Exercising and Gaining Weight. What gives?!

[Katherineos123]

So, Ive been going to the gym 4 days a week for the last 2 weeks. Ive been doing 30-45 min of cardio, then about 30 min of weights. Well, I got on the scale this week, and Ive gained 5 pounds!!!

 

I know that muscle weighs more than fat and blah blah blah, but 5 lbs seems like a lot of muscle to gain in just 2 weeks, doesnt it?!

 

Im a petite girl, so gaining 5 lbs of fat would really show on my frame, and I dont look any different...

 

Any ideas of what might be going on here?

[AriaIncognito]

For one thing, muscle doesn't weigh more than fat. 1lb of muscle is the same as 1lb of fat, weight wise. It's the amount of space that it occupies that is the difference. 1lb of fat takes up a lot more space than 1lb of muscle.

 

As for gaining weight despite exercise, 5lbs really isn't that much. We fluxuate daily a few pounds. Eating a meal can put a few pounds on you alone. It's probable that the weight training has gained you some muscle. It's doubtful that you're losing much fat just yet if you haven't been working out all that long.

 

You need to expend more calories than you're taking in. You could lift weights for the rest of your life and still have a bunch of fat, because unfortunately existing fat goes away through cardio. Building new muscle will help burn calories you're ingesting now, not previously injested, from what I've been told.

 

Stay on the regminent for a while, you should see some changes in how your clothes fit and whatnot, despite the scale.

[tanbark813]

You need to expend more calories than you're taking in. You could lift weights for the rest of your life and still have a bunch of fat, because unfortunately existing fat goes away through cardio. Building new muscle will help burn calories you're ingesting now, not previously injested, from what I've been told.

 

Burning calories is burning calories. If you burn more than you consume you're going to lose weight whether that's through cardio or through weightlifting.

 

The main difference is that weightlifting is usually about building muscle and for that you need a calorie surplus which is, obviously, detrimental to losing weight.

[EAJuggalo]

It depends on how much muscle you had on you to begin with. If you didn't have much muscle on you to begin with I can easily see five pounds in two weeks. Also take a look at how much more water you're drinking while you're working out, a quart of water weighs two pounds so if you're gulping water at the end of your workout that may be affecting what you're seeing on the scale as well.

[Katherineos123]

Thanks everyone. I went back today, and sure enough, the 5 lbs is still there. I do drink a lot of water while I work out, so that may be an explanation, although I hadnt thought of it.

 

Im not trying to gain muscle mass, so much as Im trying to just tone up a little bit.

 

Im aiming to lose between 10-15 pounds, so say my diet hasnt changed, and I eat pretty well. Any ideas on how many calories I should be burning per workout in order to see some results?

[StartingOver07]

Switch the order is which you do things -- lift weights, then do your cardio. This will help you to gain muscle (which is what creates the "toned" look you are after). Doing cardio first leaves your body in a position to rob its existing muscle to fuel your weight session which results in a flabbier you. Muscle is much denser than fat -- if you have two women at the same height and weight, the one with more muscle will appear much smaller than the one with more fat.

 

Google for an online calorie calculator and enter your info. That should give you an idea of the number of calories you need to eat to lose.

[citizen67]

Pay attention to the scale but more important, pay attention to how your clothes fit. The main thing about staying fit is paying attention. If you are paying attention you don't eat mindlessly. If you worked out less than three times last week, you work out 5 times this week to make up for it. Pay attention to portions and never eat while doing something else like watching tv or surfing the net

[bayouboi]

I agree with the above poster about paying attention to your clothes and how they fit more than the scale...but! if you're like I was and started obsessing about the scale, then be sure to have a controlled period to check your weight. My control period would be in the mornings after I evacuated my bowels & bladder, strip naked and weigh myself. Also, please remember that it's only healthy to lose 1 to 2 lbs. per week. And as others mentioned, the key to weight loss is calories out > calories in, so keep the activity up and keep the diet clean Good luck!

[Katherineos123]

Thanks for the replies everyone! I really appreciate the advice... Ive been keeping up with the exercise, still going 4 times a week, and I havent seen anymore weight gain... Thankfully! But I guess Im just not seeing the results I want.

 

Ive cut down my calories, and am eating healthy, lots of fruits and veggies, protein, fiber, the whole nine... but its been about a month of this, and Im not seeing any real results.

 

Im not "overweight" to begin with, but I would be happier if I could shed a few. Is it true thats its harder for someone who only needs to lose a few pounds to work them off then someone who is overweight?

 

Ive also recently tried interval training... Is it really all that better of a workout?

[Trialbyfire]

I was reading up on interval training, which mentions doing hard cardio for short spurts, taking a breather and then doing more short, hard bursts of cardio. If you keep this up for 40 - 45 minutes, I understand it burns more calories than continuously doing repetitions at a slower pace.

 

Maybe one of our LS athletic types could comment on this.

[johan]

It's most likely water.

[Nemo]

For one thing, muscle doesn't weigh more than fat. 1lb of muscle is the same as 1lb of fat, weight wise. It's the amount of space that it occupies that is the difference.

I would say that muscle weighs more than fat.

 

You could say that air weighs the same as lead, by your reasoning. The only way I'd ever believe that is if the words come from Obama's lips.

[Storyrider]

I would say that muscle weighs more than fat.

 

You could say that air weighs the same as lead, by your reasoning. The only way I'd ever believe that is if the words come from Obama's lips.

Ha ha, that's right. A pound of beef weighs as much as a pound of rice cakes.

[lovestruck818]

#1- what are you eating? what is your diet like?

#2- weight fluctuates 3-4lbs in a day anyway. A person would weigh less in the AM then they would at nighttime b/c of the food they eat in a day.

 

5 lbs is nothing to stress about. That's normal.

 

So, Ive been going to the gym 4 days a week for the last 2 weeks. Ive been doing 30-45 min of cardio, then about 30 min of weights. Well, I got on the scale this week, and Ive gained 5 pounds!!!

 

I know that muscle weighs more than fat and blah blah blah, but 5 lbs seems like a lot of muscle to gain in just 2 weeks, doesnt it?!

 

Im a petite girl, so gaining 5 lbs of fat would really show on my frame, and I dont look any different...

 

Any ideas of what might be going on here?

[lovestruck818]

Ha ha, that's right. A pound of beef weighs as much as a pound of rice cakes.

 

a pound is a pound no matter what the pound is of. A pound of feathers would weigh just as much as a pound of bricks...hence, a pound.

[Mahatma]

So, Ive been going to the gym 4 days a week for the last 2 weeks. Ive been doing 30-45 min of cardio, then about 30 min of weights. Well, I got on the scale this week, and Ive gained 5 pounds!!!

 

I know that muscle weighs more than fat and blah blah blah, but 5 lbs seems like a lot of muscle to gain in just 2 weeks, doesnt it?!

 

Im a petite girl, so gaining 5 lbs of fat would really show on my frame, and I dont look any different...

 

Any ideas of what might be going on here?

 

Gaining 5 pounds is too much. You have to watch your caloric intake. If you have just started working out and doing cardio, you have probably given your metabolism a boost, which causes you to eat more. Also, what clothes were you wearing? Was it the same scale? Anything in your pockets?