!

    So, I've increased my calories to eat between 1700 to 1900 calories per day and keeping my activities the same. I shall see how I do on this for the next 2 weeks.

    I wish us the very best. My goal weight is 140lbs around which time I would love to do the whole ulk/cut cycle to show muscles. I'm 5' 8".

    Please let me know if you have come across any helpful information. Thank you.


    Yahoooooo!!!!!!!

    I think I may have found my answer.

    Yesterday, I ate the most calories in a while - I ate 1863 calories and this morning I weigh 1.2lbs LESS than yesterday!!!!!!!

    I know it's only been a day, but to see this drop after eating this much is a big deal for me.

    Perhaps I'very found the happy place for my body between my tdee and bmr.

    Will monitor the next few weeks and update again.

    Thanks all :smiley:
This discussion has been closed.

Categories