Gaining weight while lifting?

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shaynataggart
shaynataggart Posts: 71 Member
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
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Replies

  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,268 Member
    edited August 2016
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    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: 27,973 Member
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    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
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    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
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    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: 15,268 Member
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    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: 32,432 Member
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    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
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    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
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    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
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    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
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    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
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    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: 15,268 Member
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    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
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    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
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    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
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    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
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    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
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    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
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    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
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    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.

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