Gained after 1st week of exercise?!?!

dot513
dot513 Posts: 38
edited September 28 in Fitness and Exercise
I have been working out 30-40 minutes on the elliptical and weight lifting. I am on my 2nd week but have gained about 5 pounds and have been eating more protein and staying on track calorie wise. I am alittle discouraged, but maybe I am gaining muscle?

Replies

  • Shweedog
    Shweedog Posts: 883 Member
    Two weeks is not enough time to gain muscle weight. Your muscles are likely retaining water from the workouts.
  • chevy88grl
    chevy88grl Posts: 3,937 Member
    It could be your muscles are retaining water. I know I often see a weight gain 3-4 days after I've worked out. Drink tons of water and it should flush itself out within a few days. :)
  • FatBastard6135
    FatBastard6135 Posts: 248
    Don't be discouraged :smile: muscle weighs more that body fat, so it is possible that the weight gain is Muscle :smile:

    Make sure you are taking body measurements, so that you can compare everything instead of just the scale :drinker:
  • dot513
    dot513 Posts: 38
    ty
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    I have been working out 30-40 minutes on the elliptical and weight lifting. I am on my 2nd week but have gained about 5 pounds and have been eating more protein and staying on track calorie wise. I am alittle discouraged, but maybe I am gaining muscle?

    When starting resistance training your muscles will retain water to protect them from the damage caused by lifting (micro tears, which are normal) and the water also aids in the muscles recovery. Stick with it, once you get use to the workouts your body will shed the excess water. Also be sure to drink all of your water as this also helps with water retention.
  • loseatonlady
    loseatonlady Posts: 160
    SAME thing happened to me when I first started - it is discouraging - but stay the course and it will change! PROMISE!!!!
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    Don't be discouraged :smile: muscle weighs more that body fat, so it is possible that the weight gain is Muscle :smile:

    Make sure you are taking body measurements, so that you can compare everything instead of just the scale :drinker:

    It takes a lot longer than that to gain muscle, especially in a caloric deficit. You would be lucky to be able to put 5 lbs of muscle on in one month with a caloric surplus, without the aid of drugs.
  • kristinwalker
    kristinwalker Posts: 100 Member
    Could be muscle but also make sure that you are eating back alllllll of your calories and maybe even 100-200 more, your body needs to adjust to this and if you are following MFP standards for calories you could be consuming too little. Your body needs fuel when it works out. Also, watch your carbs! Sometimes when we workout we tend to crave more carbs but this could do your body some injustice.
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    Please everyone stop telly the OP that it is or may be muscle, it is not. Muscle takes time and fuel to grow. It is most likely water retention due to strength training.
  • UsedToBeHusky
    UsedToBeHusky Posts: 15,228 Member
    I have been working out 30-40 minutes on the elliptical and weight lifting. I am on my 2nd week but have gained about 5 pounds and have been eating more protein and staying on track calorie wise. I am alittle discouraged, but maybe I am gaining muscle?

    I made this same mistake last month. I started strength training before every cardio workout. Then, my personal trainer friend informed me that you should limit strength training to once or twice a week, and work a different muscle group every time. That way you don't bulk up too much because you will build muscle faster than you lose fat.
  • UsedToBeHusky
    UsedToBeHusky Posts: 15,228 Member
    Please everyone stop telly the OP that it is or may be muscle, it is not. Muscle takes time and fuel to grow. It is most likely water retention due to strength training.

    I got my information from a professional trainer working towards a Master's in physical fitness. Where did you get your info?
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    I have been working out 30-40 minutes on the elliptical and weight lifting. I am on my 2nd week but have gained about 5 pounds and have been eating more protein and staying on track calorie wise. I am alittle discouraged, but maybe I am gaining muscle?

    I made this same mistake last month. I started strength training before every cardio workout. Then, my personal trainer friend informed me that you should limit strength training to once or twice a week, and work a different muscle group every time. That way you don't bulk up too much because you will build muscle faster than you lose fat.

    What, You will not bulk up from working out especially on a caloric deficit diet, and as a woman you do not have the testosterone levels to bulk up without the aid of drugs. You can do the strength training everyday, as long as you don't work the same muscle group within 48 hours of working that same muscle group.
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    Please everyone stop telly the OP that it is or may be muscle, it is not. Muscle takes time and fuel to grow. It is most likely water retention due to strength training.

    I got my information from a professional trainer working towards a Master's in physical fitness. Where did you get your info?

    Science. You cannot make something out of nothing, which is why it is next to impossible to build muscle in a caloric deficit, there is nothing to feed the muscle. And you mentioned in "...physical fitness", but that leaves out the nutrition part, which is about 80% of the equation.
  • thumper44
    thumper44 Posts: 1,464 Member
    Please everyone stop telly the OP that it is or may be muscle, it is not. Muscle takes time and fuel to grow. It is most likely water retention due to strength training.

    I got my information from a professional trainer working towards a Master's in physical fitness. Where did you get your info?

    Even though you might believe him because he's your trainer.
    Ask your trainer specifics. He is trying to give YOU guidelines.

    Eric is right in what he's saying.
  • Shweedog
    Shweedog Posts: 883 Member
    Science. You cannot make something out of nothing, which is why it is next to impossible to build muscle in a caloric deficit, there is nothing to feed the muscle. And you mentioned in "...physical fitness", but that leaves out the nutrition part, which is about 80% of the equation.

    LOVE!
  • chevy88grl
    chevy88grl Posts: 3,937 Member
    I have been working out 30-40 minutes on the elliptical and weight lifting. I am on my 2nd week but have gained about 5 pounds and have been eating more protein and staying on track calorie wise. I am alittle discouraged, but maybe I am gaining muscle?

    I made this same mistake last month. I started strength training before every cardio workout. Then, my personal trainer friend informed me that you should limit strength training to once or twice a week, and work a different muscle group every time. That way you don't bulk up too much because you will build muscle faster than you lose fat.

    I am female and I do strength training every day I go to the gym. I even use higher weight sometimes -- I'm not bulking up and I won't because I am female and am missing the key to bulking up ... testosterone. You need it to get bulky. All I have is defined muscles that look AWESOME!

    Also, I'm not longer in weight loss mode - I'm in maintenance mode. So, I'm eating far more calories than most women on this site eat.
  • Hearts_2015
    Hearts_2015 Posts: 12,031 Member
    Please everyone stop telly the OP that it is or may be muscle, it is not. Muscle takes time and fuel to grow. It is most likely water retention due to strength training.
    OMG! Thank you!

    I was ready to pull hair out if I read one more person telling the OP it's muscle, after only a week? Whew, not bloody likely:noway: in fact? No way!

    ETA: Wow, this is one crazy upside down thread full of all sorts of misinformation, I feel sorry for the OP having to dig through it all to find out the nugget of truth. Which happens to be Eric and those that agreed with the info He shared.

    Sometimes (often) these boards are crazy tall-tales of misinformation.:noway: :ohwell:
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