gaining weight from working out

I've been hesitant to start working out, because I'm fearful I will gain muscle weight from it. I've definitely lacked motivation to start, but in my mind, this is a roadblock. It's probably an excuse to get started, but I was wondering what others know about it.

Thu. May 10, 6:28am

You should focus on toning and not strictly weight loss. If you want to focus strictly on weightloss then get a cardio program going.

I run and lift depending on what time of year. In the winter I lift and my weight hovers and in spring when I start racing I stop lifting and the weight melts off. It all depends on what your trying to acheive.

Thursday, May 10, 2007, 8:10 AM

Are you a woman or a man? If you're a woman, this is not something to be concerned with. It is actually very difficult for us to gain muscle mass without a lot of effort. WIth the strength training, you'll tone up, but not bulk up. And upping your ratio of muscle to fat helps with metabolism. Plus, don't fixate on the numbers so much. I easily weigh 10 lbs more now than I did a few years ago even though I'm fitting in my skinny close. This is because I'm in the best shape of my life. A 130 lb woman with a lot of lean muscle looks a lot different than a 130lb woman with a high percentage of body fat. If you're worried about losing motivation if the scale jumps around, take your measurements also. On or the other always budges. Please don't let yourself make excuses to not make positive changes in your lifestyle

Thursday, May 10, 2007, 9:34 AM

Don't worry about "gaining" weight from muscle. First off the "gains" made from having more muscle are way more of a bonus (burn more calories doing nothing, clothes fit better, lose inches, look toned!) than not building muscle and just losing fat! If you are just starting to workout (cardio and resistance training), and are consistent about it-you will probably see a gain of 2-3 lbs after a month or so, or your muscle gain won't register as anything on the scale (weight stays the same but body composition is changing)-but clothes will look better, you will feel slimmer. If you keep going, the scale will start going down.

Please don't be afraid of muscle-google "resistance training benefits" and read up about it. It is good for you!!

Thursday, May 10, 2007, 12:43 PM

At first (the first few days to a week), you will probably gain some weight, whether it is from cardio or weight lifting. The reason is that your muscles will retain some water, in order to help them heal. This bloat will go away in a week or two.

So, just know that your first couple days of working out are not going to be huge weight loss days. Keep going despite this, and you should start losing weight at a faster rate than you had been, using only dieting.

However, still be careful that you don't overcompensate for working out by eating so much more that you hinder your real weight loss!

Thursday, May 10, 2007, 2:53 PM

thanx for all your comments. I'm a woman and have lost 22 lbs so far and have 20 more to go. I've been on Weight Watcher's and know I have to start exercising. I get sort of crazed if I gain a few lbs because I think I'll start slipping. I've been WW since last Oct. 06

Saturday, May 12, 2007, 6:54 AM

Weight vs Body Fat vs Body Mass Index

This is what I talk about with people all the time. You should not concern yourself with how much you weigh… At all! You really need to focus on your Body Fat Percentage.
Go see a nutritionist and get yourself a hydrostatic test. Also, if you can afford one, go see a Personal trainer recommended to you by a friend or doctor (I know they can be expensive).
The whole Body Mass Index is a bunch of nonsense! A man who is 32 years old, 5’8” and 185 lbs can be severely out of shape! But if he has 6% body fat then he’s still considered to be obese!!! This is nonsense. Focus on your Body Fat Percentage and not so much on your weight! The stronger you get, the more fat your muscles will burn and the “thinner” you will become!

Saturday, May 12, 2007, 11:25 PM

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