Is it possible to lose fat and build muscle at the same time?

Magenta

A lot of articles, magazines etc suggest doing strength training if you are trying to lose weight, because it builds up your muscles and therefore increases your metabolism.
But is it physically possible to build muscle while on a calorie deficit? Don't bodybuilders have to eat huge amounts to build up their muscles?

Danny_Lennon

Magenta wrote: »

A lot of articles, magazines etc suggest doing strength training if you are trying to lose weight, because it builds up your muscles and therefore increases your metabolism.
But is it physically possible to build muscle while on a calorie deficit? Don't bodybuilders have to eat huge amounts to build up their muscles?

No, not really. Saying that, in theory it is possible to do a body recomposition where you can do both. You'd have to cycle calories to do this though rather than be on a permanent calorie deficit and it takes a lot of detailed attention to do it. Most folks will just focus on either fat loss or increasing muscle mass at any one time.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Yes it is possible. The fat your burning is converted into energy that is used by the body to make up the energy deficiency in the diet, that's the point. If your training correctly and eating correctly you body will have the requirement to repair muscle, the energy from your fat stores can be used for this. Fat is an energy store, you dont sweat it out your pores.

The added benefit is that the more muscle mass you aquire the more energy you require.

bloodyhawk

Not really no. you got to either be in caloric surplus or caloric deficit.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Yes that right you mass will decrease but you can gain muscle and loose fat at the same time. It not rocket science, what your body burns to make up the deficit is controllable.

J.Farrant

Newbie's to resistance training can but experienced lifters can't or struggle.

Also depends on the individual.

Inspector Coptoor

It is possible but veryuch depends on the person & their training age or whether they are complete noobs to training or even if they have become detrained after being active for a number of years.

The easiest example to give would be a someone like a Biggest Loser contestant, they would be dropping lots of weight (quite a lot of it fat, lot of water & glycogen too) while at the same time putting on some lean body mass (muscle) as an adaptive response to the stimulus resistance training would be having on their body.

conzy

I have added a good bit of muscle while losing a considerable amount of fat. I am in my first year of serious training and have excellent nutrition though.

Its very slow and steady progress and when I get to a level of leanness I'm happy with I plan on increasing my calories to maintenance and continuing to grow with a leangains style approach

Da Za

YES