>>> Heavier weights, but still burning MORE than consuming.

what would happen?would i gain muscle size? strength?

im guessing that my muscles won't grow in size but they will be stronger. more "rock hard" lol.

Am I Right?

I'm not an expert, but that's exactly what's happening to me. I'm seeing my fat disappear little by little, while my muscles are staying the same. They are starting to show, but my measurements tell me they aren't getting bigger.

You will maintain your muscle mass whilst reducing body fat.

lindinig

- That's such an encouraging thing to read!!!!!!!!! How about your weight?? So you're saying that although your muscles seemed to be the same size, your fat seemed to strip away gradually??

Original Post by sooji:

would i gain muscle size? Maybe a little at first. strength? Yup.

double post

littlesimongeorge

- Thank you for reassuring what the 1st post-er said!!

sooji - I have to say, the scale hasn't budged in the last 4 weeks. I've been concentrating on my heavy lifting for exactly 4 weeks. Prior to that, I was doing high-intensity cardio dvd's, and improving my diet and I lost 9 lbs. I have no idea what part of that was muscle, what part was fat, since I have no reliable way to test my fat %. For this reason, I've been ignoring what the scale says, and concentrating on the way I look.

From what I've read, some people who lift heavy experience a slight increase in weight. I take my measurements regularly, and judge by how my clothes are fitting, and I came to the conclusion that by the scale not moving, the muscle is coming on at the same rate the fat is being lost. My measurements are indicating I am losing fat in various areas (too bad it isn't the areas that would make me look hot in a bikini, but I'll eventually get there). This morning, I put on a pair of jeans that I haven't been able to wear in over 5 years. 1 month ago, they were 2" from my being able to button them. This morning, I was able to button them! This is a big win for me. I just gained a new pair of jeans without spending any money!

Original Post by lindinig:

sooji - I have to say, the scale hasn't budged in the last 4 weeks. I've been concentrating on my heavy lifting for exactly 4 weeks. Prior to that, I was doing high-intensity cardio dvd's, and improving my diet and I lost 9 lbs. I have no idea what part of that was muscle, what part was fat, since I have no reliable way to test my fat %. For this reason, I've been ignoring what the scale says, and concentrating on the way I look.

From what I've read, some people who lift heavy experience a slight increase in weight. I take my measurements regularly, and judge by how my clothes are fitting, and I came to the conclusion that by the scale not moving, the muscle is coming on at the same rate the fat is being lost. My measurements are indicating I am losing fat in various areas (too bad it isn't the areas that would make me look hot in a bikini, but I'll eventually get there). This morning, I put on a pair of jeans that I haven't been able to wear in over 5 years. 1 month ago, they were 2" from my being able to button them. This morning, I was able to button them! This is a big win for me. I just gained a new pair of jeans without spending any money!

 Good job! That's so excellent! I've had the same experience except with camo pants. Isn't it exciting? Keep up the good work.

Assuming those are current pictures in your profile why on earth would you want to burn more than you're consuming???  You need to gain weight BAD.

Be careful if you are worried about gaining.  Rule of thumb for women is less weight more reps.  Depending on your body type you can put on more muscle and obvoiusly muscle weighs more than fat.

Looking at your profile though you dont need to lose weight--AT ALL!  Tone if you are worried or hate your appearance that much but your weight issues appear to the rest of us as vanity. 

I dont know how much you weigh but if you are under your recommended body weight (what the doctors advice not the last page of the cosmo mag) than you may want to talk to a doctor or counsler.  Reading your profile you seem really unhappy with your body in general.

May be I am way off base--But take care of you!

Original Post by tiana82:

Be careful if you are worried about gaining.  Rule of thumb for women is less weight more reps.  Depending on your body type you can put on more muscle and obvoiusly muscle weighs more than fat.

No, no, no... It is very, very very hard for women to gain muscle.  That "rule of thumb" is a myth. 

I've been lifting for a while and I am lifting heavy weights (for me) and so are a lot of other women on this site.  We are happily getting slimmer and stronger without adding muscle.  I have not lost any weight in the last 3 months but my jeans are very loose now. 

Please don't perpetuate this myth!

Women do not have any problem building muscle, but they have a difficult time "Bulking up" unless they take steroids or other unnatural substances.  Typically, lifting heavier weights will tone you up,make you much firmer and give you more definition. You will gain more muscle, which is much heavier than fat, thus you may see a stall in weight loss, if that is what you are trying to do.

Good information thank you for educating me.  But maybe this is something that would vary from person to person.

I know personally that I cannot do the heavy weights low rep routine.  I very easily build up muscle, problem with that is I actually get bigger and gain weight but when you are already 180 apx lbs its not ideal for me to weight anymore!.  I have had many many trainers (with my heart condition I was not allowed for the last 4 years to work out on my own)and all of them thought women could not gain easily.  But when I was putting on inches steadily even under a strict diet the only thing that worked was a high cardio, low weight/high rep.  I am one of those that cannot measure my weight loss by a scale but by appearance and the way my clothes fit though.

Sorry, I would never want to support incorrect info- I guess there are always people who dont fit every fitness concept though like me:)

cimike--That I can absolutely agree with! 

From what I understand that is why cardio was so important in my regime.  That is where I lost the most weight then the weights to tone.  I could not rely on strength training primarily for weight loss

Original Post by ciimike:

Women do not have any problem building muscle, but they have a difficult time "Bulking up" unless they take steroids or other unnatural substances.  Typically, lifting heavier weights will tone you up,make you much firmer and give you more definition. You will gain more muscle, which is much heavier than fat, thus you may see a stall in weight loss, if that is what you are trying to do.

 

The vast majority of women do not put on muscle easily, especially in a calorie deficit.  They do get stronger, and the muscles they have are more defined and seem firmer as they lose the layer(s) of fat covering them. 

But actual gain of muscle mass is very slow for most of the population.  Even many men have problems putting on muscle mass, and find it nearly impossible when in a cloire deficit. 

Often when first starting to workout there can be some muscle gain, but more often it is sweling of the muscles as they become use to the new stimulus that makes women think they are "bulking".  Most often it is a temporary change, and if they continue the lifting for more than a few weeks, they will start losing inches and weight as their body gets firmer and fitter. 

sugarshocked

- Those pics were from a while ago. I've gained the notorious Freshmen 15, except it would be 15 kgs not 15 lbs haha. Something like that.

tiana82

- Thanks for your concern, I really do appreciate it. I used to suffer intensely from EDs, but right now, I've been eating so healthy and have not been binging or starving. I can't really starve anymore - don't have that sort of motivation going on for me haha. And like I've mentioned above, I've gained the Freshmen 15 and those pics are not recent pics. What's worse is that my BMI tells me that I'm mildy obese

karozel

- IT'S SO AWESOME TO HEAR THAT YOU'VE BECOME LEANER WITHOUT BULKING UP!!!!!!!!

Original Post by sooji:

 I've gained the Freshmen 15 and those pics are not recent pics. What's worse is that my BMI tells me that I'm mildy obese

I'm relieved to hear that those pictures aren't recent but I'm willing to bet you aren't mildly obese either.  But whether you are obese or not heavy weights at lower reps is the way to go to firm up and maintain muscle.

sugarshocked

- Ohhhh!!! My bad my bad, I'm not mildly obese, I'm mildly overweight haha!

The good thing is.... I was mildly overweight up until several days ago. I'm at a healthy range now. Great.

So many ppl on CC have told me that heavy weights + lower reps is the best way. I thank all of you guys for shaking me out of my own delusions about bulking up!!!! i wuv u guys ~