Lifting weights, scale not really moving?
billsrule2015
Posts: 46 Member
I lost a whopping 0.2 lbs since early December. I admit, I haven't really logged everything and overate on some days. One thing I have been doing consistently is going to the gym 4X a week and lifting pretty heavy weights, followed by 10-15 mins on the stair climber. Any feedback if lifting can possibly stall weight loss, and should I just ditch the scale for a couple months and then weigh again?
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Replies
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Yes, lifting can cause water retention. But you still need to ensure you're in a calorie deficit by logging everything.2
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If you have not been logging accurately that is where you need to start.6
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billsrule2015 wrote: »I lost a whopping 0.2 lbs since early December. I admit, I haven't really logged everything and overate on some days. One thing I have been doing consistently is going to the gym 4X a week and lifting pretty heavy weights, followed by 10-15 mins on the stair climber. Any feedback if lifting can possibly stall weight loss, and should I just ditch the scale for a couple months and then weigh again?
Bolded part stalled your weightloss.4 -
If your calorie intake is correct and you are not blowing your goals, then it just might be a case of building muscle. If that's the case, judge your weight loss by how your clothes fit and not a scale for a month or two. :-)1
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Losing anything over Xmas is good in my book!3
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Tighten up your food logging and be patient. I don't think ditching the scale is the answer, unless you obsess over it.0
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If your calorie intake is correct and you are not blowing your goals, then it just might be a case of building muscle. If that's the case, judge your weight loss by how your clothes fit and not a scale for a month or two. :-)
Highly doubtful youre gaining enough muscle to off set weight loss.
You answered your own question, the reason you arent losing is because you arent accurately tracking everything.4 -
I would get a measuring tape and measure a few key areas; arms, abdomen, thighs. Mark these numbers down. A month from now, measure them again, and see if you've made progress. This will help determine if you've lost fat and gained muscle.
I would also be strict about the calorie logging, as it really doesn't work unless you are consistent.1 -
just because the scale isn't moving, doesn't mean you aren't changing body comp - my scale has moved all of a 1lb, but i've gone from a size 8 to a size 6 in pants2
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Sounds like you are eating just about exactly what you are burning overall.. You will need to decrease your calorie intake to start losing. If you drop lifting and down change eating habits you will add weight.0
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deannalfisher wrote: »just because the scale isn't moving, doesn't mean you aren't changing body comp - my scale has moved all of a 1lb, but i've gone from a size 8 to a size 6 in pants
totally agree...
OP - based on several factors (body type, balance of macros, rest between training) you may have actually lost fat and gained lean muscle mass.
Do you have a weight-loss or more of a body image goal?
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To all those saying the OP is putting on muscle, the mere fact that calories goals are being exceeded and logging is not consistent is where the issue lies. It is not that easy to put muscle on. If it was, more people would be big and muscular.5
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rileysowner wrote: »To all those saying the OP is putting on muscle, the mere fact that calories goals are being exceeded and logging is not consistent is where the issue lies. It is not that easy to put muscle on. If it was, more people would be big and muscular.
Are you an endomorph? I am and I can build muscle walking to the mailbox.
There's not enough information from the OP to say definitively which is why I stated "you may" before the rest...
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billsrule2015 wrote: »I lost a whopping 0.2 lbs since early December. I admit, I haven't really logged everything and overate on some days. One thing I have been doing consistently is going to the gym 4X a week and lifting pretty heavy weights, followed by 10-15 mins on the stair climber. Any feedback if lifting can possibly stall weight loss, and should I just ditch the scale for a couple months and then weigh again?
There isn't enough info here, it's like saying "Help I work all day and my boss hasn't promoted me, why hasn't he promoted me yet I've been working for a month now"
Hire a trainer IMO you seem lost and need some help for awhile0 -
rileysowner wrote: »To all those saying the OP is putting on muscle, the mere fact that calories goals are being exceeded and logging is not consistent is where the issue lies. It is not that easy to put muscle on. If it was, more people would be big and muscular.
Are you an endomorph? I am and I can build muscle walking to the mailbox.
There's not enough information from the OP to say definitively which is why I stated "you may" before the rest...
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Trying to lose weight, while getting more muscle and less fat. I def know my logging hasnt been diligent. I need to change that. I feel like I am more in shape, less bloated. Clothes feel the same, maybe the slightest hint of feeling little more loose.0
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rileysowner wrote: »To all those saying the OP is putting on muscle, the mere fact that calories goals are being exceeded and logging is not consistent is where the issue lies. It is not that easy to put muscle on. If it was, more people would be big and muscular.
Are you an endomorph? I am and I can build muscle walking to the mailbox.
There's not enough information from the OP to say definitively which is why I stated "you may" before the rest...
Somatotypes aren't a thing. And yes, while the OP could have gained some muscle, especially if they are brand new to lifting, it's not a significant amount. The issue here is their logging.4 -
rileysowner wrote: »To all those saying the OP is putting on muscle, the mere fact that calories goals are being exceeded and logging is not consistent is where the issue lies. It is not that easy to put muscle on. If it was, more people would be big and muscular.
Are you an endomorph? I am and I can build muscle walking to the mailbox.
There's not enough information from the OP to say definitively which is why I stated "you may" before the rest...
the whole somatotypes thing is a myth, so you are not an endomorph and there is way more that goes into building muscle then eating "a little over" and lifting 4x a week ...4 -
billsrule2015 wrote: »Trying to lose weight, while getting more muscle and less fat. I def know my logging hasnt been diligent. I need to change that. I feel like I am more in shape, less bloated. Clothes feel the same, maybe the slightest hint of feeling little more loose.
I would suggest going with one goal at a time..something like..
1. foucs on getting your weight down and your body fat to 15% (assuming you are a male)
2. once you hit that goal you can determine if you want to run some bulk/cut cycles, or recomp.
you really can't do all three - lose weight, gain muscle, and lose fat - all at the same time.
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rileysowner wrote: »To all those saying the OP is putting on muscle, the mere fact that calories goals are being exceeded and logging is not consistent is where the issue lies. It is not that easy to put muscle on. If it was, more people would be big and muscular.
Are you an endomorph? I am and I can build muscle walking to the mailbox.
There's not enough information from the OP to say definitively which is why I stated "you may" before the rest...
the whole somatotypes thing is a myth, so you are not an endomorph and there is way more that goes into building muscle then eating "a little over" and lifting 4x a week ...
So you're saying that generally, you can't classify people into one of three different body types based on composition or genetics?samanthaluangphixay wrote: »rileysowner wrote: »To all those saying the OP is putting on muscle, the mere fact that calories goals are being exceeded and logging is not consistent is where the issue lies. It is not that easy to put muscle on. If it was, more people would be big and muscular.
Are you an endomorph? I am and I can build muscle walking to the mailbox.
There's not enough information from the OP to say definitively which is why I stated "you may" before the rest...
^---read above.
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rileysowner wrote: »To all those saying the OP is putting on muscle, the mere fact that calories goals are being exceeded and logging is not consistent is where the issue lies. It is not that easy to put muscle on. If it was, more people would be big and muscular.
Are you an endomorph? I am and I can build muscle walking to the mailbox.
There's not enough information from the OP to say definitively which is why I stated "you may" before the rest...
the whole somatotypes thing is a myth, so you are not an endomorph and there is way more that goes into building muscle then eating "a little over" and lifting 4x a week ...
So you're saying that generally, you can't classify people into one of three different body types based on composition or genetics?samanthaluangphixay wrote: »rileysowner wrote: »To all those saying the OP is putting on muscle, the mere fact that calories goals are being exceeded and logging is not consistent is where the issue lies. It is not that easy to put muscle on. If it was, more people would be big and muscular.
Are you an endomorph? I am and I can build muscle walking to the mailbox.
There's not enough information from the OP to say definitively which is why I stated "you may" before the rest...
^---read above.
While you can put people into categories (hell, categories such as pear-shape, apple, hourglass, etc exist)...it is just a way to describe a bodytype. It has no bearing on whether or not that person has the potential to put on muscle mass. It was originally developed as a classification system based on looks, nothing more.
Because I may be one shape and my neighbour may be the same shape as me (pear for example) has no bearing on whether we gain muscle in the same manner.0 -
rileysowner wrote: »To all those saying the OP is putting on muscle, the mere fact that calories goals are being exceeded and logging is not consistent is where the issue lies. It is not that easy to put muscle on. If it was, more people would be big and muscular.
Are you an endomorph? I am and I can build muscle walking to the mailbox.
Maybe if your walk to the mailbox is to pick up your latest shipment of anabolics. If that's you in your profile pic, are you saying you built your physique doing nothing more than walking back and forth to the mailbox? Or did you get under some iron and push it at some point along the way?
As far as somatotypes, they're about as valid as astrology. They were made up by a psychologist after he looked at pictures of people, and very few people fit neatly into any one of his categories.
OP's issue is one of two things (or a combination thereof): Not logging accurately, thus eating too many calories; and/or water weight retention from his training masking actual weight loss.2 -
rileysowner wrote: »To all those saying the OP is putting on muscle, the mere fact that calories goals are being exceeded and logging is not consistent is where the issue lies. It is not that easy to put muscle on. If it was, more people would be big and muscular.
Are you an endomorph? I am and I can build muscle walking to the mailbox.
Maybe if your walk to the mailbox is to pick up your latest shipment of anabolics.
And somatotypes are as valid as astrology.
I take offense to that and frankly, feel sorry for you.
I'm glad you thought it was necessary to attack my character. You must be so proud of yourself.
Note that I chimed in to help the OP...not to give you a reason to up your "impressive" 9k+ posts...
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No insult/attack intended, but my question (see edit) is valid. Did you build your physique through walks to the mailbox, or did you engage in a progressive weight training program for a fairly long time period? I think it's disingenuous to give people the notion that building muscle is an effortless process.2
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rileysowner wrote: »To all those saying the OP is putting on muscle, the mere fact that calories goals are being exceeded and logging is not consistent is where the issue lies. It is not that easy to put muscle on. If it was, more people would be big and muscular.
Are you an endomorph? I am and I can build muscle walking to the mailbox.
There's not enough information from the OP to say definitively which is why I stated "you may" before the rest...
the whole somatotypes thing is a myth, so you are not an endomorph and there is way more that goes into building muscle then eating "a little over" and lifting 4x a week ...
So you're saying that generally, you can't classify people into one of three different body types based on composition or genetics?samanthaluangphixay wrote: »rileysowner wrote: »To all those saying the OP is putting on muscle, the mere fact that calories goals are being exceeded and logging is not consistent is where the issue lies. It is not that easy to put muscle on. If it was, more people would be big and muscular.
Are you an endomorph? I am and I can build muscle walking to the mailbox.
There's not enough information from the OP to say definitively which is why I stated "you may" before the rest...
^---read above.
i am saying that somatotypes are a myth...
you can classify anybody into any category that you want, does not make it accurate or science based; it just means that you made up some classification ...1 -
rileysowner wrote: »To all those saying the OP is putting on muscle, the mere fact that calories goals are being exceeded and logging is not consistent is where the issue lies. It is not that easy to put muscle on. If it was, more people would be big and muscular.
Are you an endomorph? I am and I can build muscle walking to the mailbox.
Maybe if your walk to the mailbox is to pick up your latest shipment of anabolics.
And somatotypes are as valid as astrology.
I take offense to that and frankly, feel sorry for you.
I'm glad you thought it was necessary to attack my character. You must be so proud of yourself.
Note that I chimed in to help the OP...not to give you a reason to up your "impressive" 9k+ posts...
Lol i love how your come back to having your character attacked is by attacking theirs, no reason to bring up how much someone posts, some people have been on here a long time and have learned a lot and want to share their knowledge.
Its great youre trying to help and all but you need to realize for someone begining their fitness journey, you have to be careful what you say as to not cause confusion or misconceptions.
Most people cannot put on muscle that easily, and esp not enough to off set weight on the scale.
Its very clear from what OP has said that their problem is inaccurate calorie tracking, not that they are putting on muscle while losing fat. OP is in a very small deficit or not in one at all, thats why they arent losing.
OP most likely the weight lifting will only cause water rention whoch would effect numbers on the scale esp. When you first start but that should taper off.
Keep lifting it helps retain muscle, and make more of the weight loss come from fat.
Whether or not you weigh yourself is up to you but make sure youre always tracking calorie intake as accurately as possible. Measurements and progress pictures are great as well.
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The pic is me. I had just decided to practice some posing after a workout, difficult to do by yourself I might add! I was 175 in the picture, down from 210 ~8 months before. I think to explain will justify as hi-jacking, but your edit deserves my reply.
I was an amateur BB in college, training came easy as I played several sports growing up. If I eat what I want and don't exercise I stay around 210, roughly 20% BF. I can get from my lazy weight/image to the picture in 7-10mos anytime. I have done this three times since 2007, with weight training being non-existent in the two years or so between fat me and fit me.
I'm 32 now and I know my body's adaptability has much to do with muscle memory and knowing what works for me as far as diet/training go. I believe though, that I fit into a specific category of easy gainer/hard loser.
My only goal through this conversation has been to relate to the OP (based on my experience) and offer a suggestion based on the limited information at hand.
I truly do not wish to mislead anyone, that was never my intention.
I asked a question in an attempt to get more information.
I would've appreciated the same courtesy prior to the steroid comment.1 -
Funny, a lot of people with sound advice but the question that NO ONE has asked is....what is your goal? Lose weight? Gain weigh and build muscle? Tone? Cant answer anything till any of us know this.1
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My first post asked about his goal(s)....0
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rileysowner wrote: »To all those saying the OP is putting on muscle, the mere fact that calories goals are being exceeded and logging is not consistent is where the issue lies. It is not that easy to put muscle on. If it was, more people would be big and muscular.
Are you an endomorph? I am and I can build muscle walking to the mailbox.
There's not enough information from the OP to say definitively which is why I stated "you may" before the rest...
the whole somatotypes thing is a myth, so you are not an endomorph and there is way more that goes into building muscle then eating "a little over" and lifting 4x a week ...
So you're saying that generally, you can't classify people into one of three different body types based on composition or genetics?samanthaluangphixay wrote: »rileysowner wrote: »To all those saying the OP is putting on muscle, the mere fact that calories goals are being exceeded and logging is not consistent is where the issue lies. It is not that easy to put muscle on. If it was, more people would be big and muscular.
Are you an endomorph? I am and I can build muscle walking to the mailbox.
There's not enough information from the OP to say definitively which is why I stated "you may" before the rest...
^---read above.
i am saying that somatotypes are a myth...
you can classify anybody into any category that you want, does not make it accurate or science based; it just means that you made up some classification ...
not really...all I'm really doing is making a very general statement.
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