Lose Fat or Gain Muscle Confusion

samthomason

I have read several message boards on this topic, but I am still very confused. i have never had my body fat calculated, but my stats are listed below. I definitely want to gain muscle, but I still feel like I have quite a bit of fat over my abdomen (especially lower!), hips and butt. My question is, do I focus on losing the fat first by reducing my caloric intake (500 less calories than my maintenance) or do I increase my calories to gain muscle (500 more calories than maintenance)? I am planning on doing one of Jilian Michaels' DVDs, probably No More Trouble Zones or Ripped in 30 (I am about to finish 30 day shred). So, does anyone know which is best to do?


Weight: 125
Height: 5' 8"
Arms: Left & Right: 9.5"
Waist" 27
Belly Button: 32
Hips: 36"
Thigh" Left" 20.75 Right: 20"

xraychick77

doing exercise dvds will not make you gain muscle.

there is a lot of debate about the fat loss/muscle gain thing. in reality, its not possible to gain any significant muscle mass while losing fat. our bodies just dont work that way.

and if you want to continue to lose body fat but perserve muscle mass, i would suggest NOT going 500 below. start off with maybe 200-250. if you go too low you risk losing muscle mass.

now, to gain muscle i wouldnt go 500 over either..because you risk gaining a lot of fat along with muscle. again, try 200-250 over.

now to actually gain muscle takes a concentrated effort. meaning you have to mean to gain muscle. casual lifting and dvd workouts wont cut it. You really need to get in a gym and lift weights and progress with those weights. You need a good routine, watch your diet and eat.

grinch031

You are almost underweight as it is. I'd definitely focus on adding muscle right now.

jennifershoo

Weight: 125
Height: 5' 8"

You do not need to lose weight.
You should do lift heavy and eat at maintenance or more.

mewaybright

I am a proponent of P90X and would suggest looking into it. I started out at a weight of 207 and managed to lose fat and gain muscle at the same time while workout out with P90X. I reduced my calories to a weight loss level but ate back a portion of my workout calories. I am currently 34 pounds lighter and have toned up and built muscle. I will not tell you that P90X is easy... it is hard but it is not so hard that you cannot do it. The results you see on the infomercials are actual results... but it takes work.

Good Luck in your decisions

dusty8907

The 500 calorie defecit or surplus is overrated. You need to be at a 15-20 % of your maintenance calories surplus or defecit depending what you want to do. As far as your question goes, cutting would be the best option first, that way when you do a clean slow bulk you won't have to cut as much later and you will have a smoother look throughout your bulk.