Muscle gain question

lewispwest
lewispwest Posts: 498 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Apologies if this has come up a hundred times but I'm still learning all about nutrition and exercise so I wanted to ask specifically here.

Basically I am 6'1'' and 230lbs. I still have a significant belly on me as well as fat on my limbs etc. I'm doing heavy lifting where I can but my question is can I develop muscles while losing weight due to the bulk I currently have or do I need to lose the weight then gain it back on in lean muscle?

Thanks for any advice!

Replies

  • BigT555
    BigT555 Posts: 2,067 Member
    generally speaking it is very very hard to gain muscle and lose fat at the same time. it can be done, but it is an extremely slow and tiresome process. bulk/cut cycles are much more efficient

    if you are just starting out with lifting, you may see some "noob gains" in the first couple months, which are basically increases in strength despite not gaining muscle mass. this is just a factor of your muscles changing from a sedentary to an active lifestyle

    lifting while losing weight is still important though, it helps maintain muscle mass throughout the process
  • lewispwest
    lewispwest Posts: 498 Member
    Thanks for the info, I'll keep with doing stuff but once I get down to my target weight I'll look to gain lean mass and define.

    Also love some of the terms I've learned here such as "noob gains" and "broscience"!
  • MrTolerable
    MrTolerable Posts: 1,593 Member
    I spent months and months getting a six pack, and now I will be loosing it soon because I have to do the bulk cycle. - If I were you I'd get up to your target weight, and work out HARD and get there as lean as can be with your gains, but once you hit your target then worry about the definition etc.

    It is a cycle tho so be prepared for it.
  • shmerek
    shmerek Posts: 963 Member
    My advice would be to cut down to a lean body fat (10-12) percentage before trying to gain any new muscle. If you maintain your lifting throughout the weight lose you will be surprised how jacked you will look by just stripping away a lot of the fat. I had some belly fat when I started and after wasting a few months (and my newbie gains) with half reps and such I did a cut to remove the fat. I am now doing my first real "bulk", a cautious one at that, and I am at my the same weight as when I started in sept by my body shape is drastically different.
  • MrTolerable
    MrTolerable Posts: 1,593 Member
    My advice would be to cut down to a lean body fat (10-12) percentage before trying to gain any new muscle. If you maintain your lifting throughout the weight lose you will be surprised how jacked you will look by just stripping away a lot of the fat. I had some belly fat when I started and after wasting a few months (and my newbie gains) with half reps and such I did a cut to remove the fat. I am now doing my first real "bulk", a cautious one at that, and I am at my the same weight as when I started in sept by my body shape is drastically different.

    That is awesome! I hit 11% body fat and did a tiny bulk as well - gained 6 lbs ^_^ ... Now I am cutting again - my body fat percentage certainly went up a lil - but this summer - FTW!

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