Losing Weight and Gaining Muscle

jordangm990
jordangm990 Posts: 7 Member
in Getting Started
Really sorry if this is in the wrong place, feel free to delete if it is :)

Basically, I’m 25, 5’11 and 168 pounds. I’m relatively thin in most places (thin, not muscular) except my stomach (too many beers over the last few years 👀).

Anyway, I’ve decided to make some big changes to my lifestyle and the aim is to get to a stage where I’m a lot healthier overall and have a better, more defined body. My question is this; where do I start? I’m ready for the change in diet, the exercise etc but do I start with losing the belly? If so, how do I go about losing weight around the stomach but not getting unnaturally skinny elsewhere, what weight do I aim for? It’s all confusing me to no end so I’d be grateful for any advice :) thanks!

Replies

  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    edited April 2020
    To gain muscle start training to gain muscle - today!
    At your age good progress should be pretty rapid especially if you are new to training seriously.

    The rest is driven by your choices and options. If you want to get lighter go for a small calorie deficit / slow rate of loss. If you don't want to be lighter then maintain weight.

    If you don't know your own weight and physique goals you really need to have a serious think about short and long term goals rather than let people project their preferences on to you.
    Some people simply want to be big and strong, some prioritise being lean, some want to achieve all three etc. etc.
  • MidlifeCrisisFitness
    MidlifeCrisisFitness Posts: 1,106 Member
    Yep ^^^^ what he said. Start logging what you're eating. After 4 weeks look at how much and what you are eating.

    Learn about BMR and determine what you need to eat gain weight and learn what foods will help build that muscle.

    You are young, assuming you are injury free you could get right into a lifting program. If weights are unfamiliar and you don't have a good training partner you can absolutely start with body weight exercises. Athlean-X has a ton of good resources on YouTube.

    You don't need an end goal to get started.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    @KHMcG

    I think you mean TDEE not BMR as that's what someone burns at total rest and in a fasted state and not what the OP should do!

    (A side note is that MyFitnessPal doesn't use the TDEE method, although it's a valid alternative.)
  • jordangm990
    jordangm990 Posts: 7 Member
    Thanks so much for the info, definitely gives me a starting point! Thankfully I am injury free and definitely very new to training so hopefully I see some results quicker than I was expecting but either way, it all sounds good. Thanks again :)
  • MidlifeCrisisFitness
    MidlifeCrisisFitness Posts: 1,106 Member
    sijomial wrote: »
    @KHMcG

    I think you mean TDEE not BMR as that's what someone burns at total rest and in a fasted state and not what the OP should do!

    (A side note is that MyFitnessPal doesn't use the TDEE method, although it's a valid alternative.)

    Yes TDEE with a knowledge of BMR. I believe many people that fail over or under estimate thier TDEE. I have no data to support my claim. It's a hypothesis.

    Anyways for the poster. Know your BMR That is the lower limit and then as stated calculate your TDEE to account for what you will burn.

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