Up 4 lbs in a week?!

[Saphron_Girl]

HELP! I got my body fat percentage tested on the 18th, and my results were 137 lbs, and 22% body fat. I was very pleased with this result, but want to be as lean and toned as possible for my mesomorphic, 5’6” frame. I was also told that I may not be getting enough protein for my activity level. So, I upped my daily protein consumption (with the aid of protein shakes and bars) over the past week or so, while keeping the intensity level of my training relatively the same and getting as much recuperative sleep as possible. But to my shock, my weight has gone up to 141 lbs!
How do I know if I’m eating too many calories (even if they come in the form of protein) for my fitness level? I can’t believe that I’ve gone up this much in just a week… this is gain is much worse than the last two “cheat days” I had.
It occurred to me that this may just be more muscle mass, but I doubt it… wouldn’t my weight remain about the same if I were losing fat as well?

What should I do?

 

[jenn]

It could just be muscle mass, it could be water retention it could be weight gain... test your bf% again . and go by how you look and feel not the scales. I'm the heavest I have ever been and I am at a peak in how I look and feel. so evealuate and then decide what is causing the gain..

 

[SXIPro]

Did you weigh yourself on the same scale at the same time of day?

There is a 2 lb difference for me within an hour depending when I way myself.

Pre-work out 183 lbs
Post-work out 185 lbs(45 minutes later)

I gain 2 lbs simply from the liquid I take in before, during and after I train.

 

[Buck It]

Are you eating healthy and exercising on a regular basis? If so, throw away that damn scale. Weight is a meaningless measurement. Muscle weighs more than fat. By replacing fat with toned muscle, you're liable to not see a significant amount of weight loss, in fact you may even GAIN weight . But don't be fooled. Let the mirror be your guide. The body you want may actually weigh more than you thought

 

[Trainer Lynn]

Saphron_Girl.

I have read your messages on these posts and you seem slightly obsessed with your weight. I mean that in the NICEST way possible. I know you used to weigh much more and you have lost a ton of it. But the number on that scale is HORRIBLE for you to watch.

The reality is your weight will fluctuate. It will go up, it will go down. You add muscle... it goes up. You lose muscle it goes down. Do you see that last sentence? Many people love seeing that number on the scale do down, down, down and they will do whatever it takes to get it lower. But they could be (and usually are) losing muscle.

Your body fat % is a much better measure of your success. With that said... even those numbers will vary! It depends on what your sodium level, your menstruation, your hydration, the time of day, your body temperature, etc.

Overall watch for a pattern of body fat. So long as it stays about the same and eventually over time goes lower... then you are fine.

Your weight gain could be muscle. As Jenn mentioned above and I posted before on other posts... I weighed MORE at my most fit and healthy level. I looked cut and people would consistantly say "You must weight 100 pounds! You're so little and thin!" But I was my HEAVIEST. I just looked fit because I had so much muscle.

Protein bars and protein shakes vary in quality. Be sure you are eating/drinking ones with low carbs and low sugars. Otherwise this could a problem. It may not be THE problem right now... but there are better ways to get protein. Cottage cheese, chicken, tofu, beans, etc.

Stay the course and get that body fat tested. Chuck the scale

 

[Saphron_Girl]

It could just be muscle mass, it could be water retention it could be weight gain... test your bf% again . and go by how you look and feel not the scales.

I'm definitely considering investing in some calipers. I go once a month to a professional facility to get my bf% tested, so unfortunately I won't have the equipment to do so again for another few weeks.

Did you weigh yourself on the same scale at the same time of day?

I always weigh myself with the same scale, and first thing in the morning when I get up...

By replacing fat with toned muscle, you're liable to not see a significant amount of weight loss, in fact you may even GAIN weight . But don't be fooled. Let the mirror be your guide. The body you want may actually weigh more than you thought

Yeah, I really watch the quality of the food I eat... I guess I was just overanalyzing the quantity. I've been stepping up my exercise routine, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised if I'm gaining muscle weight. I just wasn't expecting 4 lbs of it in one week! But then again, if I'm eating more protein, my body's likely putting it to use, right?

I have read your messages on these posts and you seem slightly obsessed with your weight. I mean that in the NICEST way possible. I know you used to weigh much more and you have lost a ton of it. But the number on that scale is HORRIBLE for you to watch.

Yeah, I know... I guess I've just been used to watching that number go down for so long, so actually see it go up is kind of a nasty shock. I still have to get used to this new weight-training lifstyle...

Protein bars and protein shakes vary in quality. Be sure you are eating/drinking ones with low carbs and low sugars. Otherwise this could a problem. It may not be THE problem right now... but there are better ways to get protein. Cottage cheese, chicken, tofu, beans, etc.

Good point... I'll reduce the use of bars/powders to situations where they're my only option. (BTW, it's BIOCHEM Ultimate LO Carb Whey Powder, and SOLO GI: Glycemic Index bars)

Thanks for all the input, guys!!

 

[Saphron_Girl]

Well, I think I may have found the answer to this riddle....

D'oh!