Losing battle

youngy1976
youngy1976 Posts: 46 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I'm trying to build muscle with heavy weight training and also trying to lose body fat by calorie counting.. Can this work or not ?

Replies

  • PinkPixiexox
    PinkPixiexox Posts: 4,142 Member
    I've heard you can't build muscle whilst in a deficit. I think the best thing to do is concentrate on cutting first, so eat at your deficit and get to your desired body fat percentage. Then build those muscles.

    I could be entirely wrong - so if anyone wants to put me right, I welcome it.
    This is just what I have been taught :)
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    not really.

    you can recomp, but its very slow
  • youngy1976
    youngy1976 Posts: 46 Member
    Thanks for replies i don't see why I can't lose the fat and build the muscle at same time I want to be big but don't want a belly lol
  • DeguelloTex
    DeguelloTex Posts: 6,646 Member
    Basically, because building muscle requires a calorie surplus and losing fat requires a calorie deficit.
  • youngy1976
    youngy1976 Posts: 46 Member
    So if I focus on eating high protein amd weight training will my body fat go or will I still have it
  • jeffpettis
    jeffpettis Posts: 865 Member
    youngy1976 wrote: »
    Thanks for replies i don't see why I can't lose the fat and build the muscle at same time I want to be big but don't want a belly lol

    Because one requires an energy deficit and the other requires an energy surplus. Muscle can't be built out of nothing, so if you are in a deficit to lose fat there is nothing to build muscle out of. Having said that, you should still lift heavy in a deficit to maintain the muscle you have. If you are new to lifting you have the ability, for a very short time, to gain a very small amount of muscle, but it won't last long and then you'll be just like the rest of us and have to chose one or the other.

  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    youngy1976 wrote: »
    So if I focus on eating high protein amd weight training will my body fat go or will I still have it

    will you be eating in a deficit or surplus or maintenance?
  • DeguelloTex
    DeguelloTex Posts: 6,646 Member
    youngy1976 wrote: »
    So if I focus on eating high protein amd weight training will my body fat go or will I still have it
    Depends on whether you're in a calorie deficit or not.

  • youngy1976
    youngy1976 Posts: 46 Member
    Thanks Jeff I have lifted for a few weeks now and also ex army so my body isn't a beginner one however since I stopped running half marathons last year I've put on 3 stone and body fat. I am now weight training and eating high protein but not getting any bigger as I presume this is down to not eating enough
This discussion has been closed.

Categories