starting strength while losing weight

mikeroybal
mikeroybal Posts: 111 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I just ordered Starting Strength from Amazon. I was wondering if it would be beneficial to start it now while I am losing weight so I can preserve as much muscle as possible or if that would be counter productive. Right now I am eating a 1500 calorie diet and I don't add extra calories for my work outs. This weekend I am sitting down and getting my macros in order. I've been able to hit the calories but during the holidays the macros were out of wack.

thanks

Replies

  • MaryJane_8810002
    MaryJane_8810002 Posts: 2,082 Member
    Yes start, it will give your muscles definition and help you burn fat faster.
  • GlassslippersAndFairyDust
    GlassslippersAndFairyDust Posts: 518 Member
    Definitely! :flowerforyou:
  • handyrunner
    handyrunner Posts: 32,662 Member
    with starting strength..and depending on how much you have to lose..you may notice fat percentage loss and measurements shrinking versus the scale...I lost weight doing it but I was starting at 300 and eating at a deficit
  • Andibenni
    Andibenni Posts: 408 Member
    Start it now. You'll still lose weight eating at a deficit but building muscle will actually help with the calorie burn.
  • mikeroybal
    mikeroybal Posts: 111 Member
    Thank you everybody I was thinking the same thing but I just wanted some additional imput
  • The_Enginerd
    The_Enginerd Posts: 3,982 Member
    Yes. I honestly wish I started sooner. You will not build actual muscle mass while losing weight (except for newbie gains in the beginning since you are new to weight training), but you will get stronger and you will preserve the muscle mass you have as you lose weight.
  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    What is your height and weight?

    1500 calories sounds pretty low IMHO, since you'll probably be netting closer to 12-1300.
  • JesterMFP
    JesterMFP Posts: 3,596 Member
    Definitely start it now. It won't stop you losing weight. Any slow down on the scale will be from water retention as your muscles start repairing themselves (or from you not losing muscle mass, which is a good thing).
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    Yes- start now and do adjust your calories to accommodate your workouts, in particular you will need more protein, and more total calories.
  • mikeroybal
    mikeroybal Posts: 111 Member
    I'm 68" at currently 180 lbs bbody fat 27% (approximate got it from a bowflex scale), and my job in my opinion is fairly sedintary

    I will be raising my intake, i'm thinking about 200-300 calories
  • Huffdogg
    Huffdogg Posts: 1,934 Member
    Start the program, and work it until you start to stall. At the first stall in any weight increase, up your calories by 300 and see if that helps. You're going to hit a point after a little while where the linear gains start to eclipse your body's ability to make CNS adaptations without a caloric surplus and additional muscle. At that point, you'll have to re-evaluate how you want to proceed.
  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    I'm 68" at currently 180 lbs bbody fat 27% (approximate got it from a bowflex scale), and my job in my opinion is fairly sedintary

    I will be raising my intake, i'm thinking about 200-300 calories

    OK.

    We're almost the same height, and you weigh 30lbs less than I do. 1500 calories isn't enough. I figured out your TDEE if you spent 1-3 hrs per week of light exercise. You could eat over 2000 calories and still lose. Your TDEE -20% is 1950.

    Personally, I'd start weight training (with some cardio), keep my deficit at approx. TDEE-10%, and not pay attention to the scale but pay attention to the tape and mirror.
  • mikeroybal
    mikeroybal Posts: 111 Member
    I might be doing this wrong but this is the formula I used Katch-McArdle

    BMR = 370 + (21.6 x LBM)Where LBM = [total weight (kg) x (100 - bodyfat %)]/100

    for BMR I get 1657.4.35888
    using a light activity level 1.3 I get a TDEE of 2154.62466544

    taking a 20% deficit I get 1723.699732352

    is there something I am doing wrong. I appreciate the help

    Thank You
  • MrGonzo05
    MrGonzo05 Posts: 1,120 Member
    Yes, start now. Strength training has benefits regardless of caloric intake.

    1500 calories is too aggressive for a grown man with 20 lbs to lose. I have even less to lose than you and I lose weight eating 2,200 a day. But do what you like.
  • niknokd
    niknokd Posts: 127 Member
    Yes definitely start now, but increase your calories a bit. (Maybe by 150-200?)
  • mikeroybal
    mikeroybal Posts: 111 Member
    I'm upping my calories to 1750, and starting the program tomorrow. I will make adjustments as I go. Thank you to everybody for the input.
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    I might be doing this wrong but this is the formula I used Katch-McArdle

    BMR = 370 + (21.6 x LBM)Where LBM = [total weight (kg) x (100 - bodyfat %)]/100

    for BMR I get 1657.4.35888
    using a light activity level 1.3 I get a TDEE of 2154.62466544

    taking a 20% deficit I get 1723.699732352

    is there something I am doing wrong. I appreciate the help

    Thank You

    Considering you don't actually know your body fat percentage (scales are not at all accurate, can be off by more than 10%) the Katch-McArdle formula isn't a good idea. You may be underestimating.

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