<<
<< It's highly unlikely that you spontaneously gained 24lb of pure muscle over the course of 3-4 months. Not impossible, but highly unlikely. Chances are - if you've stopped cardio entirely and focused entirely on weights - that you've gained an appreciable amount of muscle, but probably a bunch of fat as well. Assuming, of course, no diet changes, etc.
How has your lifting amount, etc., increased?
Rob >>
Quite a bit. I just recently (about three weeks ago) started spending more time with free weights, squats, curls, etc. i.e. I've stopped focusing on machines. Other than that, my diet has been fairly constant.
I think I have gained a little bit of weight around the waist, but that's the only noticable amount that I've seen..a tiny bit, though. Just seems odd for such a little amount of fat to add so much extra weight.... Although it's probably a little more all around. Grr. >>
Some people (relatively few though) could add that much weight with proper training, diet and rest cycles. But if you are trying to focus on getting larger, it is a good idea to try and bulk up like you have (within reason) and then work on lowering bodyfat after. As long as you are not getting noticable fat on you and are gaining muscle it's ok. I don't think you mentioned how tall you are either. What is your waist size now and before?
Have other people that you trust noticed and commented?