Weight Gain Question

[Earsly]

Hello All,

I started working out (cardio) in May 2008 and weighed about 180 pounds. By January 2009, I weighed roughly 160 pounds. I lost all this weight/muscle by just doing cardio. I know I lost muscle during that time period. I keep an decent diet of probably 2000 calories a day but ever since I added in resistance training, my weight keeps on increasing. I'm trying to justify that muscle is heavier then fat but is that really true? I would hate to keep on lifting weights and get back to pre-workout days of 180 pounds. I have heard from a lot of people not to worry about the scale and to just look in the mirror. I look fine in the mirror but I just can't help but look at the scale.

So does lifting weights cause weight gain? Please note, I still incorporate a cardio workout at least twice a week. I was just doing it 5 days before (pre-resistance training).

 

[GenHoth]

Yes, lifting weights will cause weight gain if you are eating correctly

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Weight gain is caused by eating more calories than your body burns. If you lift heavy and do that, you will gain muscle and fat. If you do that without lifting, you will gain fat. If you lifted while getting back up to 180 pounds, it would be a VERY different look.

 

[brikis98]

Resistance training encourages your body to add muscle mass. If you eat a diet to support that - that is, a diet with a caloric surplus and sufficient protein - you'll gain weight. However, a caloric surplus also typically includes some of that surplus being stored as fat. Exactly what proportion of your weight gain will be fat and muscle depends on your genetics, training routine, and diet.

I'd generally suggest that, unless you have some specific reason to be a certain body weight, you should pay attention to your body fat percentage and fitness numbers (strength, speed, endurance,etc) more than your body weight. If you focus on lowering your body fat percentage and increasing your performance, your body will on its own figure out a weight that is appropriate.

 

[dealmaster00]

Hey dude,

I was in a similar situation to you...used to weigh about 140/145lbs sedentary, decided I wanted to look better so I took up running twice a week, within a year I was down to 120. I decided I didn't like being skinny, and a relative's comment on my appearance encouraged me to start lifting and gain some weight. I'm up to 162 now and haven't looked back. 🙂 However it isn't lifting weights that made me gain that weight, but rather how much food I ate. Went from eating whatever came to mind to eating 5-6 small meals a day with a carb, lean meat, and source of fat in each meal.