Anyone else started trying to main build muscle???

taots1012
taots1012 Posts: 20 Member
edited November 15 in Goal: Maintaining Weight
add me please need tips an motivation. Want to maintain but build muscle.
«1

Replies

  • ukaryote
    ukaryote Posts: 850 Member
    What kinds of strengthening exercises do you prefer?
  • DancingMoosie
    DancingMoosie Posts: 8,619 Member
    Eat at maintenance level and lift weights 2-3x/wk. Look into a program like Stronglifts or Strongcurves. You may have to adjust your calories to find what works for you, but this would essentially be a recomp--losing fat while building a little muscle. You might find that you lose inches in some places (fat loss) while gaining a bit in others (muscle growth). Its fun to see how you can change your body and get stronger.
  • donnalee120
    donnalee120 Posts: 27 Member
    Anyone else started trying to main build muscle???

    I'm in the same boat, I will following this to see what is said. I'm kind of lost on how much weight to use and how many of what to do.
  • kpw818
    kpw818 Posts: 113 Member
    DancingMoosie wrote: »
    Eat at maintenance level and lift weights 2-3x/wk. Look into a program like Stronglifts or Strongcurves. You may have to adjust your calories to find what works for you, but this would essentially be a recomp--losing fat while building a little muscle. You might find that you lose inches in some places (fat loss) while gaining a bit in others (muscle growth). Its fun to see how you can change your body and get stronger.

    Great advice! I would definitely confirm the losing inches in some places and gaining in others. I used to have tiny, tiny arms, and now they've gotten pretty muscular, especially my shoulders. Thighs have more muscle on the quads and hamstrings, where as fat seems to sit more on the sides of the thighs (that's gone, lol). I run and do a lot of single leg weighted exercises (single leg deadlifts, pistol squats, etc) so it makes sense, and I really have enjoyed seeing the progress.
  • Tedebearduff
    Tedebearduff Posts: 1,155 Member
    taots1012 wrote: »
    add me please need tips an motivation. Want to maintain but build muscle.

    impossible, that's like saying I want more money but the number in my account not to change...
  • 4legsRbetterthan2
    4legsRbetterthan2 Posts: 19,590 MFP Moderator
    Tedebearduff wrote: »
    taots1012 wrote: »
    add me please need tips an motivation. Want to maintain but build muscle.

    impossible, that's like saying I want more money but the number in my account not to change...

    not really, eat at maintenance, lift heavy, its a slow way to recomp but it can happen



  • irejuvenateme
    irejuvenateme Posts: 96 Member
    edited March 2015
    If you keep working out with weights, and keep increasing the amount of the weights, you will get stronger. You may end up gaining weight, but you will have more muscle.
    You might want to work with a trainer to get a routine going that you can do on your own to make sure you are targeting the muscles you want to target - that's what I did and at some point I couldn't afford the trainer but my goal was always to get a good routine for myself. Also my opinion (others will disagree) is you need fuel for the workouts and life - and you want to make sure you have enough healthy calories to keep your metabolism going... protein can help with muscle recovery. Sleep is also important (so you have energy for the workouts). Not sure if this helps but it has helped me - still working on the sleep part!
  • 10ecmuscle
    10ecmuscle Posts: 121 Member
    Add me if you want. My app will not play right today. Lol
  • taots1012
    taots1012 Posts: 20 Member
    Tedebearduff wrote: »
    taots1012 wrote: »
    add me please need tips an motivation. Want to maintain but build muscle.

    impossible, that's like saying I want more money but the number in my account not to change...

    I guess I have to gain some to get those legs an arms An stomach I want. Let the gaining begin!
  • taots1012
    taots1012 Posts: 20 Member
    Thank you I definitely need t
    irejuvenateme wrote: »
    If you keep working out with weights, and keep increasing the amount of the weights, you will get stronger. You may end up gaining weight, but you will have more muscle.
    You might want to work with a trainer to get a routine going that you can do on your own to make sure you are targeting the muscles you want to target - that's what I did and at some point I couldn't afford the trainer but my goal was always to get a good routine for myself. Also my opinion (others will disagree) is you need fuel for the workouts and life - and you want to make sure you have enough healthy calories to keep your metabolism going... protein can help with muscle recovery. Sleep is also important (so you have energy for the workouts). Not sure if this helps but it has helped me - still working on the sleep part![/quo
    irejuvenateme wrote: »
    If you keep working out with weights, and keep increasing the amount of the weights, you will get stronger. You may end up gaining weight, but you will have more muscle.
    You might want to work with a trainer to get a routine going that you can do on your own to make sure you are targeting the muscles you want to target - that's what I did and at some point I couldn't afford the trainer but my goal was always to get a good routine for myself. Also my opinion (others will disagree) is you need fuel for the workouts and life - and you want to make sure you have enough healthy calories to keep your metabolism going... protein can help with muscle recovery. Sleep is also important (so you have energy for the workouts). Not sure if this helps but it has helped me - still working on the sleep part!

    Thank you!! I will definitely need to make sure I get enough sleep
  • taots1012
    taots1012 Posts: 20 Member
    DancingMoosie wrote: »
    Eat at maintenance level and lift weights 2-3x/wk. Look into a program like Stronglifts or Strongcurves. You may have to adjust your calories to find what works for you, but this would essentially be a recomp--losing fat while building a little muscle. You might find that you lose inches in some places (fat loss) while gaining a bit in others (muscle growth). Its fun to see how you can change your body and get stronger.

    Thank you!! I'm excited to start this new journey
  • taots1012
    taots1012 Posts: 20 Member
    ukaryote wrote: »
    What kinds of strengthening exercises do you prefer?

    I'm looking into some now not really sure any suggestions?
  • mattgrenier9
    mattgrenier9 Posts: 49 Member
    For whatever reason I cant add you but I am trying to do the same thing, you can add me if you like!
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    Tedebearduff wrote: »
    taots1012 wrote: »
    add me please need tips an motivation. Want to maintain but build muscle.

    impossible, that's like saying I want more money but the number in my account not to change...

    Nonsense!
    It's called recomping. When I started out it's what 95% of people did and what I'm still doing.
  • gemmamummy
    gemmamummy Posts: 185 Member
    Yes its called recomping. I've just spent a year doing it, with good results. No weight gained or lost, just reduced body fat and increased muscle mass.
  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
    Recomps work. Eat at maintenance, lift heavy shiz.
  • justcat206
    justcat206 Posts: 716 Member
    Feel free to add me - I'm not making crazy gains atm, but recomp is my goal
  • CrabNebula
    CrabNebula Posts: 1,119 Member
    I just got on the recomp train.
  • Talan79
    Talan79 Posts: 782 Member
    I'm trying to recomp as well.
  • jmasci20
    jmasci20 Posts: 82 Member
    Wow recomp central!
  • sgthaggard
    sgthaggard Posts: 581 Member
    Tedebearduff wrote: »
    taots1012 wrote: »
    add me please need tips an motivation. Want to maintain but build muscle.

    impossible, that's like saying I want more money but the number in my account not to change...
    No. Eat at maintenance, lift heavy, hit your protein macros, gain muscle, lose fat.
  • rontafoya
    rontafoya Posts: 365 Member
    Yes, figure out your caloric break-even/maintenance level. Lift heavy weight, preferably compound movements like bench, squat, deadlift, barbell row, assisted dips and pull ups. This worked for me. After I built some muscle I reduced calories slightly and kept lifting. The fat kept coming off and I starting losing weight, more fat than muscle. You may need to adjust your macros (protein/fat/carbs) but for now keep your calories at maintenance and pump iron, if body recomp is what you want to do.
  • Emilia777
    Emilia777 Posts: 978 Member
    gemmamummy wrote: »
    Yes its called recomping. I've just spent a year doing it, with good results. No weight gained or lost, just reduced body fat and increased muscle mass.

    @gemmamummy Do you mind sharing some details on how this worked out for you? Did you just eat at maintenance? What strength training program do you use? I’m not sure if I want to bulk or do a recomp. Ideally I want to gain lots of muscle mass faster, but the idea of gaining does scare me a bit.
  • Talan79
    Talan79 Posts: 782 Member
    Question on recomp calories on off days. On lift days, I eat at maintenance. I do 3 days legs, 3 days upper body. With 10-20 min cardio before. If I take a day off, should I lower my calories that day? I have the UP24 band and I tracked my daily burn on a spreadsheet (I know, crazy), but I know that on a day that I lift and run, I'm burning 1650-1700, sometimes a bit more. On an off day only 1385. My BMR is 1297. Should I cut calories on off days?
    Thank you.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    tzarba wrote: »
    Question on recomp calories on off days. On lift days, I eat at maintenance. I do 3 days legs, 3 days upper body. With 10-20 min cardio before. If I take a day off, should I lower my calories that day? I have the UP24 band and I tracked my daily burn on a spreadsheet (I know, crazy), but I know that on a day that I lift and run, I'm burning 1650-1700, sometimes a bit more. On an off day only 1385. My BMR is 1297. Should I cut calories on off days?
    Thank you.
    You can recomp with same calories every day (TDEE method) or using the MFP eat back exercise calories method.
    Personal choice.

    There may be some small benefit in nutrient timing around exercise but really for normal people we aren't talking about a huge difference.
    Far more important to have a good training regime than over-emphasise minor details that are more relevant to elite athletes or physique competitors IMO.
  • nancyjay__
    nancyjay__ Posts: 310 Member
    Tedebearduff wrote: »
    taots1012 wrote: »
    add me please need tips an motivation. Want to maintain but build muscle.

    impossible, that's like saying I want more money but the number in my account not to change...

    Not true.
  • nancyjay__
    nancyjay__ Posts: 310 Member
    edited April 2015
    Wait!! I'm late we're all in recomp mode!! Just kidding I'm still cutting to then recomp :|:'(
  • gemmamummy
    gemmamummy Posts: 185 Member
    @Emilia777. I used the calorie calculator in scoobysworkshop.com to find my appropriate intake (it says build muscle, lose fat). Which worked out at around 1850 per day. I did the Allpro beginners workout 3 days a week plus 20 mins cardio and was patient. The scales would sometimes go up but I resisted temptation to drop my calories and just accepted the fluctuations as part of the process. Fast forward to now and I still weigh the same as when I began but look very different. Recomping is slow, but if you want to make a change without adding alot of fat and are willing to ride it out then great. I considered bulking but the thought of then having to drop calories to cut was horrible. With 1850 cals, I can eat a bit of what I fancy every day without it feeling like a 'diet' and never feel hungry. Its sustainable and something I could keep on with year on year. Do it!!!
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    I am on a small cut atm shouldn't take me too long then onto hopefully a year long recomp.

    I am currently doing 5/3/1 with light cardio but plan on starting C25K in May and hoping that will help my cut down to 140 then onto maintenance and recomp.
  • gothchiq
    gothchiq Posts: 4,590 Member
    I have started using a whey protein supplement and am getting much better results than before. Also maintaining weight and building muscle, like you.
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