Bodybuilding question?

riverq1

This may sound weird but, I want to body build even though I'm 355 pounds and 6 foot 2. Can the muscle that I'm building go over the fat? I don't want to be skinny whatsoever, I'm playing some football right now. I'm in the front with the other big guys. Will the muscle just make me bulky and lose the weight in the process?

astrose00

Muscle doesn't go over fat. It's underneath the fat. You can certainly do strength training while losing weight to try to hold on to the muscle you have. I don't think you can build muscle at the same time as losing fat. But your bodyfat% can/will descrease you will have proportionately more muscle. I like the website bodybuilding.com. Go there for a wealth of information. They also have a forum.

And just a caveat, you should clear your weight loss / training plans with your doctor so you don't overdo it.

TimothyFish

Being fat doesn't keep people from gaining strength. In fact, fat people are probably stronger just from carrying so much weight around all day.

Mediocrates55

Muscle lies under the subcutaneous fat layer, the layer that gives you that squish. Weight training at a heavy level will help to deplete some of that fat store and will increase your tone. But yeah, general consensus is that you cannot build muscle to bulk at a calorie deficit. But you CAN tone up and lose some of the fat while lifting, so win/win. Lifting will also prevent you from losing a large amount of lean body mass while in caloric deficit. LIFTING FOR ALL! LOL

peachyfuzzle

I think it would be difficult to class someone at 355 as a "bodybuilder." Powerlifters make 355 easy, but they're not bodybuilders.

If you're going for aesthetics, which is what bodybuilders do, then you're going to have to lose weight. It's that simple. And, in losing weight, you're also going to be losing muscle which is why you should start a weight training program alongside the weightloss.

Once you get down to a certain BF%, then you can start bulking up to actual build/create muscle. You're not going to be building muscle at a caloric deficit.

peachyfuzzle

Also, you talked about football...

If you're comparing your current state to a 350lb NFL lineman who looks like he's been carved out of rock, you're comparing yourself to a guy who has been bulking/cutting since he was in his early teens. He likely did not start out at 350, and instead worked his way up there with complete intent.

yopeeps025

TimothyFish wrote: »

Being fat doesn't keep people from gaining strength. In fact, fat people are probably stronger just from carrying so much weight around all day.

I have always wonder this too.