Is this much weight gain normal while getting stronger?

[Rock Hard]

Qucik background on me: I train Muay Thai and Bjj about 3 to 5 times per week each, and I hit the weight room twice a week. Sometimes I run, too, but not much lately. I use Jim Wendler's 5/3/1 program for the rep and set scheme, but I only have two days in the weight room. Thursdays are Deadlift, Military Press, weighted Pullups, and Snatches. Sundays are Bench, Squat, Row, and Clean&Jerk.

So, back in early October, when I weighed about 169 to 172 in the morning, my max lifts were as follows:

Deadlift - 325
Military press - 125
Weighted Pullup - 50
Bench press - 205
Squat - 250
Bent over row - 190

Now, it's been about 3 1/2 months since then, and my lifts have gone significantly up. Here are my new numbers:

Deadlift - 360 (35 lb increase)
Miliatary press - 135 (10 lb increase)
Weighted Pullup - 70 (20 lb increase)
Bench - 230 (25 lb increase)
Squat - 300 (50 lb increase)
row - 205 (15 lb increase)

I am still eating super healthy and counting my calories. These past few weeks, I have been trying to cut back on the calories, only eating enough to barely satisfy my energy. But for some reason, I cannot get down below 176!

By looking at my strength numbers, is it reasonable to assume that I actually gained 5-6 pounds of actual muscle?

 

[scoopj]

Not sure if serious. Your strength and weight gains are quite modest. If you gained 6 lbs, some was muscle and some was not muscle.

 

[Rock Hard]

I was hoping I wouldn't gain any weight. I want to fight in the lowest weight class possible. I used to be able to walk around at 165, but I couldn't lift heavy at all, and my strength was significantly weaker.

 

[Hotstreak1987]

Gaining strength and trying to hover around a certain weight is not at all possible anywhere I read. You'll gain fat and muscle with strength training and weight comes with both obviously.....get strong then cutting the fat is the general course of action. I agree with scoopj in that gaining 6 lbs of lean tissue since October is a little unrealistic.... and if you really did I wanna know what your eating pal!

 

[KnuckleSangwich]

I was hoping I wouldn't gain any weight. I want to fight in the lowest weight class possible. I used to be able to walk around at 165, but I couldn't lift heavy at all, and my strength was significantly weaker.

Why are you worried about competing at the lowest weight class possible? Get stronger and bigger and whoop the people in the larger classes. Like scoopj said these gains are fairly modest for a noob. Not realistic to get stronger (gain muscle) and not gain any weight.

25lb increase on BP in 3 months....Color me jealous.

Eat more, get stronger, and kick some ass.

 

[DrBdan]

...

By looking at my strength numbers, is it reasonable to assume that I actually gained 5-6 pounds of actual muscle?

No. You probably gained a few pounds of muscle and a few pounds of fat.

How tall are you?

If you can't get below 176 it's because you are still eating too much. It's very difficult to lift heavy, train hard (MT, BJJ) and lose weight at the same time. In order to keep up that workload you need to eat a lot.

 

[Rock Hard]

No. You probably gained a few pounds of muscle and a few pounds of fat.

How tall are you?

If you can't get below 176 it's because you are still eating too much. It's very difficult to lift heavy, train hard (MT, BJJ) and lose weight at the same time. In order to keep up that workload you need to eat a lot.

I am 5'10".

And yes, I do eat a lot. I don't eat cheat meals almost ever (maybe once every few weeks.)

Why would it be so hard for me to lose weight, though? Working out like a horse + eating until barely satisfied = weight loss, no? How the hell are you supposed to lose 2 pounds per week?

 

[zx]

It's very difficult to lift heavy, train hard (MT, BJJ) and lose weight at the same time.

Maybe for you, I find it very easy while eating enough.

 

[Rock Hard]

Maybe for you, I find it very easy while eating enough.

Yeah, it does not make any sense. How else could you lose weight other than eating just barely enough to maintain energy, and train hard as hell? Also consider that I am only doing weights twice a week for about a half hour, using wendler's 5/3/1 on 4 exercises a day. The rest of the week, I'm doing 3 to 5 sessions of Bjj, and 3 to 5 sessions of Muay Thai. Sometimes I'll go for a run after a class. That's about as much cardio as my body can physically take.

 

[Hotstreak1987]

Look its not rocket science if you are in fact doing that much activity then creating a caloric deficit should be cake....mm cake. Keep in mind undereating hurts more then helps

 

[DrBdan]

I am 5'10".

And yes, I do eat a lot. I don't eat cheat meals almost ever (maybe once every few weeks.)

Why would it be so hard for me to lose weight, though? Working out like a horse + eating until barely satisfied = weight loss, no? How the hell are you supposed to lose 2 pounds per week?

If you are in pretty good shape already it's hard to lose 2 lb/week. That would require a 7000 calorie deficit per week, so 1000 calories/day. That's a lot of calories. If your maintenance level is 4000 calories then that would require you to cut out 25% of your calories.

Maybe for you, I find it very easy while eating enough.

Apparently it's hard for the TS as well otherwise he wouldn't have started this thread. If it's easy for you then you should share your wisdom. What makes it so easy for you?

 

[bubs]

I am 5'10".

And yes, I do eat a lot. I don't eat cheat meals almost ever (maybe once every few weeks.)

Why would it be so hard for me to lose weight, though? Working out like a horse + eating until barely satisfied = weight loss, no? How the hell are you supposed to lose 2 pounds per week?

You are skinny.

You eat a lot, and at the same time you eat until barely satisfied?

You are skinny.

 

[scoopj]

You are skinny.

You eat a lot, and at the same time you eat until barely satisfied?

You are skinny.

Best haiku I've seen in a while.

 

[Hotstreak1987]

You are skinny.

You eat a lot, and at the same time you eat until barely satisfied?

You are skinny.

Amen.

 

[zx]

Apparently it's hard for the TS as well otherwise he wouldn't have started this thread. If it's easy for you then you should share your wisdom. What makes it so easy for you?

I guess there is a little misunderstanding, but i'll shoot for direct answer. It's genetics I think. The fact that I am ectomorph, and constantly active, maybe hyperactive.

I eat a LOT, I eat junk food, fuckin caloric bombs, all day. Everyday. I consider myself genetic freak. I don't have visible abs, though.

I loose 1kg per month of BW while doing MT, when I don't train strength.

 

[Rock Hard]

You are skinny.

You eat a lot, and at the same time you eat until barely satisfied?

You are skinny.

I eat probably 3000-4000 calories per day when I am trying to cut. When i don't care and just binge, it can easily go up to 6000.

 

[Rock Hard]

Apparently it's hard for the TS as well otherwise he wouldn't have started this thread.

It's not hard for me to lose weight...after coming off a binge session. Before, when I was 170 while staying strict, I would sometimes go through weeks or months where I ate whatever I wanted. I would balloon up to about 187 before wanting to go strict again. I just started getting sick of too much junk food. After a few weeks, I could easily get back to 175 or 170.

Now that I have more muscle, I could probably balloon up to 195 or more, but then burn back down to 176 without much of an issue. Anything below 176 would be an issue, unless I gave up my weight lifting.

I suspect the same thing is true with "zx", the guy with the Sagat avatar.

My issue is simply that I wanted to get stronger without actually gaining any weight. I guess it's not possible, though. By the time I am deadlifting 400, I'll probably be a good 180.

 

[Baconator69**]

Weight cutting is teh ghey

 

[Hotstreak1987]

95% of your problem is that your trying to hit multiple goals at the same time. Divide and conquer. Correct me if I'm wrong but your priorities sounds like this:
1. Get better at MMA
1. Get strong
1. Get bigger
1. Maintain current weight
1. Lose fat

Actually if you cut out the get strong part you sound like a bodybuilder that aspires to switch to mma

 

[DrBdan]

It's not hard for me to lose weight...after coming off a binge session. Before, when I was 170 while staying strict, I would sometimes go through weeks or months where I ate whatever I wanted. I would balloon up to about 187 before wanting to go strict again. I just started getting sick of too much junk food. After a few weeks, I could easily get back to 175 or 170.

Now that I have more muscle, I could probably balloon up to 195 or more, but then burn back down to 176 without much of an issue. Anything below 176 would be an issue, unless I gave up my weight lifting.

I suspect the same thing is true with "zx", the guy with the Sagat avatar.

My issue is simply that I wanted to get stronger without actually gaining any weight. I guess it's not possible, though. By the time I am deadlifting 400, I'll probably be a good 180.

It's possible to be strong and still be light. If you look at the Sherdog's Strongest Man thread there are a plenty of guys in the 165 lb group that pull over 400 lb, even a couple over 500. You shouldn't need to give up weight lifting to get down below 176 lb, in fact that is a good way to lose the strength you have gained.

Weight cutting is teh ghey

Not if you are competing in a sport with weight classes. Even if you don't, in the long run it's better to not be a complete fat ass.