Is it good/normal to gain weight while working out?

[Anonymous]

So I started working out 2 months ago and I've gained 20 pounds since then. Not that I'm complaining I'm 5'8 and have been stcuk between 120- and 130 pounds I just checked today and I'm at 150 now. I admit I got kinda happy when I saw that. But then I started thinking that shouldn't my weight be at around the same as before? I didn't workout at all before and couldn't gain weigjt no matter what. But now that I'm working out I am gaining weight. I'm kinda confused can anyone clear this up

[Theguyoverthere]

OK Well it depends. Are you doing cardio workouts or lifting weights? Also depends on how your diet is. I'll give you a rather lengthy explanation.

With Cardio workouts you ideally would want to burn fat. However, a lot of people can accidentally gain weight by doing cardio because they get hungry and don't pay attention to their diet and in the end, their calorie deficit that they should be aiming for is not met and their calorie intake could potentially end up worse than what they were aiming for. When people aim to lose weight, the main idea is that the cardio is used as a tool to burn the excess calories that they want.

If you're lifting weights(properly) what ends up happening is muscle hypertrophy. You shred the muscle tissue and it repairs itself and when you get the proper nutrition you build muscle mass. If you're lifting really heavy you ideally would get "myofibrillar hypertrophy" which is really hard muscle. This muscle is usually gained from heavy weight at low rep ranges. The other muscle hypertrophy is "sarcoplasmic hypertrophy" which is obtained by lifghter weight at higher rep ranges. The tissue basically expands but not much strength is achieved because it's higher rep ranges and lighter weight. This is basically what most bodybuilders train in because it's all about looks with them.

[martyfellow]

If you're lifting weights and taht sort of 'working out', and you're not dieting, of course you will add a lot of muscle weight. But think twice before adding much more. If you don't keep up the workouts, the extra weight will tend to change to fat fairly quickly.

[1ibiz]

Muscle is not fat, and will never turn to fat, man you don't know anything!

[martyfellow]

Biz says cavementlived to be 120 years old...what a troll...

Look at old football players.!

[Beetledove]

Yes it is normal, that means that you are gaining muscle mass. Remember, that muscle weighs more than fat.

[lauramor]

yes it is, I did spinning and then I noticed changes in my body but I gained some pounds.

[just_tired]

Well first of all you've retained a lot of water weight in your muscles which happens when you start working out. Also your appetite must have risen and so you might have gained a little fat. Then there's the muscle gain which isn't really that big of a portion from that gain because it's only been 2 months unlike others are saying here. Lastly like 1ibiz said bone density might also be a factor.

Another thing that came to mind is that always whey yourself in the morning before breakfast. Your weight fluctuates quite a lot during the day.

[1ibiz]

Because how much you weight is determine by your diet. You probably worked out a lot that made you more hungry because of calories burned, but depending on the type of calorie you could of either gained that weight in muscle, fat, or bone density. If your 5'8, then your ideal weight is 140 lbs.

[just_tired]

There's no such thing as ideal weight for a certain height. Everyone is unique.

[1ibiz]

Really? I promise you that you have no idea what your talking about!

[1ibiz]

Their is an ideal weight for everybody, of course it fluctuates slightly or massively depending on how you express your genes. You have a BMI(body mass index), which measures bone density, muscle mass, and fat percentage. The amount of each determines your overall weight. Everybody has an ideal weight, the ideal weight insures health, mobility, and wellness. You perform the best being where you are suppose to be. To calculate your ideal BMI is every 5 feet is a 100 lbs, for evry inch on top of

[1ibiz]

5 feet is an additional 5 lbs, if you're 5'8, your ideal weight is 140 lbs. Your BMI will be around 21.3, which is very healthy!

[summiter]

You are replacing fat with muscle. Muscle weighs more. Your weight may have increased but I bet you are more toned. Go light on sugars and carbos. Go heavy on fruits/ veggies and protein. Remember doing just strength is only part of a workout. Do some cardio and stretching ( I hate stretching btw) Good luck and good job on taking care of your body.

[1ibiz]

So how much more does muscle weight from fat?

[summiter]

Muscle is more dense and thus weights more. There are some percentages you can look up if you Google it. It does vary from males to females and from person to person.

[1ibiz]

Really? Because last time I checked a pound of muscle weighed the same as a pound of fat!

[summiter]

Yes a pound is pound but a pound of muscle takes up far less space than a pound of fat. Picture this...compare a pound of meat...how big is that? And then picture a pound of potato chips and how much space that takes up. It is about density.

[1ibiz]

That makes no sense, density is not weight!

[martyfellow]

biz is the worst troll on here lately.

[1ibiz]

@ martyfellow8, how many times I've made you look stupid now? Why don't you read about The Book Of Enoc. There you will find information on humans that lived for 100's of years

[kheserthorpe]

Keep an eye on your waist as well as weight, that will tell you how much fat you're gaining.

[Anonymous]

muscle weighs more than fat and also your body is not used to working out (more stressed than usual) so it could be retaining water. You will eventually balance out if you keep up with the workouts.

[Anonymous]

yes, a little bit

[Anonymous]

its normal.