Water weight?

[k260jl]

I was on a cut for 2 months and started to bulk last week (last monday). I was 165-166 ish last monday and now I am 170 this morning. Is this all from water weight or I am over eating? Waist line remain the same at 32.5.


5'11 at 170lb at 15% BF

2400 calories
BMR = 1750 x 1.4 = 2400.

I measure everything and eat around 2300-2500 calories per day and been doing fierce 5 beginner routine.

How will i know I am gaining muscle pounds? Trying to gain .5 per week.

[phoenixr2]

If you switched to a bulk I would assume your calorie intake up, which I would assume increased your carbohydrate intake as well. Increased carb intake will increase water retention. Water weight is going to go up and down and everywhere else dependent on numerous factors, I wouldn't sweat it.

[k260jl]

If you switched to a bulk I would assume your calorie intake up, which I would assume increased your carbohydrate intake as well. Increased carb intake will increase water retention. Water weight is going to go up and down and everywhere else dependent on numerous factors, I wouldn't sweat it.

sounds logical and reasonable. How will I know I am gaining "mass" instead of water weight? trying to gain .5 per week

[phoenixr2]

Track your BF and your LBM. Keep track of the scale. Keep track of your lifting progress and numbers. Pictures of yourself with the same lighting and taken as consistently as possible. Note how your clothes are fitting as your weight increases. There is quite a few ways.

[bklein28]

Water weight and glycogen replenishment. Yes its normal.

[bklein28]

sounds logical and reasonable. How will I know I am gaining "mass" instead of water weight? trying to gain .5 per week

Try to stay at maintenance for 2 weeks before going into surplus. This will allow your body to reset. Start tracking weigh ins after that.

[k260jl]

Guess i will keep track of my waist line for 3 weeks


Thank you for your help!!!

[k260jl]

Yeah I been eating at a maintenance currently at 2400 calories and next week I will bump up to 2700.

Thanks for the help!

[GreenChile10]

sounds logical and reasonable. How will I know I am gaining "mass" instead of water weight? trying to gain .5 per week

You only gain water weight to a certain point. It's not like you blow up like a water balloon with every week of bulking. You can attribute the first 3-7 lbs to water weight. After 1-2 weeks of eating in a consistent surplus, you can attribute the scale weight to muscle and fat gain. If you food binge one day or take in a lot of sodium, you may gain some extra water weight for a day or two though.