? for Heavy Lifters

gidget1978

gidget1978

Cathlete
I just recently (within the past month) started lifting heavier weights. I only workout at home so you know I can only go so heavy with legs b/c I have no help. To tell you the truth I have been going heavier with my UB while only uping the weights on my lower body by 20-25%.
My question is, is it possible for the scale to go up 2-3 lbs in one month from lifting heavy.
I followed the GS Series for 2 weeks,using the same weight as Cathe. Then I moved unto 4DS for 2 weeks, using the same as Cathe or heavier and then last week I went back to the GS, again going as heavy as I could which at times is heavier then Cathe uses. EX: If cathe uses a 10 lbs db,, I will use 12 lbs. You get the pic:)
I just looked back in my journal and on Jan 1st, I was 119 lbs. Today I was 121 lbs but have times I have been up to 122 lbs. My goal was to stay below 120 lbs but Im not sure if that is going to be possible when lifting heavier.
I also looked at my measurments but they are pretty much the same.Ive went up about 1/4" in my hip area which isn't a big deal b/c they only measure 34 1/4". But for some reason most days I feel bloated and my work pants have become a little snugger around my waist even though my measurements appear to be the same.
To tell you the truth my weight gain seemed to appear after a weekend of careless eating. I haven't been able to get back down to 117-118 since that weekend. I blamed it on my bad eating but I think I would have taken it off by now. I do put in some very long workouts but I have a major sweet tooth at the same time.
I just thought I would throw this question out to anyone who lifts heavier. Ive never done this before so I really don't know what to expect.Before I decide to go super strict with my eating, is this just normal and muscle gain?

Thanks!
Lori:)
 
Hi Lori.

As someone who is new to heavy lifting the possibility that your muscles are retaining a bit of water is VERY possible but this is temporary and nothing to worry about.

There is ALSO the possibility that you are gaining muscle mass but have not experienced any fat loss. I have seen your pics. I do not know what your bf% is but you are obviously very lean. It would not surprise me if this is what has happened.

Just my thoughts. Perhaps someone else will have a different insight.:)
 
Thanks Wendy! I guess i should have added my BF% in there.
Im 5'4"...121.8 (as of today) and my bf% is 10.2% according to my reader. I would like to go somewhere professional and get it done but there is no where around here!

Lori:)
 
Ditto.
Also, I weigh myself every day, at the same time and before breakfast and after bathroom...... and a 3 lb weight fluctuation over a week (even 2-3 lbs from one day to the next) is normal and not necessarily fat. Weight can come from muscle, amount of stored glycogen (which can change day to day), water weight and waste in your digestive tract. You can use a BF analyzer to see if you are increasing muscle, although if you have beemn lifting routinely and have just gone up heavier, it is unlikely to be 3 lbs of new muscle in such a short period of time as it is difficult to add that much muscle in a short period of time.

I wouldn't worry about it, unless weight continues to go up, doesn't come back down and your BF goes up.

PS. I have seen your pic too....nothing to worry about
 
> Thanks Wendy! I guess i should have added my BF% in there.
> Im 5'4"...121.8 (as of today) and my bf% is 10.2% according
>to my reader. I would like to go somewhere professional and
>get it done but there is no where around here!
>
> Lori:)

Girl, you have nothing to worry about!!! Just roll with it and see what happens. :)
 
Hi Lori-

I'm a heavy lifter too. Since the fall, I've even upped it a notch by going to the gym to lift so that I could have access to squat racks, and bigger amounts of weights.

I found the exact same thing happened to me in the first month or so.. I got almost "swollen" esp. in my legs when going really heavy. The scale read higher numbers for me too. Then after about a month, my body must have gotten adjusted to it and it went away.

I still notice it now, particularly in heavy weighted leg workouts. I don't even weigh myself until about 3 days later, because it is discouraging, esp. when I've been eating clean.

Another thing to note is that if you have been eating really clean for a while and then end up having a really bad "cheat" day where you eat a ton of sugar and/or salt, you will retain water much more then you would normally ( ie if you were eating only a moderately clean diet) It will be nothing for me to have the scale show I've gained 4 lbs when I know I probably ate only 1000 extra calories on a bad day.

Finally, I saw your pics and you look fabulous,, you are a beautiful lady!! .. keep those pics around for the days you are getting discouraged by what the scale is reading and be proud of how strong and fit you really are!

Take care, Lynn M.
 
>Another thing to note is that if you have been eating really
>clean for a while and then end up having a really bad "cheat"
>day where you eat a ton of sugar and/or salt, you will retain
>water much more then you would normally ( ie if you were
>eating only a moderately clean diet) It will be nothing for
>me to have the scale show I've gained 4 lbs when I know I
>probably ate only 1000 extra calories on a bad day.

I totally agree with Lynn. It is entirely possible that your 3 pounds are muscle or water retention, or both. I would HIGHLY suggest taking your measurements from month to month to see what happens. I believe that your measurements are where the truth really lies...

PS GOOD FOR YOU for increasing your weights consistently!!
 
>I would
>HIGHLY suggest taking your measurements from month to month to
>see what happens. I believe that your measurements are where
>the truth really lies...

I totally agree and tell my client this CONSTANTLY but yet in my case, for some reason it just doesn't work for me anymore.

I actually depend more on the visual then anything else these days. It seems that even when the #s don't appear to have moved much the pictures tell a different tale!

Does anyone else find this to be true?
 
Funny, I was thinking maybe pay less attention to scale. I know since lifting weights I have gotten heavier. Muscle is more dense than fat, plain and simple.
 
Thanks ladies for all of your repsonses! They are greatly appreciated! I guess I could trying taking pics on a monthly basis to see how I am improving that way. That would be a good idea!
Lori:)
 
Since lifting quite heavy for me, I've never been as lean as I am now. I mean, your body might react a bit strangely at first, but for long term benefits, it can't be beat.

Also to add, whatever heavy is for YOU (or you want it to be) of course.
 
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