Have you tried GLP1 medications and found it didn't work for you? We'd like to hear about your experiences, what you tried, why it didn't work and how you're doing now. Click here to tell us your story
Building muscle at the same time as losing fat
missylectro
Posts: 448 Member
Is it possible to do both? From what I understand to lose fat you need to eat at a deficit and to build muscle you need to eat at maintenance or high (am I wrong here?)
What can you do to promote these processes other than the obvious do strength training, eating plenty protein and eating at a deficit (not sure about the last one)?
What can you do to promote these processes other than the obvious do strength training, eating plenty protein and eating at a deficit (not sure about the last one)?
0
Replies
-
You just opened a Poop storm...lol Enjoy!0
-
redfisher1974 wrote: »You just opened a Poop storm...lol Enjoy!
My thoughts exactly.0 -
redfisher1974 wrote: »You just opened a Poop storm...lol Enjoy!
See previous posts. This is a great one for everyone to "weigh" in on.0 -
I'm in just to read the responses.
...but to my knowledge the only way that you can do both is if you are a newbie or obese (for a minimal amount of time). Or a body recomposition while eating at maintenance, but is a very slow process.
You are correct. To lose fat, you eat in a deficit. To gain muscle, you eat in a surplus.
To gain muscle you must eat adequate protein and lift heavy while eating in a surplus.
To lose fat you must eat in a calorie deficit. Still eat adequate protein and lift weights or do other strength exercises, so that you maintain your current muscle mass.0 -
-
I don't know the science behind it but I have a lot of fat to lose. I notice that I have more muscle but my hips are smaller so I seem to be losing fat and gaining muscle. I just went into my settings and I set my protein % higher without changing my calories. I'm losing a little slower than I was 2 weeks ago but I'm still losing.0
-
MidoriRyu76 wrote: »I don't know the science behind it but I have a lot of fat to lose. I notice that I have more muscle but my hips are smaller so I seem to be losing fat and gaining muscle. I just went into my settings and I set my protein % higher without changing my calories. I'm losing a little slower than I was 2 weeks ago but I'm still losing.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
0 -
I'm obese and started lifting heavy almost a week ago. My goal is to maintain muscle or build some, while losing fat at the same time. I eat between 1900-2000 cals a day, so not a huge deficit but I figured I should feed the muscle that I do have. I'm a newb so not experienced enough to give advice.0
-
You can strengthen muscles, definitely, whilst losing weight.0
-
Agreed.
Yes, it's very possible. Yes, it's exceptionally slow, and visible results take much longer to see than with the more common bulk/cut approach.0 -
greenfirearm wrote: »You can strengthen muscles, definitely, whilst losing weight.
Also agreed.
Realize that getting stronger isn't the same as building new muscle.0 -
It's important to lift while eating in a deficit to keep your body from using muscle along with fat stores to make up the energy it isn't getting from food. And if you're new to lifting, this can even inspire some modest gains as long as your deficit isn't too severe and you eat plenty of protein. But for the most part, gaining significant muscle at a deficit doesn't happen.
What some people do is "recomp" or recomposition. They cycle eating at a deficit on rest days (15-20%) and a slight surplus on workout days (10%). I've also seen advice to increase the proportion of carbs on workout days for energy, and of protein on rest days for recovery.0 -
SnuggleSmacks wrote: »It's important to lift while eating in a deficit to keep your body from using muscle along with fat stores to make up the energy it isn't getting from food. And if you're new to lifting, this can even inspire some modest gains as long as your deficit isn't too severe and you eat plenty of protein. But for the most part, gaining significant muscle at a deficit doesn't happen.
What some people do is "recomp" or recomposition. They cycle eating at a deficit on rest days (15-20%) and a slight surplus on workout days (10%). I've also seen advice to increase the proportion of carbs on workout days for energy, and of protein on rest days for recovery.
Thank you, that's really helpful. Thanks everybody!0 -
Yes it is possible. Size of deficit, age, athletic experience, macros, training program, genetics will all be factors though and I would not expect a lot.
Interesting article on it.
http://spotmebro.com/lose-fat-gain-muscle/0 -
I had really low muscle mass for my weight - still do - (body fat percentage was high). After 6 weeks with my personal trainer, we did another body assessment, and it gave body fat percentage, lean muscle mass, etc. and I'd gained 5 lbs of muscle. I have also lost roughly 5lbs in that time period.
So, I don't know what is and isn't possible according to common practice or once you're in decent shape, but for someone pretty obese with high body fat, it was feasible for me to lose weight AND gain muscle. Losing slowed down, but inches came off more quickly.0 -
I really would not worry to much about it. Go lift and follow your diet and focus on those and you will see positive changes. There will become a point where you get down to a low body fat percentage that you can start to consider these types of problems. If you are a noob lifter and have over 20 percent body fat, I really don't see how it matters.
Where I currently am, I know that if I ate more I would be stronger with my lifts, but being stronger is not my main goal. My main goal is fat loss. So I put up with being weaker for now so I can continue to drop weight while I continue to lift and try to maintain as much muscle as possible as I lose the fat.
Total body recomp while losing weight and not losing muscle while you do it is everyones hope while losing weight and lifting, it is the unicorn of weight lifting.0 -
It is absolutely possible. Keep protein high to feed muscles, and healthy fats high. Moderate carb intake, or at the very least time intake to right when you wake up and/or right after your workout (strength train) to replace muscle glycogen that was lost during lifting. Keep no more than a 500 calorie deficit at any given time. Also try intermittent fasting along with carb backloading and also monitor your sodium intake in conjunction with getting enough water to AVOID retaining it.0
-
It is absolutely possible. Keep protein high to feed muscles, and healthy fats high. Moderate carb intake, or at the very least time intake to right when you wake up and/or right after your workout (strength train) to replace muscle glycogen that was lost during lifting. Keep no more than a 500 calorie deficit at any given time. Also try intermittent fasting along with carb backloading and also monitor your sodium intake in conjunction with getting enough water to AVOID retaining it.
Yikes... that sounds like a lot of work.0 -
Don't worry about building muscle when you lose weight. You can definitely build strength, though! Keep lifting.0
-
Yes is possible you are lucky if you do cardio after training and you weigh lift.0
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 392.9K Introduce Yourself
- 43.7K Getting Started
- 260.1K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.8K Food and Nutrition
- 47.4K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 413 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 152.9K Motivation and Support
- 7.9K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.6K MyFitnessPal Information
- 23 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.5K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions