Females building muscle

grapaj wrote: »

Sorry, I quoted my post instead of posting. So...reposting..

So, just to avoid disappearing into a neverending google search....you'd suggest I just hang out at maintenance, keep lifting and eventually some of the padding should go away?
And.....I calculated maintenance around 1700 (age 40.5/height 5'1"/weight 138/heavy lifting 3x a week).
Seem right??
and...THANK YOU!

Yeah. Though with your stats, you might want to continue to lose at .5lbs per week for a little while as well. But yes, if you eat at maintenance and lift you will lean out a bit. It's a pretty slow process. I did not have the patience for it. Calories sound about right. Is that what MFP gave you for maintenance? You have the data. If you were losing .5lbs per week eating 1450, then 1700 would make sense for maintenance.

I'm working on gaining more strength and building muscle. I'd love to have friends with similar goals!

arditarose wrote: »

RGreenthumb wrote: »

Well I am feeling very fluffy indeed at the moment and I'm supposed to keep going until Easter. I'm desperately trying to convince myself to keep going as I've only done a few months and I don't want to end up yo-yoing and not actually building any real muscle. My arms and hamstrings do feel bigger on a good way, so I'm clinging to that!

Keep going! I'm in the same boat. I think I have 4 more weeks left in me. I'll push it to 6 if I'm feel okay. My stomach is like...whoa. I'm starting to have a little trouble dressing myself when I want to go out and look nice When I'm at the gym though, it's totally worth it-I feel strong.

You're right. Had an amazing lower body session yesterday so the strength is worth it. Plus I ended up with takeaway three days in a row, which probably didn't help the fluffy feeling!

arditarose wrote: »

Keep going! I'm in the same boat. I think I have 4 more weeks left in me. I'll push it to 6 if I'm feel okay. My stomach is like...whoa. I'm starting to have a little the fluffy feeling!

Ha! Same boat. I had a super high carb day, followed by a normal extremely salty day, and the scale read 142 yesterday morning...like 14lbs heavier than my start weight 3 months ago!!! But at the gym I felt fine

Are you around that time in your cycle? I tend to lean out before ovulation. It's nice but lasts like 4 days lol[/quote]

I'll look out for that! I've not dared to weigh myself this morning as I know the pizza will have made its temporary mark and I'll get annoyed. I have noticed that my hips definitely haven't gained as much width as they usually do when I gain weight. Usually it's the first place to expand. I'm taking this to mean it's going elsewhere and taking the form of muscle. (I'm sure that's scientifically wrong but it makes me feel better!)

RGreenthumb wrote: »

arditarose wrote: »

Keep going! I'm in the same boat. I think I have 4 more weeks left in me. I'll push it to 6 if I'm feel okay. My stomach is like...whoa. I'm starting to have a little the fluffy feeling!

Ha! Same boat. I had a super high carb day, followed by a normal extremely salty day, and the scale read 142 yesterday morning...like 14lbs heavier than my start weight 3 months ago!!! But at the gym I felt fine

Are you around that time in your cycle? I tend to lean out before ovulation. It's nice but lasts like 4 days lol

I'll look out for that! I've not dared to weigh myself this morning as I know the pizza will have made its temporary mark and I'll get annoyed. I have noticed that my hips definitely haven't gained as much width as they usually do when I gain weight. Usually it's the first place to expand. I'm taking this to mean it's going elsewhere and taking the form of muscle. (I'm sure that's scientifically wrong but it makes me feel better!)
[/quote]

Yeah. I feel like it has to be a good sign if you're putting weight back on differently while gaining/lifting.

I'm late to this one! I've been in a bulk for about 6 weeks and I've gained about 5-7 lbs..(damn water weight fluctuations) normal weight is between 115-118 lowest body fat% I was at 13% before I started bulking I was at about 16_17% in maintance. currently 123-124lbs about 19% fat at 5"3 and I'm feeling quite fluffy. I have another 4-5 weeks before I hire my trainer back to cut the fat off (btw-i only hire my trainer during cuts because knowing I spent money makes me stick to it, plus it's more motivating to me). It's been hard because all my clothes are uncomfortable but just hanging in there in hopes there's a better foundation under this softness... Feel free to add me!

Anyone can feel free to add me. I'd love some friends who are into muscle gains. I'm Hanah, 19.

add me

JoRocka wrote: »

arditarose wrote: »

Hi ladies...I'm bored. Anyone have any interesting turn of events or victories lately?

I got fat LOL- so it feels- and yet someone still commented on IG that they were 'mirin my abs.

I was like-wait wut?? LOL

not really news- but there you go.

I have another 4 weeks I think of my bulk to go- at least through march. GO GO GO EAT ALL THE FOODS!!!!

Ditto. I'm feeling large and in charge. Had a high reading on the scale today and my stomach doesn't look ANYTHING like it does in my profile pic...and that was only 4 days ago. Trying to push through at least another 4 weeks as well.

McKittyJane wrote: »

Im trying to increase muscle, but not necessarily "bulk". Im trying to lose some fat around the waist at the same time; im not super wrapped up in the gain weight to gain muscle thing, i just want to up my bench press and slim my middle. Some people make that seem way too complicated

What do you mean? Muscle gain is done in a surplus, or at least maintenance running a recomp. Even then you can't spot reduce your waist.

singingflutelady wrote: »

I'm recomping at the moment

You just started right? I tried it over the summer as well.

singingflutelady wrote: »

Um kinda off and on since November. After regaining weight quickly in November(15 lbs in 4 weeks) that I lost through illness I have been the same +/- 1 lb approximately since that point. I restated lifting in October and enjoyed muscle memory/ quickish regrowth after 10 months off for medical reasons and losing all my muscle. I was actively trying to lose weight for a while but it hasn't budged so I guess recomp it is I'm 134 at 5'8 so basically OK.

Yeah. I noticed you went missing for awhile. Glad you're back at it.

singingflutelady wrote: »

I ended up in the hospital last January days away from perforating. I was soo sick and my fitness hid it until I crashed plus I ignored symptoms. Not only was I weak from severe anaemia and malabsorption (I have Crohn's) I was on Prednisone for 4 months. The wrong type of steroids I'm not cleared for cardio at the moment but the Dr will have to pry the bar out of my hands to make me stop . I almost have my lifts back to where they were before except deadlift is stuck at 175 (kinda scared of hurting myself). Funny how 4 months ago I could hardly squat the bar but now almost back to numbers that took me a year and a half to get to before.

You are so strong! Physically and mentally

Add me