3 weeks in...
NadNight
Posts: 794 Member
It's been 3 weeks since I started trying to change my whole mindset and goals and focus on gaining muscle. It feels like it was months ago! 3 weeks isn't very long but I feel like I've just hit a breakthrough and wanted to reflect on the last couple of weeks.
Prior to this, I was all about weight loss. I lost 25lbs and actually ended up underweight. I didn't look or feel unhealthy, it seemed sustainable but it's not actually healthy to be underweight. So despite being reasonably happy with the way I was I decided to start trying to gain to get up to a healthier weight, as well as the exercise being a great way to let off steam, meet new people, challenge myself. I can easily lose weight and discuss that with people but the process of muscle and weight gain is new territory and a new thing for me to learn. Plus it's an excuse to buy new gym clothes!
As of today I can actually manage to do press-ups (which my weedy arms have never been able to do properly but I can do 20 without stopping now which many not sound like much but it's an achievement!) and I've been asked to compete in my first competitive swim meet in 6 years!
I've had some difficulties. There have been times when I've struggled with food as eating more isn't difficult but eating more of the right foods is surprisingly hard. I've been finding ways to sneak more eggs and nuts and seeds in though as well as being quite liberal with the olive oil...and going for the extra large slices of cake! (All in moderation right?). After training myself to have smaller portions, choose lower calorie/low fat alternatives, restraint around a lot of sweet foods and other weight loss related habits, I've felt almost guilty at times.
Although the physical results of course aren't mind-blowing yet, I feel like mentally I'm achieving so much by changing the mindset I've had for years and I've pushed myself out of my comfort zone by joining in with activities with total strangers when I was far from peak fitness and feeling like a right wally for being so out of shape. And even when I felt rubbish, I talked myself into not quitting.
As for the weight gain, it hasn't really started happening yet (I think I've gained about a lb...) and I have actually lost almost an inch off my waist but that has come off without a loss in weight which I think is a good sign!
Prior to this, I was all about weight loss. I lost 25lbs and actually ended up underweight. I didn't look or feel unhealthy, it seemed sustainable but it's not actually healthy to be underweight. So despite being reasonably happy with the way I was I decided to start trying to gain to get up to a healthier weight, as well as the exercise being a great way to let off steam, meet new people, challenge myself. I can easily lose weight and discuss that with people but the process of muscle and weight gain is new territory and a new thing for me to learn. Plus it's an excuse to buy new gym clothes!
As of today I can actually manage to do press-ups (which my weedy arms have never been able to do properly but I can do 20 without stopping now which many not sound like much but it's an achievement!) and I've been asked to compete in my first competitive swim meet in 6 years!
I've had some difficulties. There have been times when I've struggled with food as eating more isn't difficult but eating more of the right foods is surprisingly hard. I've been finding ways to sneak more eggs and nuts and seeds in though as well as being quite liberal with the olive oil...and going for the extra large slices of cake! (All in moderation right?). After training myself to have smaller portions, choose lower calorie/low fat alternatives, restraint around a lot of sweet foods and other weight loss related habits, I've felt almost guilty at times.
Although the physical results of course aren't mind-blowing yet, I feel like mentally I'm achieving so much by changing the mindset I've had for years and I've pushed myself out of my comfort zone by joining in with activities with total strangers when I was far from peak fitness and feeling like a right wally for being so out of shape. And even when I felt rubbish, I talked myself into not quitting.
As for the weight gain, it hasn't really started happening yet (I think I've gained about a lb...) and I have actually lost almost an inch off my waist but that has come off without a loss in weight which I think is a good sign!
8
Replies
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Looking amazing!! Changing your mindset like that takes time.. it will get easier.
Keep up the great work, and keep up the gaining
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Congrats, you look healthier. Might I suggest full-fat milk as a possible choice for bulking?0
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Keep it going, add weight to the bar, don't be afraid to get into big compound movements.2
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Nice to see your plan is starting to work. .5lbs a week would be a good gain goal while you are strength training.
You are looking good, and congrats on the push-ups.
Cheers, h.0 -
I've always been super skinny and underweight. My goal is to gain weight through lifting. Last month, Oct 5th I weighed in at 99lbs (last year Oct I was 93), and in one month, yesterday on Nov 5th, I weighed in at 108.4 some of this must have been bloating because this morning I weighed 103.9. But either way, that's a lot to gain in only a month's time. For reference, I am 5'3.
I like what you're doing. I especially like that you've gained weight while slimming down your waist. That's exactly what I NEED. Because I'm starting to wonder whether all the weight I've gained was fat.
My belly is a lot bigger. My jeans no longer fit. And I don't want to get fat. I want to gain muscle weight.
I've been lifting as heavy as I possibly can without losing form. Any tips and advice is welcome.
Feel free to add me. I need friends that are on the same health journey.
Thanks!!0 -
I contend that mind set is everything. It takes awhile to change things. it takes perseverance and dedication to change something that is really ingrained.
Hey, ask anyone to do 20 push ups and you are going to hear 1,000,001 excuses as to why they can not. Guess what? You can!!!!!
Getting out of your comfort zone is HUGE! I am telling you (don't really need to....you already know) but doing that swim meet is going to change your world. I betcha that you turn into a fish after that! I betcha you catch the swim bug and start doing all sorts of amazing and awesome things. Look out! Here she comes!
Congrats on the super difficult mind set shift. Much respect to you.0 -
Good job...0
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