My Q&A Session! Need more Questions!!

00trayn
00trayn Posts: 1,849 Member
edited September 25 in Success Stories
Hey everyone! Since my How To Break a 3 Month Plateau blog went SO well (thanks for all the support everyone!), I've been answering any questions people have in a series of blog posts (the first ones are here...http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/00trayn/view/q-a-session-the-answers-part-1-90202 and here.... http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/00trayn/view/q-a-session-the-answers-part-2-90584

But I want to keep this going! What other questions do people have for me? Check out what's already been asked and answered, and I'm hoping to do another round of questions on Monday. So... post any questions you have and I'll use them in my blog Q&A session! I'll answer ANYTHING no matter how detailed or personal. I'm open about the weight loss process and how I got to where I am today.

Replies

  • goohan
    goohan Posts: 155
    people keep saying it takes a really long time to build muscle, do you know roughly how long/how much exercise it takes to gain a pound of muscle? lol ive recently been disserpointed finding out i had a higher percentage of body fat than i thought i had.

    ps you are inspritational xxx
  • cacrat
    cacrat Posts: 336 Member
    @goohan - it will take, roughly, 3500cal to add a pound of muscle.
  • goohan
    goohan Posts: 155
    @goohan - it will take, roughly, 3500cal to add a pound of muscle.

    is that burning 3500cal like in swimming or something where your heart rate goes up high?

    thanks x
  • cacrat
    cacrat Posts: 336 Member
    I guess I don't understand your new question. Just like you've been hearing all over this site, it will take about 3500cal deficit to burn one pound of weight, or fat depending on diet and exercise. Similarly, in order to put on weight, or muscle depending on diet and exercise, it will take 3500cal over maintenance.
  • 00trayn
    00trayn Posts: 1,849 Member
    @goohan - it will take, roughly, 3500cal to add a pound of muscle.

    is that burning 3500cal like in swimming or something where your heart rate goes up high?

    thanks x

    I think you're mistaken for 1 lb of fat. It takes 3500 of an excess calorie intake to gain a pound of fat, and 3500 deficit to lose a pound of fat.

    For gaining muscles, "Over a 12-week period, people can increase their lean body mass by 2-4 pounds," says strength-training researcher Wayne Campbell, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the department of foods and nutrition at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. However, Campbell stresses, not all of that body mass is muscle. Some may be water or other tissue. Also, men tend to gain muscle more quickly than women do.
  • cacrat
    cacrat Posts: 336 Member
    That's very true 00trayn, however, in order to gain mass (muscle or fat) you have to eat an excess in calories. You cannot, unless you have a VERY specific diet/workout plan, or are a highly overweight beginner trainee, lose fat and gain muscle simultaneously. You have to do either one or the other.
  • goohan
    goohan Posts: 155
    woah its gonna take me ages to gain muscle lol but that wont stop me :) lol the muscles i thought i gained recently in my arms have probably already been there and the fat around them have probably just gone lol
  • 00trayn
    00trayn Posts: 1,849 Member
    Yep, that's more likely. Your muscle definition starts to show because it's not hiding under lots of fat. I've probably developed some extra muscle, but not much. But I have toned arms and calves, the stomach and thighs are still hiding, but I know there is muscle under there!
  • goohan
    goohan Posts: 155
    hehehe discovering hidden muscle is fun :)
  • cacrat
    cacrat Posts: 336 Member
    Yup, that's what happened with me too. Its weird how much was hiding under there, but its good to see. Once you get to your ideal weight you can start to gain some muscle back if you want. That's not to say that weight training isn't a great idea now, it is! It helps in so many ways, specifically with your hormones and where certain calories go. Keep fighting the good fight.
  • goohan
    goohan Posts: 155
    thank you cacrat and well done for you finding your hidden muscle :)
  • TyEaston
    TyEaston Posts: 2
    Once you get your cardio work out to 30 minutes which is better to do, do a longer time or same time more intense?
  • cacrat
    cacrat Posts: 336 Member
    I hate to steal the thunder of trayn's Q&A thunder, but since she's not answering I'll give it a whirl. It depends on your goals. If you really need to do more cardio, do more. But generally I'd say doing equal parts cardio with weights will help in the long run. Lifting weights, not only burns calories, it helps with boost certain hormones as well.
  • 00trayn
    00trayn Posts: 1,849 Member
    No worries, I"m actually collecting questions to answer in a blog post and I"m curious what message board people are wondering.

    In short, I'm a fan of making your workouts count. I have a short attention span, and I'd rather give it my all for 45 minutes then workout for an hour and a half. Interval training is an awesome way to get the most bang for your buck.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories

Do you Love MyFitnessPal? Have you crushed a goal or improved your life through better nutrition using MyFitnessPal?
Share your success and inspire others. Leave us a review on Apple Or Google Play stores!