Weight gain

[43percentburnt]

I lifted weights a couple of years ago and then reduced how often I did it as I was going through a tough time. I’m back doonv Caroline Girvan and doing it 3-4 times a week.

Ive been back on it for a couple of months. Since early October consistently. My weight is the higher end of normal (24bmi) and I’d like to lose about a stone (any more and I don’t look good in my opinion). I have actually gained weight!

My legs are thinner for sure. I look better in my dresses. I am definitely significantly stronger (I picked up the 22kg box from Argos with ease to the cashiers surprise) . I’m using 18kg kettle for squats. 10kg each side for lunges. So I am happy with this. My arms are weedy so I use 2.5kg to 6kg each side depending on the exercise.

Im pescatarian and clearly I must be eating too much. I’m actually tempted to start eating meat again so it’s easier. But I still struggle with the ethics of eating meat (I’ve not eaten meat for over half my life).

I fast from around 5:30pm to 12 the next day.

Im guessing I need to cut carbs out , it does make a difference.

Any other ideas please?

Eat less and you'll lose weight. Not dependent on what it is you eat.

You’re building up muscle tissue which in itself is heavier than other tissues. Don’t go be BMI go by how you and your clothes feel

measure inches
lost rather than look at just the scales.

im going through similar. I’ve beefed up with strength training so now I have muscle AND fat. But have actually lost a few pounds this month and my arms are definitely skinnier, waist and boobs smaller and stomach is flatter.

your muscle bulk is raising your metabolism but it takes a lot for the extra muscle to burn enough calories for fat loss I think.

Ive just started adding cardio as well as cutting crap in my diet to help lose the fat.

although my thighs and butt are bigger which I’m not happy with. However I have to remind myself that I’m doing it for my health not how I look.

You look better and you feel better.
Doesn’t sound like anything needs to change!

Why do you want to loose a stone? Why are you fasting?
I’m sorry, you seem to be a bit all over the place. What exactly are your goals? Do you want to become stronger? Do you want to loose weight? (Why?).
Muscle is heavier than fat, so it’s logical that you’re gaining weight when building muscle mass. Thin legs don’t indicate muscle mass though. To loose weight you need to consume less calories than you’re burning. To gain muscle mass you need proteins. But first you need to be clear for yourself what exactly you want to achieve. And then adjust your diet /fitness programme from there.

I have not eaten breakfast since i was about 13 (except when pregnant). Often people suggest cutting down to 2 meals a day but I already do that. So I thought it was best to mention it.

I feel I look better at about a stone lighter. My goals - I want to be stronger (for the long term as it’s important for bone health). But I want to be a stone lighter too as I feel I look better a stone lighter. I don’t want to increase, which is what has happened.

Maybe I just need to keep going and eat a bit less.

Thin legs - I can see muscles in my thigh when I tense now. It must have thinned up a bit as that muscle hasn’t been there for a while!

You need to be in a consistent calorie deficit to lose weight. How many calories are you eating on average and what is your TDEE?

Have a look at the Nutracheck app and start calorie counting! I started at the end of March his year and have lost 4 st 10 lb and do Pilates several times a week. Having tried other big name slimming clubs, calorie counting has been a life saver for me! I was a size 20/22 at the end of March and I’m now buying size 14 dresses! I have a stone to go

You have a BMI of 24? Why do you want to lose a stone?

You're weight training. Scales mean fuck all. Use a tape measure.

Why do you care about weight if you look and feel good? Weight is just a number and doesn’t reflect your measurements or how you feel in dresses.
If you cut carbs and stop eating well then you’ll end up losing your hard earned muscle and you’ll end up feeling worse.
People can weigh bugger all but have a pot belly and no definition! No thanks. Would rather be toned af and weigh an extra stone! You can’t build massive glutes and expect them to weigh nothing extra 🤣

Your weight will fluctuate so much as a woman anyway and some of those extra pounds could well be water weight. Makes me laugh when I see people thinking they’ve lost half a stone of fat in a week when they’ve just dropped water weight. I can put a couple of pounds on in a day if I drink loads and weigh myself in the evening instead of the morning, especially round my period! The number is not a true reflection of your body fat so does it really matter?

I know women who are apparently ‘obese’ because of their BMI, because they’re short and muscular.
You need to get out of that frame of mind about the number on the scale. Use a tape measure, take progress pics and see how you look/feel in clothes instead. Keep lifting, get strong af and stop obsessing over the scales!

Muscle is heavier than fat or other tissue

No it isn't. A lb of muscle weighs the same as a lb of fat. Muscle just takes up less room. This is why you use a tape measure instead of scales

How much weight have you gained? You may have gained some muscle in 2 months but with light weights it’s unlikely that much. The average woman gains about 1 pound of muscle a month when strength training. I’ve gained around 6kg in 6 months of heavy lifting 3 - 4 times a week but have visible muscle. Some fat gain alongside that. I’m talking about regularly lifting 100kg though.

Muscle is denser than fat, so you are right that a lb of each weighs the same and the fat takes up more space than the muscle will.

OP, you are losing fat but gaining muscle (well done, not easy for women to do so your consistency is paying off!). The scales and BMI aren't as helpful now, the best thing will be to keep measurements or use clothes sizing to help you see if you are losing fat. Try a calorie deficit with a high protein diet, this will help you stay full and aid your muscle recovery and growth.

It’s more about body composition than scale weight.

You can be lighter but carry more fat.

Work out your priorities, eat accordingly. But don’t train & underfuel, terrible for bone health & your metabolism

Muscle is more dense than fat, so you’ll weigh more at a smaller size.
Perhaps track body fat percentage or measurements over BMI or weight. They’re far better indicators of health.
BMI is notorious for calling anybody with above average muscle mass ‘overweight’ or worse 🙄

Your body composition is probably changing. If it would be more motivating/reassuring for you track that instea then Hume scales are good- they give detailed information around body fat, muscle mass, water percentage etc. If your body fat percentage turns out to be higher than you would like it to be (more reliable indicator of health than BMI) it also gives you your nasal metabolic rate which is an accurate guide as to how many calories your body needs and will make it easier for you to make informed changed to you diet of you need to.