Can I achieve an athletic look by cutting calories?

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sugamonstaa
sugamonstaa Posts: 88 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Last year when I was 115lb I decided to eat above maintenance by 200 calories more. I was seeing gains and some fat also. I kept it up for three months and then fell off track. I was stuck with 10lbs....

So I'm still 125 and I have lost muscle and gained fat...I'm still the same weight. I just recently started working out and have been eating 200 calories below maintenance. I'm afraid if I'm cutting calories I will look just skinny instead of toned and athletic...


Can I add some lean mass and make my body tight while working out being on a calorie deficit? I do strength training.

I would love to add some mass to my lower legs and butt, abs (Jaime koeppe type body)all while keeping my arms kinda smaller so I would eventually bulk but I'm scared I might add anther 10lbs and fall off track and be stuck at 130lbs.

Replies

  • whitebalance
    whitebalance Posts: 1,654 Member
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    You may not add lean mass while lifting and eating at a deficit, but you will preserve the lean mass you have and ensure that the fat is what you lose.
  • sugamonstaa
    sugamonstaa Posts: 88 Member
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    Will I still see some nice results if I continue to strength train and lose fat?
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
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    Will I still see some nice results if I continue to strength train and lose fat?

    yes
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
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    Hard to really answer any of your questions. Things like "athletic look" and "nice results" are subjective and won't mean the same thing person to person to person.
  • sugamonstaa
    sugamonstaa Posts: 88 Member
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    I guess not too low on body fat but enough to have your abs show through. I'll put up a pic once I find it...but I guess Jessica Biel type
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
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    What weight training program are you doing?
  • AlongCame_Molly
    AlongCame_Molly Posts: 2,835 Member
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    Will I still see some nice results if I continue to strength train and lose fat?

    yes

    yes
  • AlongCame_Molly
    AlongCame_Molly Posts: 2,835 Member
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    I guess not too low on body fat but enough to have your abs show through. I'll put up a pic once I find it...but I guess Jessica Biel type

    Jessica Biel is a great goal. Know that shes doesn't look that way just by keeping her calories low, though. She works out like a beast, and lifts HEAVY weights. I believe she does some heavy boxing, too.
  • sugamonstaa
    sugamonstaa Posts: 88 Member
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    I do the 3 day split: push/pull/legs and some cardio and abs in the mix. I lift heavy til failure lol so I'd be sore for 2 days.


    I want to definitely get nice bigger leg muscles one day and eat above maintenance but right now I want to cut fat...I'm hoping that I can still look good and not just skinny.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
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    Just an FYI- sweat is not a good indicator of if you had a good workout or not.

    It just means you sweat.

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