I'm getting fat. But I'm not getting fat??

[thatsright]

Hi Guys - So ~4 weeks ago I started going to the gym (again) and getting my diet in order (again) to lose some fat/weight. Things have been going well. I'm seeing improvements so that keeps the drive going to continue. What is odd is that I've already lost about 3/4th of an inch off of my waist and gut. But when I step on the scale, it seems like I've actually gained 2lbs. And it's not something where it's just a daily fluctuation or water weight as I've checked a few times over the last week and it's no fluke.

Am I building muscle and loosing fat at the same time? I thought it was one (fat loss) or the other (muscle gain), but not both. Though in the Fat Loss Sticky, it does say it is possible, though 'rare' for this to happen and last. In my several years of dieting, I could never rely on my scale as often I'd be losing fat but the lb # on the scale would never move. Taking pics and measurements was the only indicator of which direction things were going.

Thoughts?

 

[Carson Dyle]

> Am I building muscle and loosing fat at the same time?

Apparently.

> Though in the Fat Loss Sticky, it does say it is possible, though 'rare' for this to happen and last.

Huh? I don't know how/why it would be considered rare.

 

[paperfist]

Welcome to my dilemma, started at 218, now 223 after going to the gym.

Same deal lost inches, gained weight.

Are you doing cardio or weight lifting or a mix?

 

[thatsright]

Welcome to my dilemma, started at 218, now 223 after going to the gym.

Same deal lost inches, gained weight.

Are you doing cardio or weight lifting or a mix?

I go to gym about 4x a week. Mostly lifting and 2x a week I'll do about 30 minutes of cardio. Not a lot for sure, but 'it's something.'

 

[mike8675309]

body re-composition happens especially for those new to the gym. It will settle down over time.

 

[killster1]

Hi Guys - So ~4 weeks ago I started going to the gym (again) and getting my diet in order (again) to lose some fat/weight. Things have been going well. I'm seeing improvements so that keeps the drive going to continue. What is odd is that I've already lost about 3/4th of an inch off of my waist and gut. But when I step on the scale, it seems like I've actually gained 2lbs. And it's not something where it's just a daily fluctuation or water weight as I've checked a few times over the last week and it's no fluke.

Am I building muscle and loosing fat at the same time? I thought it was one (fat loss) or the other (muscle gain), but not both. Though in the Fat Loss Sticky, it does say it is possible, though 'rare' for this to happen and last. In my several years of dieting, I could never rely on my scale as often I'd be losing fat but the lb # on the scale would never move. Taking pics and measurements was the only indicator of which direction things were going.

Thoughts?

when u First start exercising anything is possible specially big gains and big losses. I just purely go by my abs and waist size. weight is irrelevant unless i was trying to enter a weight class for competing. If you are trying to only lose weight exercise is not needed. Diet is 75-85% of it. But exercise will make all parts of your life better (except freetime)

 

[whm1974]

when u First start exercising anything is possible specially big gains and big losses. I just purely go by my abs and waist size. weight is irrelevant unless i was trying to enter a weight class for competing. If you are trying to only lose weight exercise is not needed. Diet is 75-85% of it. But exercise will make all parts of your life better (except freetime)

I would be thrilled if I had weight gain that was muscles....

 

[HutchinsonJC]

Am I building muscle and loosing fat at the same time? I thought it was one (fat loss) or the other (muscle gain), but not both. Though in the Fat Loss Sticky, it does say it is possible, though 'rare' for this to happen

I don't know why a sticky would say that it's rare for fat loss and muscle growth to happen simultaneously. Seems absurd for that to be in a sticky, actually.

Muscle growth is a response to muscle stimulation. Fat gain or loss has absolutely nothing to do with that.

Many overweight people actually find themselves discouraged to continue their weight loss program BECAUSE they get on the scale and the number either isn't moving or it's going up. People forget that muscle weighs more than fat, and if you start working out, muscle growth will be a response to that.

 

[007ELmO]

if you want to lose weight, stop lifting weights. I've lost 25 lbs in 3 months by jogging 3 miles every other day and drinking green smoothies. I have no real muscles....some combination of lifting weights and cardio is where a healthy individual wants to be at.

Some of us have real trouble gaining muscle mass, that's probably why I gravitate towards cardio a lot more since I see those benefits quickly. I feel stronger after lifting weights, of course, but just like videophiles vs. audiophiles, people lean towards one or the other.

 

[lopri]

Muscle growth is a response to muscle stimulation. Fat gain or loss has absolutely nothing to do with that.

That is not even half right. While you can separate muscle growth/ fat gain in the abstract, but in reality both are driven by same fuel sources. Conversely, when you are in caloric deficit, the body will use both muscles and fat as the fuel sources. In rare situations, body can also convert stored fat as fuel sources for muscles/muscle growth. They are all related.

 

[HutchinsonJC]

That is not even half right.

I don't think you know what you're talking about.

Both don't *have* to be driven by the same fuel source. You're making the assumption that Fat Loss is because of a calorie deficit and that muscle growth is from a calorie surplus and there's zero way around these two.

Your body is perfectly capable of burning fat as a fuel source, to some extent, to support muscle growth as long as other nutrients, protein, etc are there.

Why do people act like the lack of fuel to promote fat loss and the fuel to promote muscle growth all has to come in (or not) through the mouth. Your body's fat reserves ARE a fuel source and your body is definitely capable of tapping into it.

 

[ch33zw1z]

So a general overview of body fuel sources

https://www.livestrong.com/article/331651-burning-fat-vs-glycogen/

Americans high sugar diets make fat burning more difficult.

In response to the OP, muscle is much more dense that fat, so a little added muscle while burning fat will even out your weight on a scale. Yes, fat can be burned to build muscle, but the building blocks for muscle needs to be there (protein or amino acids)

The important part is to ensure you eat a balanced diet while being persistent at the gym. You will naturally shed fat as your body adjusts to the new regimen. Don't go low carb, just go low sugar if anything. Sugar is hidden in all sorts of foods like ketchup or even milk.

In take plenty of protein and water.

Building muscle and losing fat simultaneously is not rare. It's what happens when stimulating muscles while depleting your bodies glycogen stores so it turns to fat cells for energy required to maintain muscle stimulation and/or repair the body afterwards.

If fat loss is your goal, then hit the cardio first thing in the morning before eating. Your body is already running low on glycogen after ~8 hours of no food, and fat will be the go-to energy quicker. You may feel very tired while switching fuel sources, so don't be surprised if you're winded or your legs feel like Jell-O for a couple minutes while your body adjusts.

As always though, do what works for you. I'm just trying to provide information to help the OP make educated decisions.