Gaining Weight Due to Lifting?

R

Roses

Cathlete
Cathe and the educated crowd,

I've done your workouts for many years and was wondering, when you started lifting did your weight actually go up even though your clothes fit the same or looser?

I seem to have gained about 5 pounds over the past year...I try to fit in three weight workouts a week, 1 total body, 1 upper and 1 lower. I typically do 1 cardio day and 1 circuit day. I CAN'T seem to lose those five pounds even though my clothes fit the same. I am not addicted to the scale, and typically only weigh every other month or so but mentally, these five pounds are really bugging me.

I know age may have something to do with it as I will turn 39 shortly and have noticed I really have to be much more cautious of what I eat. Anyway, just curious if others gain weight (muscle??) when lifting as heavy as they can 3 days a week.

TIA ~~Sami
 
I'm not Cathe but I felt the need to chime in...

I also put on about 5 extra pounds after about 3+ yrs. of regular weight training but I'm actually smaller inch wise. I only know this because I get weighed at my yearly physical. I hate scales, I don't even own one. Your clothes are your best gauge, if they fit well then you should feel good about how you look.

Just remember that muscle has much more mass (therefore it weighs more) than fat and that muscle burns calories! 1lb of muscle burns about 35 calories so I say bring on the muscle!
 
I put on 5 lbs. weight training before I found Cathe, and another 5 lbs. after I started using her workouts. When I was working out using the tapes of other instructors, I was a size 4. With Cathe, I went down a size. And if I eat very, very cleanly my waistline goes down to almost what it was pre-baby. I'll be 35 in a few months.

Don't look at the scale. Judge your progress on how your clothes fit and how YOU feel.:)

Pinky
 
Hi Sami! What I found w/weight training is that my muscles swell right after a good workout so yes my clothes feel a little bit tighter than normal. I've packed on much more muscle now than say a couple of years ago but I've also dropped bodyfat. On Sat. I worked my abs for 30 min. + did yoga & when I put on my pants they were tight; however, later in the day the swelling went down & pants were looser. I don't worry about it b/c it all balances itself out in the end. If you want, you can insert an interval tape such as IMAX1 or 2; your already doing a circuit tape but I would leave that one to rest for now & just do an interval training tape & kickboxing for cardio. HTH, Kathy:D
 
Sami,

Thanks for posting this question. I feel better now after reading the responses. I had and annual dr. visit last week and even though I know that I am in great physical condition, I have been bothered by the fact that the dr. mentioned that I am "heavier" than last year. I have really stepped up my strength work and even though I am a size smaller than last year, I am up about 7 lbs.

It has just been "bugging" me and even though I knew the answer, it was nice to have some reassurance from everybody.

Tina
 
Yes, I can sympthoize with everyone re: weight gain lifting weights & the frustration! I am, honestely, addicted to the scale and when I see it rise, I panic and starve myself. Then I try to jog 3 miles and do both Cathe's Upper & Lower Pyramid videos with less than 500 calories to burn on! Now I'm trying do not get on the scale daily now. (used to 2-3 times a day). Judging by how my clothes fit is much better and how I "feel." Yes, those docs want to weigh you for visits just for the file, but they need to also look at you and know that you are healthy, not "overweight!" :7
 
This really bothers me! I went to my annual last year and was told I needed to lose weight, even though I'm a size eight and exercise regularly. It really seems that our society, even doctors, are very "weight" conscious and not necessarily fitness conscious. She didn't even ask about my exercise regimen, and no doctor has EVER mentioned weight training to me, even with all the benefits its supposed to have for women. Just makes me mad that a number on a scale or chart is the gold standard of fitness (and I'm not bashing doctors, my dads one, but even he is a little too focused on it!)
 
I started weight training about a year ago and I've gained 4 pounds. It doesn't bother me. I didn't start an exercise program to lose weight and now I have definition in my biceps and shoulders. And my pants are looser in the thighs! I only get on the scale about once every two weeks. I used to get on it daily and realized I was letting my mood be influenced by a stupid number! (There's the expression "bad hair day" - is there the equivalent of a "bad weight day?")

I have my annual exam in two weeks and am kind of dreading that moment on the doctor's scale. I feel I'm a very healthy 46 year old!

-Diane
 
Not all doctors are "educated" in weight loss or weight training and exercise. Many look only to the scale to determine your health. I am in much better shape and health than I was 2 years ago when I was 6 pounds thinner. When my doc was feeling my abdomen, she said I was very trim (from feeling the muscle tone). She did not mention the weight was a few pounds up. It's upsetting when the doc says you are "heavier". I wish they would look at the patient as carefully as they look at the numbers on the scale!
 
Well, actually, a pound is a pound. But muscle is denser than fat so muscle takes up a lot less space than fat does! So, when you weight train and start building muscle and losing fat, your clothes start fitting better even if you do weight more per the scale.
 
Yeah I always laughed at the old "a pound of muscle weighs more than a pound of fat". LOL! Like you said, a pound is a pound.
On an equal volume basis, muscle weighs more than fat.
T. :)
 
_____________________________________________________________________
Well, actually, a pound is a pound. But muscle is denser than fat so muscle takes up a lot less space than fat does! So, when you weight train and start building muscle and losing fat, your clothes start fitting better even if you do weight more per the scale.
_____________________________________________________________________



Thanks for clarifying that. When I wrote that muscle weighs more than fat, this is what I meant.

Deanna
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Our Newsletter

Get awesome content delivered straight to your inbox.

Top