Why lift weights when losing weight if not to build muscles?

if your muscles aren't sufficiently challenged while you're losing weight then they will atrophy. it's possible to lose lean body mass at the same ratio that you lose fat mass so a 30 pound loss will be 15 pounds of fat and 15 pounds of LBM. a proper lifting routine will help you spare the muscle and keep the losses primarily to fat. that would be the point

QFT

First reply wins

if your muscles aren't sufficiently challenged while you're losing weight then they will atrophy. it's possible to lose lean body mass at the same ratio that you lose fat mass so a 30 pound loss will be 15 pounds of fat and 15 pounds of LBM. a proper lifting routine will help you spare the muscle and keep the losses primarily to fat. that would be the point

This.

You can gain mucle in a deficit. I'm quite noticeably larger but much leaner.

sure you are...

For those reading this. It _may_ be possible. but ONLY under 4 conditions

1) you're very fat.
2) you're utterly untrained.
3) You used to be trained, but are now untrained for long period of time. muscle memory
4) You're on gear

And even then if these conditions are true, there is no guarantee. The simple fact is for most people losing fat requires a calorie deficit and gained muscle mass requires a calorie surplus. these are very opposing conditions.

O rly?

I weigh more in the first picture

whats the tape measure difference?

2.5"

You can gain mucle in a deficit. I'm quite noticeably larger but much leaner.

sure you are...

For those reading this. It _may_ be possible. but ONLY under 4 conditions

1) you're very fat.
2) you're utterly untrained.
3) You used to be trained, but are now untrained for long period of time. muscle memory
4) You're on gear

And even then if these conditions are true, there is no guarantee. The simple fact is for most people losing fat requires a calorie deficit and gained muscle mass requires a calorie surplus. these are very opposing conditions.

O rly?

I weigh more in the first picture

Being able to see your muscle more doesnt mean you're gaining muscle, it just means your losing fat and you're able to see whats underneath.

Ok I've read a lot of threads about it and I know it's important to lift weights while losing weight so we don't lose muscles... but I've also read that you can't build muscles on a calorie deficit (although the nurse calculated that I gained 2lbs of muscles in 3.5 months, but I was obese then and 2 lbs is really not much out of 118 lbs).

So, what's the point? Wouldn't a protein rich diet be enough to maintain our muscles then? Can someone explain to me the logic behind it?

That would be the worst mistake possible. Your muscles are taxing on the body and require calories to exist, the body always attempts to burn them when in a calorie deficit. Eating protein but not applying frequent and adequate stress to your muscles will result in atrophy. Have you ever broken and arm or leg? You will notice that the limb that wasn't in use is noticeably smaller than the other that was free, same concept.

You can gain mucle in a deficit. I'm quite noticeably larger but much leaner.

sure you are...

For those reading this. It _may_ be possible. but ONLY under 4 conditions

1) you're very fat.
2) you're utterly untrained.
3) You used to be trained, but are now untrained for long period of time. muscle memory
4) You're on gear

And even then if these conditions are true, there is no guarantee. The simple fact is for most people losing fat requires a calorie deficit and gained muscle mass requires a calorie surplus. these are very opposing conditions.

O rly?

I weigh more in the first picture

Few explanations

1. You're leaner so you'll give the illusion of being larger
2. Although those could be noob gainz and you could have very well gained mass while simultaneously losing fat

or you hopped on gear which I doubt, but is usually the other explanation when someone gains mass and sheds fat.

Preserve muscle,
Get stronger,
Be awesome.

Not to perpetuate the hijack, but will anyone concede that people can gain muscle in a deficit if u define gain as increased size & mass. BUT also that gain is due to the muscles being continuously swollen w/fluid. There are enough people here w/measured increases while eating a deficit. How can you tell someone who got bigger and weighs more that they didn't gain muscle when you know muscle swells with fluid? So who cares if in the strictest definition that no new muscle fibers were created, when a person measures bigger & weighs more how can they not say they gained?

Not to perpetuate the hijack, but will anyone concede that people can gain muscle in a deficit if u define gain as increased size & mass. BUT also that gain is due to the muscles being continuously swollen w/fluid. There are enough people here w/measured increases while eating a deficit. How can you tell someone who got bigger and weighs more that they didn't gain muscle when you know muscle swells with fluid? So who cares if in the strictest definition that no new muscle fibers were created, when a person measures bigger & weighs more how can they not say they gained?

Eh, I don't think my legs are retaining 4" of fluid. That seems excessive.

This again?

Somehow, there all these humans that defy science. Someone should call a physician and study these groups of people that gain muscle in a calorie deficit. Because, it should be studied, since it cannot happen. But, since they insist, it should be carefully studied and documented for the unexplainable science that is happening in such large volumes.

The study was already done... http://forum.bodybuilding.com/attach...1&d=1310193169

Now, this was performed with highly trained athletes under strict controls, but it IS possible to lose weight and gain lean body mass and strength. The study is amazing though, because trained and elite athletes would have the hardest time to lose weight and gain muscle without the aid of exongenous drugs.

To speak to an earlier comment : an untrained, very overweight person, or even someone who is severly obese, will find that building muscle while losing weight in a caloric deficit is very likely and possible. With the right protein intake and focus on diet, this individual is recruiting muscle fibers that have been underused. Caloric restriction using diet, combined with further reduction of calories through weight training will simultaneously burn excessive fat and build muscle.

It's very easy to just give an answer that "sounds" right. With a little research, it's better to give an answer that is correct. Gotta love science!!