When does muscle gain turn into fat loss

[ban0001]

Rip, when you're training someone who is lifting to lose weight, how long does it typically take for the weight to start to come off? I know this is highly individualistic, but I'm just wondering if you've seen a certain trend. I'm training someone and she gained five pounds in the first two weeks. I realize this must be muscle weight which will in turn burn more calories. When can I tell her the number on the scale will start going down? Women can be, shall we say, impatient at times. Her diet is good. Enough calories for recovery, but by no means a huge excess. Thanks.

[Mark Rippetoe]

How do you know there was no excess? Do you live with her?

[Jamie J. Skibicki]

Unless she is competing in a weightclass sport, throw out the scale and tape instead. It will be better for her goals and your sanity.

[Mark Rippetoe]

But the problem is that she's not going to do that, Jamie. Do you know any women?

[Eric K]

I wouldn't guess that he weight will go down if her lifts keep going up. And, as Rip alluded, getting her to stop checking is not likely going to happen. I still struggle with getting my girl to stop "freaking out" when she steps on the scale even though she's repeatedly admitted that she likes the way she looks more than before she started lifting.

[Jamie J. Skibicki]

I'm not saying it's easy or isn't incredibly frustrating. THe way I go about it is have her pic out pictures of women she finds attractive. I then ask her if she knows how much they weight (they typically don't know). Then I ask "so why does your weight matter". I then replace the scale with the tape measure so they can see incremental and qualitative changes. It takes about a month or so of badgering.

keep in mind, the girls that come to me for training are not typical.

[Mark Rippetoe]

keep in mind, the girls that come to me for training are not typical.

That's certainly true.

[RichMcguire]

I just thought I'd ask, was she on her period? Or was she maybe constipated? Really, 5 lbs is nothing to worry about. I think I dropped 5 lbs earlier this morning. It took two flushes to get that bastard down.

But seriously, I was thinking what Rip did. You can never really know what someone is eating. It's a trend. Skinny kids really do eat SOOOO much food but magically can't gain weight. Fatties say, "I don't even really eat that much!!" As they are puttin' down a big mac with a diet coke.

It's frusterating.

[SDAssassin]

...she gained five pounds in the first two weeks. I realize this must be muscle weight which will in turn burn more calories.

And what makes you think this must be muscle weight?

[Mark Rippetoe]

Especially on a female.