Beginner question...

In article <[email hidden]>,

David Roman said:

I'm 5'6", 150lbs, with 19% body fat. I have a 32" waist. I started
weight lifting about two months ago and I have noticed some strength
gains. I have also noticed that my waist is growing as well which is
becoming a problem. I cannot afford to buy a new wardrobe to
accomodate my growing waist. The pants that were once comfortable are
now uncomfortable.

Should I get leaner (like down to 140lbs & 14% body fat) and work from
there to build muscle?

Is it your waist growing or are you legs and butt getting bigger?

I've lifted for a long time and the problem I have is getting a pant
that is large enough in the legs and butt. Normally I have to buy
several sizes larger than my actual waist.

--
Keith

Quoted message said:

the problem I have is getting a pant

that is large enough in the legs and butt.>

I'm willing to bet, that's not your *only* problem...

David Roman said:

I'm 5'6", 150lbs, with 19% body fat. I have a 32" waist. I started
weight lifting about two months ago and I have noticed some strength
gains. I have also noticed that my waist is growing as well which is
becoming a problem.

You're getting fat.

You've got to ask yourself how this happened. People don't
spontaneously get fat after commencing an exercise program. Maybe
you're trying a little too hard to "eat for growth" and "growing" a
little too much ? Just eat sensibly (at least, no more calories than
you ate before lifting) and you'll get both stronger and leaner.

Quoted message said:

I cannot afford to buy a new wardrobe to accomodate my growing
waist. The pants that were once comfortable are now uncomfortable.

Should I get leaner (like down to 140lbs & 14% body fat) and work
from there to build muscle?

You're overthinking this. You're still a beginner. No need to fuss
over micro-optimisations or exact numbers. Lift, and don't overeat.

Cheers,
--
Donovan Rebbechi
http://pegasus.rutgers.edu/~elflord/

David Roman said:

I'm 5'6", 150lbs, with 19% body fat. I have a 32" waist. I started
weight lifting about two months ago and I have noticed some strength
gains. I have also noticed that my waist is growing as well which is
becoming a problem. I cannot afford to buy a new wardrobe to
accomodate my growing waist. The pants that were once comfortable are
now uncomfortable.

Should I get leaner (like down to 140lbs & 14% body fat) and work from
there to build muscle?

Bulk up then train down. I think you've been training up. That is,
eating more than you need for sustenance and growth. Watch the food
intake carefully.

David Roman said:

I'm 5'6", 150lbs, with 19% body fat. I have a 32" waist. I started
weight lifting about two months ago and I have noticed some strength
gains. I have also noticed that my waist is growing as well which is
becoming a problem. I cannot afford to buy a new wardrobe to
accomodate my growing waist. The pants that were once comfortable are
now uncomfortable.

Should I get leaner (like down to 140lbs & 14% body fat) and work from
there to build muscle?

What are your goals? If you want to get bigger by muscular hypertrophy
then you are likely going to end up gaining some fat in the process.
You can always burn off the fat later.

If you want to get stronger and not bigger then you need to carefully
monitor your diet. Since you have noticed an increase in your waist
size it is clear that you are consuming excessive number of calories
which in and of itself is not so bad if you want to maximize muscle
growth but is bad if you just want to get stronger and keep your
current size.

If you want to gain muscle (which is implied from your post) you can
either diet down and get leaner (you will likely lose some strength
and muscle mass in the process) or bulk up and then diet down later.

In any case define your goals and go from there.

RC

You need to look at what you're eating. Make sure your getting enough
calories that you need and that you're not eating junk, otherwise the waist
will increase.

--
A K
www.fitnessplanning.com

"David Roman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm 5'6", 150lbs, with 19% body fat. I have a 32" waist. I started
weight lifting about two months ago and I have noticed some strength
gains. I have also noticed that my waist is growing as well which is
becoming a problem. I cannot afford to buy a new wardrobe to
accomodate my growing waist. The pants that were once comfortable are
now uncomfortable.

Should I get leaner (like down to 140lbs & 14% body fat) and work from
there to build muscle?

Quoted message said:

If you want to gain muscle (which is implied from your post) you can
either diet down and get leaner (you will likely lose some strength
and muscle mass in the process)

BS. You keep repeating this and it's still not true. He's only been
training for 2 months. The notion that it's hard/impossible to get
stronger/bigger and leaner at the same time only applies to
experienced trainees, it doesn't apply to people still on the beginner
gains curve. At this stage, he should be able to make gains in both
strength and lean mass without turning into a fatass.

Cheers,
--
Donovan Rebbechi
http://pegasus.rutgers.edu/~elflord/

Donovan Rebbechi said:

David Roman said:

I'm 5'6", 150lbs, with 19% body fat. I have a 32" waist. I started
weight lifting about two months ago and I have noticed some strength
gains. I have also noticed that my waist is growing as well which is
becoming a problem.

You're getting fat.

You've got to ask yourself how this happened. People don't
spontaneously get fat after commencing an exercise program. Maybe
you're trying a little too hard to "eat for growth" and "growing" a
little too much ? Just eat sensibly (at least, no more calories than
you ate before lifting) and you'll get both stronger and leaner.

Quoted message said:

I cannot afford to buy a new wardrobe to accomodate my growing
waist. The pants that were once comfortable are now uncomfortable.

Should I get leaner (like down to 140lbs & 14% body fat) and work
from there to build muscle?

You're overthinking this. You're still a beginner. No need to fuss
over micro-optimisations or exact numbers. Lift, and don't overeat.

Cheers,
--
Donovan Rebbechi
http://pegasus.rutgers.edu/~elflord/

Thank you for the response and advice.

When is a beginner no longer a beginner? Is it after a certain period
of time or is it when a person can lift a certain amount of weight?

David Roman said:

Thank you for the response and advice.

When is a beginner no longer a beginner? Is it after a certain
period of time or is it when a person can lift a certain amount of
weight?

I'd use about 6 months as a rule of thumb. Being able to lift a
certain amount of weight is not a good guideline -- some beginners
can lift more than some experienced trainees.

Cheers,
--
Donovan Rebbechi
http://pegasus.rutgers.edu/~elflord/

"David Roman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm 5'6", 150lbs, with 19% body fat. I have a 32" waist. I started
weight lifting about two months ago and I have noticed some strength
gains. I have also noticed that my waist is growing as well which is
becoming a problem. I cannot afford to buy a new wardrobe to
accomodate my growing waist. The pants that were once comfortable are
now uncomfortable.

Should I get leaner (like down to 140lbs & 14% body fat) and work from
there to build muscle?

You need to decide on your priorities, make a plan to get you where you
want to go, and follow that plan. If your priority is wearing the same
or smaller waist pants, eat less, exercise regularly, be sure to include
cardio, and try to lose weight. If your priority is getting stronger
and/or gaining muscle, then buy bigger pants.

-S-
http://www.kbnj.com

Steve Freides said:

If your priority is getting stronger and/or gaining muscle, then buy
bigger pants.

That sounds like it would make a nice sig 🙂.

Jason