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Heavy Lifting Question

jellebeandesigns
jellebeandesigns Posts: 347 Member
edited November 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
Hey Y'all!
I'm training for a Marathon & Ultra, as part of my training I've been doing 5x5 (modified because I can't afford an injury and I have an old injury in one knee). Anywho. I've gone up 8 lbs in the last couple of months- according to my dr & nutritionist my food/diet/exercise/blood work are spot on, although like every one I have imperfect days (like today I ate life cereal for lunch). My husband thinks I need to drop the heavy lifting in exchange for light weights, I think I should continue to lift heavy-ish (it's not super heavy yet). What do all the fitness & exercise MFPers think??

Replies

  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    Does your husband think you need to drop the heavy weight because of your weight gain? There is really only a minimal amount of muscle you can gain in "a couple months", even with heavy weight training. If you've gained a bit of weight, you're in a bit of a calorie surplus.

    I don't think you should give up heavy weight training.

    What are your goals?
  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    Women can gain around 1 pound of lean mass per month on a surplus. Your weight gain is most likely due to not being accurate with logging. I know I get guilty of a taste here and there, but those add up and not logging them often results in maintaining or gaining weight.

    If lifting fits in with your running, you enjoy it, and isn't hampering your other goals there is absolutely no reason to quit.
  • jellebeandesigns
    jellebeandesigns Posts: 347 Member
    edited March 2016
    Everything I eat is measured :-/ and with the amount of running I'm doing (100-150 miles a month) I'm not at a surplus, I've lost inches not lbs though.

    My goals are to drop weight but more importantly beast the heck out of my running. Right now my schedule is insane
    M- 3 miles + Lifting
    T- 6 miles
    W- 3 miles
    Th- lifting
    F- rest & carbs
    S- 14 + miles (goes up weekly)
    Sun- yoga & short recovery run
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    edited March 2016
    I wouldn't personally do what is essentially an introduction to power lifting while simultaneously training for a marathon and an ultra...those goals really don't go hand in hand...nothing to do with your 8 Lbs.

    If it were me I'd be focusing on my endurance training and utilizing resistance training to compliment that. I'm a cyclist and participate in endurance cycling events and when I'm in season I don't run a heavy cycle and I only hit the weight room a couple times per week at most...and yes, I do tend to focus more on high rep low weight stuff for muscular endurance.

    I train heavy other times in the year...but not when I'm actually training for endurance events. I don't see anything wrong with lifting heavy and just doing some running...training for an ultra and whatnot though...those things just don't go hand in hand in my book.
  • Yi5hedr3
    Yi5hedr3 Posts: 2,696 Member
    The real question is What is your percent of Body Fat doing? ;)
  • rybo
    rybo Posts: 5,424 Member
    I don't see anything wrong with keeping up the heavy lifting. Yea it can make scheduling and rest days critical but it can be done. Look up Alex Viada and his book the hybrid athlete.
  • mwmix
    mwmix Posts: 31 Member
    It's not uncommon to see the scale go up after recently starting a new lifting routine. My scale weight was up for about a month after starting lifting, despite the fact that I continued to eat at a deficit and maintain my normal cardio routine. It's likely just extra water weight that your muscles are holding onto as a reaction to the new routine. I wouldn't worry about it- your weight will likely normalize within a couple of weeks. For now, focus on meaurements, pictures, and the way your clothes fit.
  • quiarga
    quiarga Posts: 408 Member
    Did your husband explain his reasoning behind that opinion? Heavy lifting is going to build stronger muscles and improve endurance because those stronger muscles will take longer to get tired. You aren't going to bulk up especially with that kind of cardio burn. I'd say there's definitely another explanation for the 8lb gain, but don't give up on the lifting especially if it's what you want to do!
  • acampbe2umd
    acampbe2umd Posts: 145 Member
    Granted I don't run marathons, but I do half marathons, ragnar, sprint triathlons, etc. I lift heavy and enjoy it. There are times, when it has to take a back burner to my cardio training and that just makes me cranky, so if you can keep it up, I would! Also, proper fueling for your runs is so important, this is not a time to be concentrating on your weight loss imo. I wouldn't worry about the weight gain is what I'm getting at, especially if you're losing inches. This sums up why I hate the scale so much! It's just a number.
  • jellebeandesigns
    jellebeandesigns Posts: 347 Member
    acampbe2umd wrote: »
    Granted I don't run marathons, but I do half marathons, ragnar, sprint triathlons, etc. I lift heavy and enjoy it. There are times, when it has to take a back burner to my cardio training and that just makes me cranky, so if you can keep it up, I would! Also, proper fueling for your runs is so important, this is not a time to be concentrating on your weight loss imo. I wouldn't worry about the weight gain is what I'm getting at, especially if you're losing inches. This sums up why I hate the scale so much! It's just a number.

    Hehe, never sacrifice fuel for a calorie deficit. I wouldn't do well.

    He wants me to lay off because he thinks the gain is muscle mass and he's afraid I'm not going to do well emotionally with the gain
  • WakkoW
    WakkoW Posts: 567 Member
    The gain isn't muscle mass. It's fat and maybe some water. It is very easy to overeat.

    I lift four days a week (heavyish, my max back squat is 205, clean & jerk 120, overhead press 85X4) and run six days (40-45 miles per week). I prefer half marathons. The distance is challenging and it's something that can be done in training. I generally don't have days completely off, maybe once a month or so. I do have weeks where I run less and lift lighter.

    So, yes it is doable, but it is also something I have worked up to.

  • Yi5hedr3
    Yi5hedr3 Posts: 2,696 Member
    Stay with heavy weights, keeping carbs under 100 grams/day.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    edited March 2016
    OP, you might not like hearing it but if you've gained weight...you're in a calorie surplus, period. If you've gained but it's fluctuating up and down a lot, you might be experiencing some water retention from added exercise.

    Even with "newbie gains", which are difficult but not impossible to have in a deficit, you are in a deficit-the scale should still be moving downward and you should be getting smaller. If you're eating at maintenance you should stay the same, if you're in a surplus...you gain. It's not news ya know?

    You do say you're measurements are going down though, so that's great. You like the way you're looking, right? Keep with the lifting.

    Just for a little reference, I have also gained about 10 lbs in the past few months. I'm in a surplus and I know it. I lift heavy but we know that some of that gain is fat, and very little of it is muscle. When I'm finished gaining, I probably will have gained somewhere between 10-15 lbs and I would not expect more than 3 lbs to be from muscle.
  • jellebeandesigns
    jellebeandesigns Posts: 347 Member
    Aside from the fact that I log & measure every single thing that goes into my body, I'd agree. But ya know, I didn't ask for nutrition help- I have a nutritionist & med team for that I asked for advice on lifting. I got that- lift heavy for gains on the off season. Lift heavy for running goals in the on season (lighter than I would for gains) for endurance. Don't concentrate on the scale when doing both. These are the things that have been helpful
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    jellebeandesigns wrote: »
    Aside from the fact that I log & measure every single thing that goes into my body, I'd agree. But ya know, I didn't ask for nutrition help- I have a nutritionist & med team for that I asked for advice on lifting. I got that- lift heavy for gains on the off season. Lift heavy for running goals in the on season (lighter than I would for gains) for endurance. Don't concentrate on the scale when doing both. These are the things that have been helpful

    Okay. Sounds like you're set then.
  • nordlead2005
    nordlead2005 Posts: 1,303 Member
    edited March 2016
    jellebeandesigns wrote: »
    Aside from the fact that I log & measure every single thing that goes into my body, I'd agree. But ya know, I didn't ask for nutrition help- I have a nutritionist & med team for that I asked for advice on lifting. I got that- lift heavy for gains on the off season. Lift heavy for running goals in the on season (lighter than I would for gains) for endurance. Don't concentrate on the scale when doing both. These are the things that have been helpful

    Logging and weighing everything you eat is only half the equation. If your CO estimate is off then you can easily eat to gain weight. My TDEE dropped by ~200 calories/day based on weight loss and it now being winter (less walking), and being in the lab less (less standing, more sitting).

    If you want to build strength, lift heavy. If your priorities shift then change your lifting strategies. Lifting heavy will not make you gain weight ever, but eating in a surplus will.

    But, if you want to stop lifting because you are eating too much, then go right ahead, but you won't get the results you expect.
  • jellebeandesigns
    jellebeandesigns Posts: 347 Member
    I
    nordlead2005 wrote: »
    jellebeandesigns wrote: »
    Aside from the fact that I log & measure every single thing that goes into my body, I'd agree. But ya know, I didn't ask for nutrition help- I have a nutritionist & med team for that I asked for advice on lifting. I got that- lift heavy for gains on the off season. Lift heavy for running goals in the on season (lighter than I would for gains) for endurance. Don't concentrate on the scale when doing both. These are the things that have been helpful

    Logging and weighing everything you eat is only half the equation. If your CO estimate is off then you can easily eat to gain weight. My TDEE dropped by ~200 calories/day based on weight loss and it now being winter (less walking), and being in the lab less (less standing, more sitting).

    If you want to build strength, lift heavy. If your priorities shift then change your lifting strategies. Lifting heavy will not make you gain weight ever, but eating in a surplus will.

    But, if you want to stop lifting because you are eating too much, then go right ahead, but you won't get the results you expect.

    I have my calories based on my Fitbit, co is off my lowest resent weight, which would be lower than it is now. Again- nutritionist is helping with ensuring that my calories on vs calories out are correct.
    I'm not giving up on lifting but super appreciate the snark
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    jellebeandesigns wrote: »
    I
    nordlead2005 wrote: »
    jellebeandesigns wrote: »
    Aside from the fact that I log & measure every single thing that goes into my body, I'd agree. But ya know, I didn't ask for nutrition help- I have a nutritionist & med team for that I asked for advice on lifting. I got that- lift heavy for gains on the off season. Lift heavy for running goals in the on season (lighter than I would for gains) for endurance. Don't concentrate on the scale when doing both. These are the things that have been helpful

    Logging and weighing everything you eat is only half the equation. If your CO estimate is off then you can easily eat to gain weight. My TDEE dropped by ~200 calories/day based on weight loss and it now being winter (less walking), and being in the lab less (less standing, more sitting).

    If you want to build strength, lift heavy. If your priorities shift then change your lifting strategies. Lifting heavy will not make you gain weight ever, but eating in a surplus will.

    But, if you want to stop lifting because you are eating too much, then go right ahead, but you won't get the results you expect.

    I have my calories based on my Fitbit, co is off my lowest resent weight, which would be lower than it is now. Again- nutritionist is helping with ensuring that my calories on vs calories out are correct.
    I'm not giving up on lifting but super appreciate the snark

    Lovely. Good luck to you. Hopefully you figure out why you are a special snowflake and gaining weight in a deficit.
  • jellebeandesigns
    jellebeandesigns Posts: 347 Member
    arditarose wrote: »
    jellebeandesigns wrote: »
    I
    nordlead2005 wrote: »
    jellebeandesigns wrote: »
    Aside from the fact that I log & measure every single thing that goes into my body, I'd agree. But ya know, I didn't ask for nutrition help- I have a nutritionist & med team for that I asked for advice on lifting. I got that- lift heavy for gains on the off season. Lift heavy for running goals in the on season (lighter than I would for gains) for endurance. Don't concentrate on the scale when doing both. These are the things that have been helpful

    Logging and weighing everything you eat is only half the equation. If your CO estimate is off then you can easily eat to gain weight. My TDEE dropped by ~200 calories/day based on weight loss and it now being winter (less walking), and being in the lab less (less standing, more sitting).

    If you want to build strength, lift heavy. If your priorities shift then change your lifting strategies. Lifting heavy will not make you gain weight ever, but eating in a surplus will.

    But, if you want to stop lifting because you are eating too much, then go right ahead, but you won't get the results you expect.

    I have my calories based on my Fitbit, co is off my lowest resent weight, which would be lower than it is now. Again- nutritionist is helping with ensuring that my calories on vs calories out are correct.
    I'm not giving up on lifting but super appreciate the snark

    Lovely. Good luck to you. Hopefully you figure out why you are a special snowflake and gaining weight in a deficit.

    Thanks, I hope that you're never in a position where your body is not doing what it's supposed to and when you seek help someone is a snarky jerk.
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