Building muscle if I still have fat to lose?

GemW27
GemW27 Posts: 41
in Health and Weight Loss
Something that I am confused about...

Is there any point in building muscle when I still need to lose fat?

Yes it'll give you a head start, boosts metabolism etc.

But...if I gain muscle, this will mean I have more mass on my body. Surely I will look bigger with muscle AND fat?
Is it better to focus on fat burning THEN start to tone?

Is that accurate or have I got this completely wrong?

Replies

  • nxd10
    nxd10 Posts: 4,570 Member
    As soon as I started gaining muscle I looked much thinner. Among other things, when I lose fat, it gives me extra 'space' on my body where the fat used to be that looks and feels soft. Muscle makes that disappear. Physically, it become smaller, as measured with a tape measure and by clothing size.

    Even fast walking - how I exercise - tightened up legs, arms, abdomen, and buttocks and I looked much better.
  • DLynne88
    DLynne88 Posts: 10
    I was told that strength training will help you burn fat faster since muscle burns fat. I guess that is why men tend to lose weight faster. They generally have more muscle mass then women. Aslo, When strength training be to alternate body regions to give the previous days workout muscles a chance to recoup. I'm not an expert but that is what i was told. Besides anything that keeps you moving is always good to do.
  • AphelionPDX
    AphelionPDX Posts: 105
    I was told that strength training will help you burn fat faster since muscle burns fat. .

    I believe this is true.
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    I was told that strength training will help you burn fat faster since muscle burns fat. .

    I believe this is true.
    Each pound of muscle burns about 6 extra calories per day - pretty negligible.

    Aside from very slight newbie gains, you don't build appreciable amounts of muscle while in a caloric deficit. The main purpose of strength training while trying to lose weight is that it preserves lean body mass and shifts the bias to burning fat. The weight loss doesn't come as quickly, but preserving what muscle mass you have is a good thing because gaining it back after you've lost it is MUCH more difficult than holding on to what you already have. To gain that muscle back, you have to go into a "bulk" cycle (eating at a caloric surplus and lifting heavy), which also involves some degree of fat gain - thus undoing part of what you accomplished while you were "cutting" (losing weight). You then have to revert to a "cut" cycle (caloric deficit) to get rid of the fat.
  • GemW27
    GemW27 Posts: 41
    Thanks everyone!

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