Is it possible to build some muscle while dropping a lot of

Folks,

I'm starting what I intend to be my finally-successful weightloss process. I've got no interest in being a body builder or anything, but I'd love to have bigger arms/shoulders/chest (muscle, not man-boobs). I am not really gonna look chicken-legged, because my legs are big from hauling over 300lbs for over 20 years. I also have very bad (and often painful) varicose veins in my legs and don't want to do any leg exercise until I lose the weight, get the veins handled with laser or surgery, etc.

So, I wonder if anyone has recommendations for building arm/chest/shoulder muscle (upper body) while also losing a very large amount of fat weight.

It's really almost impossible to build muscle while burning fat. Main reason here is that in order to build muscle, you need a slight calorie surplus filed with high-quality proteins and complex carbohydrates, where as in order to loose fat you need a high-calorie deficit with a diet high in protein and low in fat & carbohydrates.

Like I said, its not impossible but its just highly unlikely that you would be able to add on any substantial amount of muscle while trying to loose fat weight.

Folks,

I'm starting what I intend to be my finally-successful weightloss process. I've got no interest in being a body builder or anything, but I'd love to have bigger arms/shoulders/chest (muscle, not man-boobs). I am not really gonna look chicken-legged, because my legs are big from hauling over 300lbs for over 20 years. I also have very bad (and often painful) varicose veins in my legs and don't want to do any leg exercise until I lose the weight, get the veins handled with laser or surgery, etc.

So, I wonder if anyone has recommendations for building arm/chest/shoulder muscle (upper body) while also losing a very large amount of fat weight.

Thanks!

Unless you're obese, it's pretty unlikely to build muscle on a calorie deficit. Since you're wanting to add muscle, you would need to be in calorie surplus. Along with it you WILL add some fat. It's just part of the process.
You can still strengthen and keep the lean muscle you already have by working out your chest, shoulders and arms though.

Stick to the basics:

Incline barbell/dumbell presses
Flat bench presses
Dips (assisted if needed)
Military or seated overhead presses
Side Laterals
Bent over laterals
Barbell or dumbell curls
Preacher curls
Tricep pressdowns
Lying tricep extensions

If you can work your legs, I would recommend you do. It doesn't have to be too hard or heavy, but working your legs increases GH (which encourages fat burning) and metabolic rate.

You will lose some muscle while cutting its part of the process how much you lose can be controlled by eating a high protein diet and consuming BCAA's during or after your workout. try the ratio 50% protein 30% carbs 20%fat it will help you cut and not lose a ton of muscle in the process

Hm...
In my experience, the answer is a sort-of yes.
Granted I'm referring to a time that I actually became underweight.
Still, I lifted weights and gained strength, although I did lose muscle mass. Once I started eating more, weight lifting and strength building became much easier.
One way or another, it's wise to lift weights even if your intent is to lose a lot of fat simply because it prevents muscle loss, strengthens bones and ligaments, and improves body composition.
It's win/win.

Okay... sorry for the brief hijack, but I keep hearing that "you can't build muscle while losing fat" and being a CHICK means it's supposed to be even more impossible for me right? Then perhaps my math is wrong:

mid-April: calipered using 4pt skin-fold at 26% body-fat, weight: 162lbs (120lbs lean, 42lbs fat)
6/18: calipered using 7pt skin-fold at 19.8% body-fat, weight: 156lbs (125lbs lean, 31lbs fat)
7/28: calipered using 7pt skin-fold at 18.95% body-fat, weight: 153lbs (124lbs lean, 29lbs fat)

Same trainer did the first 2, then the master-trainer with a serious pro figure-competitor background did the last one. Does the "can't lose fat & build muscle" rule mean my progress is BS? Just curious. I almost entirely do circuit weight training so I get cardio & strength rolled up in one neat timeslot.

Okay... sorry for the brief hijack, but I keep hearing that "you can't build muscle while losing fat" and being a CHICK means it's supposed to be even more impossible for me right? Then perhaps my math is wrong:

mid-April: calipered using 4pt skin-fold at 26% body-fat, weight: 162lbs (120lbs lean, 42lbs fat)
6/18: calipered using 7pt skin-fold at 19.8% body-fat, weight: 156lbs (125lbs lean, 31lbs fat)
7/28: calipered using 7pt skin-fold at 18.95% body-fat, weight: 153lbs (124lbs lean, 29lbs fat)

Same trainer did the first 2, then the master-trainer with a serious pro figure-competitor background did the last one. Does the "can't lose fat & build muscle" rule mean my progress is BS? Just curious. I almost entirely do circuit weight training so I get cardio & strength rolled up in one neat timeslot.

Not all lean body mass is muscle. There's a lot more to the human body than just fat and muscle.

Okay... sorry for the brief hijack, but I keep hearing that "you can't build muscle while losing fat" and being a CHICK means it's supposed to be even more impossible for me right? Then perhaps my math is wrong:

mid-April: calipered using 4pt skin-fold at 26% body-fat, weight: 162lbs (120lbs lean, 42lbs fat)
6/18: calipered using 7pt skin-fold at 19.8% body-fat, weight: 156lbs (125lbs lean, 31lbs fat)
7/28: calipered using 7pt skin-fold at 18.95% body-fat, weight: 153lbs (124lbs lean, 29lbs fat)

Same trainer did the first 2, then the master-trainer with a serious pro figure-competitor background did the last one. Does the "can't lose fat & build muscle" rule mean my progress is BS? Just curious. I almost entirely do circuit weight training so I get cardio & strength rolled up in one neat timeslot.

Not all lean body mass is muscle. There's a lot more to the human body than just fat and muscle.

Aw crud. I'm guessing then the difference in the lean weight is water then mostly? Stupid hormones didn't get the damn memo I'm done having babies

(edited to add: I've been at 1700 net for 3+ weeks now, recently upped to 1950 with intention to go to 2200 gradually. Set for 40% carb, 20% protein & 25% fat)

Okay... sorry for the brief hijack, but I keep hearing that "you can't build muscle while losing fat" and being a CHICK means it's supposed to be even more impossible for me right? Then perhaps my math is wrong:

mid-April: calipered using 4pt skin-fold at 26% body-fat, weight: 162lbs (120lbs lean, 42lbs fat)
6/18: calipered using 7pt skin-fold at 19.8% body-fat, weight: 156lbs (125lbs lean, 31lbs fat)
7/28: calipered using 7pt skin-fold at 18.95% body-fat, weight: 153lbs (124lbs lean, 29lbs fat)

Same trainer did the first 2, then the master-trainer with a serious pro figure-competitor background did the last one. Does the "can't lose fat & build muscle" rule mean my progress is BS? Just curious. I almost entirely do circuit weight training so I get cardio & strength rolled up in one neat timeslot.

Calipers use skin fold measurements to determine body fat %. But your skin can be affected by water, heat, exercise, stress, etc. If your first measurement was your first before starting any workout, you would have had a lot of subcutaneous water under the skin that would make the "pinch" much thicker. With a later measurement after you have worked out and gotten your body used to regulating water, the "pinch" would be much thinner due to some fat loss, but also because that subcutaneous water would be less.
Last of all, calipers DON'T measure viseral fat which is the fat in and around your organs.

Hydrostatic body fat testing is possibly the most accurate form of body fat testing.

I can promise you that there have been several studies done on "gaining muscle while losing fat", and the scientific evidence is that it's practically impossible to improbable that you've gained muscle while on calorie deficit.

Well darn. Yeah, I usually defer to the meatheads when it comes to this stuff. FWIW, I always get measured before working out, within 90 minutes of waking up. I think I look more toned and am definitely stronger, guess just losing the insulation does that. At least the fat loss is all fat, right? I don't think I have the funds or resources to check to see how svelte my organs are. Trainer said my next step should be the VO2 max testing to see where my metabolism is really at.

Mirror and how your clothes fit are the best indicators if you're more svelte! Calipers are great as a tool because if the readings are lower, that will usually mean less body fat, but there are so many variables to give an accurate reading each time. To give you an example, I checked myself recently with a LANGE SKINFOLD CALIPERS, which is one of the best calipers out there, on Tuesday last week. The very next day I checked again to see variance and I had apparently gained 2% while still being the same exact weight! So you can see that even in one day, there could be a discrepency.