adding muscle and increase clothing size

L

lulu68

Cathlete
Ok, I have a question.

I have been a size 2 & 3 all adult life and lately when I go try on size 3 clothes it fits snug, when you increase your muscle size does your clothes size also go up? All my old clothes thats size 2 & 3 still fits, so confusing. I use to weigh about 100 pounds I have added about 9 pounds of muscle I was starting to look to bulky for my own taste I have gone down to 106, I just dont want to get trap in this looking skinny minnie look, although is tempting. Please advice!

Lulu
 
Hi Lulu - I've been a size 10 for most of my adult life, but when I started heavy weight training and putting on muscle, I found that certain types of clothing starting to snug up. For instance, my back has gotten broader. To the point where I can't find button up shirts that fit well all the way around (if it fits well in the back, it's too baggy in the front) so I end up sticking with stretchy knits and such and they're comfy and look great.

You might find that you end up looking for clothes that are cut differently, from different manufacturers, use different fabrics, etc. Check out places like Athleta who make clothing for fit, muscular women.

9lbs of muscle is quite an accomplishment! Embrace that!
 
Keep in mind too that not all clothing lines fit the same. There is not a standard measurement for sizes. Although I wish there were it would make life so much easier!
 
Adding muscle will make certain clothes feel snug. I use to wear a size small and am now in a medium for my tops. But also, it seems clothing is made smaller now. I have size 5 pants at home that I can slide right into. I try on a size 5 in the stores and I can't get them past my knees. So I have no idea what's going on there. The pant legs are about as wide around as my arms. Who the hell has legs that small???
 
How do you know when you've gained 9 lbs of muscle? I don't know how to tell if what I've gained is muscle or just regular ol' weight gain. Is there a specific way to tell?
 
I'd go with the calipers, as most body fat scales are useless and inaccurate. I think it's important to know whether it's muscle or fat, otherwise you might keep doing something that isn't effective for your goals. Most gyms or health clubs offer body fat testing for a small fee ($10-$15).
 
Fitnessfreakk366 said:
Adding muscle will make certain clothes feel snug. I use to wear a size small and am now in a medium for my tops. But also, it seems clothing is made smaller now. I have size 5 pants at home that I can slide right into. I try on a size 5 in the stores and I can't get them past my knees. So I have no idea what's going on there. The pant legs are about as wide around as my arms. Who the hell has legs that small???
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You know it's so funny you say that Debbie because the other day I went into H&M and I was trying on a shirt that was my usual size and the damn buttons would not close and the arms felt so tight. So I had to go 2 sizes up and was like WTF????? So I went home and check the tag on the old H&M shirt and it was my normal size tried it on and it was fine. So I'm thinking to myself what the heck is going on here are they making the freakin clothes smaller or is it just my imagination???? It was driving me nuts for days....LOL
 
messyjess said:
You know it's so funny you say that Debbie because the other day I went into H&M and I was trying on a shirt that was my usual size and the damn buttons would not close and the arms felt so tight. So I had to go 2 sizes up and was like WTF????? So I went home and check the tag on the old H&M shirt and it was my normal size tried it on and it was fine. So I'm thinking to myself what the heck is going on here are they making the freakin clothes smaller or is it just my imagination???? It was driving me nuts for days....LOL
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I think they are making clothes smaller again. Seriously, what is wrong with these manufactures? Teenage girls have a hard enough time staying thin and now they have to make them feel worse? I think it's wrong. I actually had to a buy a size 8 in jeans and I was mad about that. I guess we shouldn't get so hung up on numbers, but how else are we suppose to tell if we are gaining weight or not? Yeesh!!!

And I agree, calipers are the best way to check bodyfat.
 
Another vote for calipers. As long as they're used right they're the most effective way to measure.

ITA about clothes--why oh why must I be 2 sizes smaller on top than on the bottom? I know it ain't my boobs! :eek:
 
Unfortunately since there is no standard in the clothing industry, the numbers truly don't mean anything. I have clothes in my closet that range from size 4 to size 12 and they all fit me about the same!! How weird is that?

Also, I'm a bit leery of the caliper measuring too... I was measured that way before many years ago, and I had different people measuring me w/ different calipers.. I knew I had made some progress on getting my body fat down on the second measurement, but the second measurement was worse than the first.

So, now I rely on the tape measure and the mirror. I also have a bathing suit I'll put on see how I'm doing as well. That will give the most accurate evaluations.

Take care, Lynn M.
 
Wow, 9 lbs of muscle!!! That's quite impressive! How many hours a day do you have to lift for that? And how long did it take you to get there?
 
Sometimes manufacturers will use vanity sizing to coax you into paying more!!!

I had that experience shopping a few months back. A clerk brought me two pair of pants from the same designer, and one had a smaller size number (both fit equally well). The smaller number was on the more upscale/expensive/not on sale item. Quality seemed about the same.

The clerk was absolutely floored when I chose to go with the less expensive pair. "Don't you want the smaller size?" she gasped.

I told her: they are exactly the same size. Why would I pay more for number that shows only on the inside?

But vanity sizing increases the bottom line so it is here to stay :)

Actually strength training is definitely changing my shape in good ways, and I now go for designers who have looser, less fitted arms and shoulders. I'm thinking a tailor will have to be next if my suit jackets are going to fit both in the shoulders and the waist. Anyone else having to go that route?
 
For my lower body, here's an example from my favorite size 14 jeans I've been wearing for about 18 months: When I started serious heavy weight training and hadn't yet addressed my diet the pants were fitting more snug in my thighs, even as the number on the scale was going down. That's because the muscle was developing but I wasn't doing anything to get the fat off. Muscle can only burn so much fat if you keep eating lots of junk. Since I changed my diet and started following the Precision Nutrition 10 Rules the number on the scale has FINALLY started going down again and the jeans have gotten really loose in the waist, a bit looser in the thighs, but the calves are still as tight as ever.

As for my upper body, my usual tees are definitely fitting tighter across the upper back and arm holes. It's worth the trade-off. After detesting my sloped shoulders all my life, I'm finally getting real shape. Can't complain about that!

My body is changing so much all the time I'm learning to keep doing what I'm doing and not freak out if something seems amiss. After a short stretch where it seemed nothing was happening things started taking off again. Yesterday, after hearing no remarks for weeks, three co-workers commented on my "skinniness."

So take a deep breath and keep doing what you should be doing and, eventually, your body will do what IT should be doing.
 
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