Gaining, not losing...what's going on?

[Julz]

I think all the squats/lunges I've been doing for the past 3 weeks are making me bigger, not smaller! I can't get into 2 pairs of my jeans that I just wore 2 weeks ago. Is this normal??? Will I eventually start to lose some of the fat I've gained? I'm freaking out. Anyone have any insight (please!)? Is this typical?

[1FastGTX]

More info please.

[Julz]

Sorry, I know better than that.....

There's a sample of my diet and my stats here....
http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/s...ad.php?t=22257

Edit: sorry no stats there. F, 5' 8.5", 155lbs (think about 25% BF)
Training: cardio 5-6 days/week (usually fasted), 4-day split

[Sholezard]

Originally Posted by Julz

I think all the squats/lunges I've been doing for the past 3 weeks are making me bigger, not smaller! I can't get into 2 pairs of my jeans that I just wore 2 weeks ago. Is this normal??? Will I eventually start to lose some of the fat I've gained? I'm freaking out. Anyone have any insight (please!)? Is this typical?

Hey Julz,

When you say you can't get into your jeans, are they tight for you on the thigh part or on the waist? Since June of 2005 I had been doing hardcore squats and lunges, as well as other leg workouts and I found that the thigh part of one of my jeans was considerably tighter than it was before. Anyway, I could still fit into them and I still do wear them, but I was curious to know what was happening so I asked a personal trainer and I told him that I also didn't want big thighs or a big butt.

He then instructed me to not do as many regular squats, but to focus more on inner thigh exercises, such as plie squats or "sitting squats," where the pressure is not so much on the thighs. Squats do eventually lead to bigger legs if you do them hardcore. I still continue to do over 100 walking lunges though using 10lb dumbbells and I don't think they're really going to give me bigger legs - they'll only tone my butt more. What types of exercises are you doing exactly and with what weights?

[Julz]

On leg day (2X per wk), I've been doing the following:

Three 1-minute intervals of pop-overs*
3 X 20 squats (against wall w/ ball) w/ 12lb dumbells
3 X 20 lunges (each side)
3 X 15-20 deadlifts (45lbs) w/ free motion machine

*Pop-overs - I use a step on 4 risers for this. Start w/ one foot on step, the other on the floor and squat, then pop over to other side and repeat. It also really ramps your heart rate.

My trainer has me doing squats and lunges with an exercise ball between me and the wall. She says it helps to maintain proper form throughout.

So back to the pants thing. Its not in the waist that they aren't fitting, its my thighs and butt. I've got some junk in the trunk to begin with, but all of a sudden it's impossible to get them up over my thighs/hips. Oh, and the one leg bigger than the other deal? Yep, got that too. I don't know why but my right thigh is (to me) significantly bigger than the left. Its SO annoying It's like it makes my pants fit all wrong on that side.

[Sholezard]

Originally Posted by Julz

On leg day (2X per wk), I've been doing the following:

Three 1-minute intervals of pop-overs*
3 X 20 squats (against wall w/ ball) w/ 12lb dumbells
3 X 20 lunges (each side)
3 X 15-20 deadlifts (45lbs) w/ free motion machine

*Pop-overs - I use a step on 4 risers for this. Start w/ one foot on step, the other on the floor and squat, then pop over to other side and repeat. It also really ramps your heart rate.

My trainer has me doing squats and lunges with an exercise ball between me and the wall. She says it helps to maintain proper form throughout.

So back to the pants thing. Its not in the waist that they aren't fitting, its my thighs and butt. I've got some junk in the trunk to begin with, but all of a sudden it's impossible to get them up over my thighs/hips. Oh, and the one leg bigger than the other deal? Yep, got that too. I don't know why but my right thigh is (to me) significantly bigger than the left. Its SO annoying It's like it makes my pants fit all wrong on that side.

I don't think that the exercises that you described are too "over the top" in terms of hardcore leg workouts. Here's an example of my leg day:

1. Plie Squats- 4 sets of 10, 10, 10, 10 reps
2. Compound move with squats (using 20 lbs barbell) - 4 sets of 10 reps
3. Dead lift (using 45 lb bar) - 4 sets of 15, 12, 10, 10 reps
4. Walking lunges- 100 reps
5. Lying leg curls for hamstrings- 4 sets of 15, 12, 12, 10 reps
6. Leg extensions- 4 sets of 15, 12, 12, 10 reps
7. Leg press- 4 sets of 15, 12, 12, 10 reps
8. Thigh abductor/adductor- 4 sets of 15, 12, 12, 10 reps

On one hand, I want to say that it sucks that you can't fit into your jeans, but on the other hand I want to congratulate you for putting on some well-deserved muscle on those legs! All I can say is, it's a decision you have to make on your part: legs are just as important to workouts as are other body parts. If you ignore them, then you'll look disproportional. If I were you, I'd still work out the legs, but maybe tone down the reps and see how that goes. I don't think I'll ever stop working out my legs regardless of whether or not pants are tight on me in the thigh area.

[Julz]

I guess its just frustrating b/c I know that I've got a decent amount fat that needs to come off my thighs so the gain in muscle before the loss of fat makes me a little panicky. To give you a little perspective, I'm not obese by any means, but you really can't see any muscle definition in my legs right now. So I guess I'm just going to try to stay positive and hope that it will start to come off soon so I can see what's under there!

[Sholezard]

Originally Posted by Julz

I guess its just frustrating b/c I know that I've got a decent amount fat that needs to come off my thighs so the gain in muscle before the loss of fat makes me a little panicky. To give you a little perspective, I'm not obese by any means, but you really can't see any muscle definition in my legs right now. So I guess I'm just going to try to stay positive and hope that it will start to come off soon so I can see what's under there!

Well you should know that the increase in the size of your legs is due to muscle gain and not fat gain. That in itself should offer you peace of mind. Muscle will eventually replace the fat in your legs so you'll have nice, defined legs to boot!