burning fat while putting on muscle mass

alexstcoud
alexstcoud Posts: 9 Member
edited November 19 in Getting Started
I've been dieting for the past 3 months and still have yet to burn the abdominal fat. Is it best to do more cardio or less cardio. I'm not sure how to go about this. .

Replies

  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    edited June 2015
    Calorie deficit. You can't spot reduce, so you just have to be patient as the weight comes off. And you also can't gain muscle if you're in a calorie deficit.

    Or, depending on where you are in your journey (since your ticker says 0 pounds to lose), you can do a body recomposition with a progressive lifting program.
  • sayoqod
    sayoqod Posts: 13 Member
    ^ I think the most common way to both burn fat and build muscle is to do "bulk" and "cut" cycles. If your main priority is burning fat (like malibu said, there's no way to target the midsection), then definitely start with caloric deficit.
  • alexstcoud
    alexstcoud Posts: 9 Member
    So i should have more calories. I weigh 138 and have no fat anywhere but my abdominal area. What is a body recomposition? I'm trying to maintain my weight but have thicker legs and flat stomacg
  • alexstcoud
    alexstcoud Posts: 9 Member
    You mean i should do less carbs?
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    alexstcoud wrote: »
    So i should have more calories. I weigh 138 and have no fat anywhere but my abdominal area. What is a body recomposition? I'm trying to maintain my weight but have thicker legs and flat stomacg

    Eat at maintenance and follow a progressive lifting program (Stronglifts 5x5, Starting Strength, and New Rules of Lifting for Women are excellent beginner programs). It will take some time.
  • Holly_Roman_Empire
    Holly_Roman_Empire Posts: 4,440 Member
    alexstcoud wrote: »
    You mean i should do less carbs?

    No, nobody mentioned anything about carbs...
  • J72FIT
    J72FIT Posts: 6,002 Member
    alexstcoud wrote: »
    I've been dieting for the past 3 months and still have yet to burn the abdominal fat. Is it best to do more cardio or less cardio. I'm not sure how to go about this. .
    Takes longer then 3 months... Patience.

  • Holly_Roman_Empire
    Holly_Roman_Empire Posts: 4,440 Member
    alexstcoud wrote: »
    So i should have more calories. I weigh 138 and have no fat anywhere but my abdominal area. What is a body recomposition? I'm trying to maintain my weight but have thicker legs and flat stomacg

    It depends on what you want to do. What kind of exercises are you doing now?
  • jeffpettis
    jeffpettis Posts: 865 Member
    You're not going to be able to maintain your weight and lose abdominal fat. To lose the fat on your belly you will have to lose weight, there's no way around it.

    Don't get hung up on an arbitrary number on a scale. What matters is how you see yourself when you look in the mirror not a number on a scale.

    A body recomp is good for someone who is at or pretty close to maintenance and is happy with how they look but still wants to lose a little more fat and gain a little muscle. The down side is it is painfully slow and takes a huge amount of dedication and consistency to work. If you still need to lose some belly fat a recomp isn't going to be for you.

    Just keep losing weight slowly and make sure you do whatever you can to hang onto the lean muscle tissue you have at the same time.
  • alexstcoud
    alexstcoud Posts: 9 Member
    I meant t0 say calories not carbs
  • alexstcoud
    alexstcoud Posts: 9 Member
    I do 30 to 45 min of cardio 3-4times a week. I lift twice a week. Is it okay to eat before working out also.
  • alexstcoud
    alexstcoud Posts: 9 Member
    Ahh i understand Thankyou so much jeff. That helps alot. It just taking forever. I've always been in this shape. I just have less muscle and more fat.
  • syedumairtelecom
    syedumairtelecom Posts: 101 Member
    Im good with burning fat just want to put some more weight ...
    Please help me with that .
    Add me or msg me.
  • kristinels
    kristinels Posts: 315 Member
    Check out this great thread on recomposition.
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10177803/recomposition-maintaining-weight-while-losing-fat/p1
    I've learned a lot from it. I'm not ready to start yet because I've still got 16 lbs to go to get to my goal weight, but once I get there, I'll be following the advice I've read on that thread.
  • jeffpettis
    jeffpettis Posts: 865 Member
    alexstcoud wrote: »
    Ahh i understand Thankyou so much jeff. That helps alot. It just taking forever. I've always been in this shape. I just have less muscle and more fat.

    Just look at it this way... You didn't put on the belly fat overnight so it's unreasonable to think it will be gone overnight. It takes consistency and time.

    Also it doesn't matter when you eat your calories as long as you are in a deficit so eating before a workout is a personal choice based on how you feel and if you can get through a workout on an empty stomach. Some people eat before a workout some don't. Personally if I am hungry I eat if not I don't. It all depends on how YOU feel it affects your workouts.

  • alexstcoud
    alexstcoud Posts: 9 Member
    Oh Okay. I understand now. That makes alot more sense. Really appreciate it. I feel alot more positive now
  • alexstcoud
    alexstcoud Posts: 9 Member
    Thanks so much kristen that was very helpful.
  • alexstcoud
    alexstcoud Posts: 9 Member
    ThankYou malibu. I'll take your advice on calorie deficit. I'm a very active person so i probably need to have less calories and a little more protein. I'm a vegetarian so it can be difficult.
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