Lose tummy then bulk up or Just bulk up?

eracman
eracman Posts: 22
edited September 30 in Fitness and Exercise
Now don't hate me but I have always been thin (currently 135lbs, around 5'5"). I have been working out daily to try to put on muscle and weight. Since I joined MFP I have been eating right, keeping my carbs, fat, protein etc, balanced. I have MFP set for me to gain 1/2 lb weekly and have been eating the proper amount of balanced calories to gain weight.

My question is, over the years I have developed some extra tummy fat (I don't really have a lot of fat anywhere else). Should I first set MFP to help me lose weight (maybe 5 lbs or so) to get rid of the belly first, and then go back to bulking up or will exercising and eating properly get rid of the belly even though I am putting on weight?

Replies

  • Charlie003
    Charlie003 Posts: 1,333 Member
    Bulk up for 3 months, then lean out....Rinse and repeat.
  • mangirl
    mangirl Posts: 93
    eat the amount of calories you need to stay at your current weight and work out
  • utes09
    utes09 Posts: 561 Member
    If you set MFP to lose, there's no way to make that loss be from your tummy area. Just concentrate on your muscle strengthening/bulking and the added muscle will help you burn more at rest anyways. As you are doing strength training add some cardio in there and that should help with your tummy area too.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,956 Member
    Now don't hate me but I have always been thin (currently 135lbs, around 5'5"). I have been working out daily to try to put on muscle and weight. Since I joined MFP I have been eating right, keeping my carbs, fat, protein etc, balanced. I have MFP set for me to gain 1/2 lb weekly and have been eating the proper amount of balanced calories to gain weight.

    My question is, over the years I have developed some extra tummy fat (I don't really have a lot of fat anywhere else). Should I first set MFP to help me lose weight (maybe 5 lbs or so) to get rid of the belly first, and then go back to bulking up or will exercising and eating properly get rid of the belly even though I am putting on weight?
    To gain muscle, you WILL gain fat in the process. Inevitable. You could do it like bodybuilders and bulk then cut, then repeat. This actually works well. I've done it every 6 months (on a cut cycle now) for years and little by little my proportion and look has improved based on pictures even from 10 years ago.
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