Lifting and calorie intake

jamacianredhair
jamacianredhair Posts: 230 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Okay so I'm eating at a deficit to lose these last 20 lbs. I love lifting and I know you can't gain muscle eating the way I am. My question is I just started Strong Lifts 5x5 should I not be doing this while I'm eating at a deficit?

Replies

  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    You can do it on a deficit...you won't make strength gains as linearly as you would eating more...on that note though, and with only 20 Lbs to lose, I would just use a TDEE calculator and knock off between 250 - 500 calories from your maintenance calories. Steep deficits and that kind of programming aren't great combinations.
  • jamacianredhair
    jamacianredhair Posts: 230 Member
    I was wondering about that as well I'm still set at 2 lbs a week so I will make that adjustment. Once I hit goal I was planning on eating at a surplus in the hopes of gaining muscle and then cut again to lose the fat and hopefully reveal some really gorgeous muscles!
  • Hawkeye4356
    Hawkeye4356 Posts: 11 Member
    Its def possible to build muscle and gain stength while in a deficit. Go check out Legion Athletics. Its all about your MACROS and meeting your daily requirements of nutrients if you dont get your marcos right you will lose alot of stength and size in your cut phases.
  • chickybuns
    chickybuns Posts: 1,037 Member
    I am having this issue too. I am trying to eat about 100-200 calories over maintenance. I still burn more than that, so it puts me in a slight deficit. So far I'm losing about 1.5lbs eating around 2200/2300 calories a day with lifting and a couple days of cardio.

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