BodyBuilding-Weight Gain And I'm Not Sure Why

I'm having the same problem. I gained a few pounds when I started strength training regularly with heavy weights instead of the circuit machines with cardio mixed in. I upped my calories to 1,700 and changed to a 40% protein macro ratio. But I haven't lost any inches or weight in 2 weeks, so for me it's not about getting fitter but weighing more. I think I'm at a real "stall."

I asked my friends on my wall about it and the suggestion I got was to stop eating back my exercise calories. It seems that the 1,700 is a maintenance level for me (no loss, no gain), so I should just eat at maintenance and let my exercise count as the calorie deficit. Problem is, when I exercise I get hungry, lol.

Oh well, something's gotta give eventually. We'll get there Cyndi!

P.S. you may not be eating more because of it, but is it possible quitting smoking has had some metabolic effect on you? I know nicotine is a stimulant. Not suggesting you start smoking again, but I think if maybe that's part of it, then you can write this off as a small speed bump on the road to better OVERALL health! Because quitting smoking is certainly one of the best things you can do for your health.

Rock on, sister!!

I'm 5'2 and 168 lbs. I've been lifting since the beginning of February. I also do cardio like elliptical intervals, brisk walking, or even jogging. When I first started in Feb. I was lifting 4-6x a week. Now I'm down to lifting 3-4x a week. I lift heavy. I'm getting stronger because I used to bench at 45, 65, and now I'm at 80 lbs but I've gained 6 lbs. I feel like my stomach is getting bigger as well. And of course that is the only area I really want to lose weight from. Grrr.....

Back in Feb I was probably netting around 1500 cals. Then I got worried and started netting anywhere from 800-1200 for a couple of weeks and started to get real cranky so I stopped that. Now for the last 2 wks I started netting 1750. I don't eat back my exercise calories unless I am really hungry and need them.

I'm not losing inches or weight. What gives?! It is very fraustrating but I have to believe that at some point something has to change.

I didnt read thru all the comments so ill just give my personal opinion of experience. I started lifting or more heavy lifting about two months ago, I was shocked that after about three weeks i gained about 5 pounds, but looked way better. I decided to throw my scale away, because that stupid number is nothing but a dumb number. I went to the gym last monday and they were checking body fat percentage, so i decided to weigh myself first, and i had lost those 5 plus another 3!! And my body fat percentage dropped down to a 14.1!! But also in these last two months i have upped my calories to 1500 plus i wear a Heart rate monitor and eat most of my workout calories!! Im also 5'10!

Sounds impressive. Is 14.1 a bit low or looks good on you?

opps

Throw away your scale for a couple of months.

^This

If you're working hard and eating right, why do you care what the scale says? (For slimming down anyways)

If you're trying to measure results over anything less than a few months you're doing it wrong.