I side with 13:21. I've found that when I started working out more, I gained muscle before I lost fat. So for awhile there, I looked and felt (and weighed) bigger, because I had fat on top of muscle vs. just fat or just muscle.

That said, I'm 5'8" and 153ish and look a lot better at that weight than I did when I was 18 and weighed about the same, but without the lifting. I'm leaner now.

Thank you for the responses. They are helpful. I've never lifted weights before in my life so I'm sure that is a big part of it.

Yes. It happens. You flucuate.

Drink more water and use non-scale victories. Getting stronger, clothes fitting better.

Eventually, the scale will move when the muscle grows and burns calories.

Don't over eat to compensate what you do at the gym.

Anonymous wrote:If your fairly new to lifting weights, or even intermediate, you are probably putting on muscle. Stick with it. Lifting weights is good for you (although I do wonder about all the people that get injured from crossfit . . . )

*you're*

If your fairly new to lifting weights, or even intermediate, you are probably putting on muscle. Stick with it. Lifting weights is good for you (although I do wonder about all the people that get injured from crossfit . . . )

I gained weight when I started a 12 week lifting program. I never lost many inches, if any, despite watching my calories pretty closely.

I’ve gone back to running and lost 6 pounds, and while I still weigh more than I did when I was very competitively running, I look more muscular. So I guess it was underneath a layer of flab all along.

I wouldn’t expected to see SOME changes in 12 weeks, but I just didn’t. Every body is different. Plus, I just simply enjoy running more. So, do what makes you happy. If CrossFit makes you happy despite the number on the scale, keep at it.

Water retention, most likely. If you are really eating 1500 a day you will start losing soon. Weigh yourself at home and watch for fluctuation...I can retain 3 lbs of water right after a workout but be back down to normal the next day.

I'm not an athlete and I know this is not much of a brag, but it was really cool after starting to lift weights in my 40s, to gain 10 pounds while dropping four inches on my waist.

If your workout includes a mixture of weight lifting and cardio, weight gain is normal especially if you haven't lifted weights ever before. Also, as much as it seems you need to give and take about 5lbs whenever you step on the scale to account for water weight, poop, and the likes. The best barometer is whether you pass your eye test.

It may be water retention. Hard lifting can do that. Athletic people often weigh more than non-athletes the same height.

I gained about 5lbs when I started lifting weights - but my clothes started fitting better.

Weight + exercise often do not correlate, because muscle is more dense than fat (for the same amount of space they take up in your body, muscle will weight more than fat). I no longer weigh myself anymore - I focus on how I feel.

Anonymous wrote:Weight doesn't tell the entire story, but what was your starting weight and how tall are you? Could you be gaining muscle? Or eating more?

I'm 5'7" and was 151 lbs. I hope I'm gaining muscle but seems like a lot in a short amount of time. Are my muscles inflamed do you think? I am more hungry but am really trying to watch how much I eat now.

Weight doesn't tell the entire story, but what was your starting weight and how tall are you? Could you be gaining muscle? Or eating more?

I joined a crossfit type gym a month ago. They did my one month evaluation today and I've gained 6 lbs! I can't believe it. I've never gained this much weight so quickly. I've been watching what I eat- about 1,500 calories/day and exercising 2-3 times a week. I never used to exercise or watch my calories. What is happening here?!!