Muscle Gaining

I would recommend to not pay attention to the scale but to use measurements and body mass to measure your gains. I got an Omniron on Amazon for like $30 to help measure body mass after I stopped with my trainer a couple years ago. Remember (and I still struggle with this a bit, too), the scale really isn’t the best measure of overall body composition since it fluctuates so much on a daily basis.

I agree with PP. Also, I would recommend just making sure you are eating clean with healthy carbs, and always use moderation. Eating cookies once a week isn't bad unless you don't exercise self control. When I was at my fittest I was heavier than I am now but I still wore the same size clothes, so I understand the scale dilemma.

It will and this is the reason I couldn't fit into my gown last time I tried it on. So awful!

View Quoted Comment Very true! It’s such a battle.

View Quoted Comment That’s reassuring! Thank you!

View Quoted Comment I guess it’s just keeping it in mind that the long term goal outweighs the process. It’ll be worth it!

I did both lose weight and gain muscles over the summer. What I did was doing both cardio (running) and muscle building exercises. I also monitor my calories intake and drink protein supplement after each workout. Hope that helps!

Unfortunately, gaining weight is in direct correlation with gaining muscle, so it's definitely a mental game. But the good news is the number on the scale basically just measures gravity, not the way you feel or your actual body composition. There are girls I follow on Instagram who have the same height as me and similar measurements, but they weigh 20lbs more than I do and look leaner. The scale really means nothing when all things are considered! It may be uncomfortable, but it'll be worth it. Gaining muscle takes a lot of time, so don't hesitate to get started, and allow yourself a month or two to cut so you can preserve your hard earned muscle.

View Quoted Comment Thank you! I totally agree it’s all mental. Sometimes it’s hard to get over that mental hump 🤦🏼‍♀️

View Quoted Comment It does! Thank you!

View Quoted Comment I definitely agree! I'm trying to gain muscle right now too.

View Quoted Comment If you ever need support I’m here for you!

View Quoted Comment Likewise!

Don't rely on a scale at all. Mirror selfies are a great way to measure progress. It may sound self absorbed, but if the goal is to look better, then it makes sense to measure progress based on your appearance rather than your weight.

If you feel like you still need to "slim down" you can also do measurements using a soft tape measure if you want a more quantitative measure of progress. Keeping track of your measurements as opposed to weight is also a better way to ensure clothes will fit, because a 30 inch waist takes up the same amount of space in a dress whether flabby and doughy or tight and toned.

Depending on your starting body type, as you get in shape and get toned you may find you actually gain weight or gain some mass even though you look better and feel healthier. That's why photos and how you feel are really the best assessment of whether or not what you are doing is actually working.

I work in the fitness field and still get "stuck" measuring my worth via the scale. But I use MyFitnessPal to track my weight and you can also take photos during your weigh ins, so I have a visual record of each weight as well. I can tell you there are times when I weighed the same, but looked a lot better on one day than on a different day, whether do to water retention and bloating, or actual fitness and muscle tone if those two weigh ins were years or months apart. Definitely don't get hung up on the numbers on the scale!

I did serious weight lifting for awhile and what you have to remember is that the number on the scale may go up but 5lbs of muscle doesn’t take up as much room on your body as 5lbs of fat. It’s not the scale that matters but your body size. Truly it’s better to not go one the scale at all but I know how difficult that can be.

You need to bulk in order to grow muscle. Muscle doesn't grow when you're in a caloric deficit or a cut. Throw away the scale and take progress pics. I would do a gradual slow bulk for 6 months and then a slow cut until the wedding, that way you're not going to mess up your metabolism. Do some high intensity interval training and weights. Lots of awesome fitness ladies you can follow on Instagram that have great workouts. Hope this helps

View Quoted Comment Thanks Lena!

View Quoted Comment I’ve been using MyFitnessPal too! I like being able to track my food and have a general idea of what I am consuming. The fun part is that sometimes people think negatively tracking food (to each their own of course) but I loved the fact that I’m actually able to eat a lot more than I thought I would both for gaining muscle and losing weight.

View Quoted Comment Very true, thanks Tina! Any weight lifting advice? Did you have any supplements or preworkouts or anything you preferred?