Gaining weight while lifting?

shaynataggart
shaynataggart Posts: 71 Member
edited December 3 in Health and Weight Loss
Im a bit confused as I do both cardio and weightlifting. I started seriously lifting about three weeks ago and ive gained like 5 lbs. I know i need to refine my diet but is this generally normal, to gain? Thanks in advance

Replies

  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    edited August 2016
    It could be water/glycogen stores from the extra exercise

    or

    You are eating more than you think.

    ETA or both

    Do you weigh your food? are you in a deficit? do you eat back exercise calories? if so how many?

    but I only gained a couple lbs due to water and it went away after a couple weeks.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    My scale went up seven pounds when I started lifting weights again last fall, and it did take a few weeks for that water weight to come back off.
  • coachsaralee
    coachsaralee Posts: 29 Member
    Gaining muscle is great! You can be much smaller and weigh more IF it's muscle trading for fat. If you have access to get your metabolic numbers done, that can tell you what's happening. If not, try measuring and see if you are losing inches.

    What is your goal?
  • jessiferrrb
    jessiferrrb Posts: 1,758 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    My scale went up seven pounds when I started lifting weights again last fall, and it did take a few weeks for that water weight to come back off.

    can this happen even if you're not lifting heavy? i've just been doing a squat challenge (normally i'm all cardio) and i know i'm retaining water because i can see it in my ankles (not TOM / sodium) but it's been 2 weeks.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    coachsaralee wrote: »
    Gaining muscle is great! You can be much smaller and weigh more IF it's muscle trading for fat. If you have access to get your metabolic numbers done, that can tell you what's happening. If not, try measuring and see if you are losing inches.

    What is your goal?

    how is she gaining muscle?
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,622 Member
    Your body tends to hold onto some extra water to aid in muscle repair, so your weight can go up. Don't worry; it shouldn't keep going up & up. If you're at a calorie deficit, your fat loss will soon outpace the water weight and you'll see the scale weight dropping again. Drink plenty of water - it's maybe counterintuitive, but drinking water doesn't in itself increase retained water weight, and can help to shed it in some circumstances.
  • shaynataggart
    shaynataggart Posts: 71 Member
    Yeah like i said i have to refine my food and log religiously. I just generally wanted to know if this is common. And yes i know i didnt gain 5 lbs of muscle, hence my inqury...
  • shaynataggart
    shaynataggart Posts: 71 Member
    My goal is to lean out and shape my body. Ive lost 135 lbs already so now im trying to tighten up.
  • coachsaralee
    coachsaralee Posts: 29 Member
    SezxyStef wrote: »
    coachsaralee wrote: »
    Gaining muscle is great! You can be much smaller and weigh more IF it's muscle trading for fat. If you have access to get your metabolic numbers done, that can tell you what's happening. If not, try measuring and see if you are losing inches.

    What is your goal?

    how is she gaining muscle?

    Don't know for sure without having it measured which is what I recommended. People focus too much on the weight and get discouraged. If she is gaining fat, it's about the meal plan. 80% nutrition, 20% workout
  • LPflaum
    LPflaum Posts: 174 Member
    If your diet hasn't materially changed, there's a good chance this is water. I do light strength training 3 days a week, with two tempo training days (medium weight LOTS of reps), by Friday afternoon my whole body is swollen and retaining water, 24-48 hours later I look the leanest I will look all week, and then monday the cycle restarts.

    Make sure you are drinking PLENTY of water, your body will hoard it as it tries to repair your muscles. When this alleviates is different for everyone, my water weight started coming off faster when I got fit enough that my muscles weren't sore every day anymore.
  • OldHound
    OldHound Posts: 17 Member
    Are you consuming more sports drinks than before? How about pre or post workout supplements? It seems you might be consuming "hidden" calories.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    coachsaralee wrote: »
    SezxyStef wrote: »
    coachsaralee wrote: »
    Gaining muscle is great! You can be much smaller and weigh more IF it's muscle trading for fat. If you have access to get your metabolic numbers done, that can tell you what's happening. If not, try measuring and see if you are losing inches.

    What is your goal?

    how is she gaining muscle?

    Don't know for sure without having it measured which is what I recommended. People focus too much on the weight and get discouraged. If she is gaining fat, it's about the meal plan. 80% nutrition, 20% workout

    she isnt' gaining muscle is my point.

    5lbs is most likely water/glycogen.

    "I started seriously lifting about three weeks ago and ive gained like 5 lbs"

    based on this statement it is new exercise

    And gaining weight is 100% eating...you don't need to exercise to lose weight.
  • nickisa28
    nickisa28 Posts: 116 Member
    Yes, pretty normal if you aren't eating at a deficit. That's what will make you lose weight. You are adding muscle to your body without losing fat so to me it makes sense that you've gained weight. Also, I never pay attention to the scales on the day of and after a workout. When your muscles are recovering, they hold water which will affect the scales.
  • Muscleflex79
    Muscleflex79 Posts: 1,917 Member
    coachsaralee wrote: »
    Gaining muscle is great! You can be much smaller and weigh more IF it's muscle trading for fat. If you have access to get your metabolic numbers done, that can tell you what's happening. If not, try measuring and see if you are losing inches.

    What is your goal?

    LOL. No. She did not gain 5lbs of muscle in 3 weeks!
  • Carlos_421
    Carlos_421 Posts: 5,132 Member
    coachsaralee wrote: »
    Gaining muscle is great! You can be much smaller and weigh more IF it's muscle trading for fat. If you have access to get your metabolic numbers done, that can tell you what's happening. If not, try measuring and see if you are losing inches.

    What is your goal?

    Nobody gains muscle that fast coach.

    In fact, newbie lifters don't gain muscle mass at all for a few weeks. Their muscles will first learn to work more efficiently, triggering fibers in better unison, thus leading to strength gains without size gains.
  • shaynataggart
    shaynataggart Posts: 71 Member
    Why are the majority of the responses so turse? I asked an honest question and in no way did i imagine id gained 5 lbs of muscle.
  • shaynataggart
    shaynataggart Posts: 71 Member
    So unless you are a doctor, a sports medicine specialist ,a kinesiologist please spare me your negative commentary. I need real responses from real people who had this issue.
  • ltatar23
    ltatar23 Posts: 1 Member
    Same thing has happened to me. I'm told that it is water weight because of the increased exercise your muscles are inflamed and it should start to fall off if you continue. You're increasing your metabolism when you exercise, which will burn off more calories in the long run. Keep watching the calories and keep moving. Someone told me it takes 4 weeks for you to notice a difference and 8 weeks for others to notice.
  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
    shaynataggart wrote: »
    So unless you are a doctor, a sports medicine specialist ,a kinesiologist please spare me your negative commentary. I need real responses from real people who had this issue.

    Everyone who ever started a new exercise plan have had this issue. It's common. So luckily, a lot of folks qualify to answer by your standard.

    No one is being negative, just correcting false information.
  • ole496
    ole496 Posts: 32 Member
    You shocked your body, that's all. The others are right, you are retaining water and glycogen and the body isn't going to give up anything until it settles in. Give it a few weeks to get on track, be consistent with your workouts and food and it will all come back full circle.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    shaynataggart wrote: »
    So unless you are a doctor, a sports medicine specialist ,a kinesiologist please spare me your negative commentary. I need real responses from real people who had this issue.

    Just a minute

    The people responding "tersely" (although I read laughingly) are talking to the poster (Coach Sarah Lee) who started talking about you gaining muscle and muscle weighing more in 3 weeks

    Because that comes up time and time again

    What you are experiencing is water weight gain from a new exercise programme

    If your diet is not in order you may well have put on a couple of pounds of fat within that

    If you, OP, are a brand new female lifter doing everything right...excellent progressive programme and good diet incorporating adequate protein ...then you might put on about 1/2 lb muscle in that time


    By the way you need to get your defecit in order if you are aiming to lose weight

  • shaynataggart
    shaynataggart Posts: 71 Member
    Thank you for your honest replies. I dont take well to negativity, especially when im being absolutely serious. I am glad I am not the only one experiencing this. It is similar to the glycogen you lose when you eat low carb for example, but in reverse. Instead of losing glycogen, you gain it and water in your muscles. I fully understand now and thanks again for your help.
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