Fat Loss vs Muscle Gain - I just dont get it!
1. Fat loss - I understand that to lose fat, it’s as simple as creating a caloric deficit, whether through diet or cardio or a combination of both. Correct?
2. Muscle gain - I understand that to build muscle, you must integrate heavy lifting into your routines as well as create a caloric excess - is that true? why is eating in excess a necessity? Is it not possible to get enough protein from a normal range of calories?
3. Why is it impossible to do both at the same time, gain muscle and lose fat, when increasing your amount of muscle will in return help you lose fat by increasing your metabolic rate?
4. What’s the deal with lifting light weights for high reps? I’ve seen some people (usually) women swear by this. Even though some of them look fit, the whole concept baffles me - what’s the purpose of lifting someone over and over if it’s not challenging to your body? wouldn’t this just be cardio?
As someone who is trying to lose body fat and ‘tone up’ (and yes, I know, that’s not an acceptable term but I use it because we all know what it means regardless), I am at a loss. Building muscle is important to me, I don’t worry about getting bulky because I know women don’t have the sufficient testosterone levels to do that, I also realize that I won’t just randomly wake up one day and look like the incredible hulk - it’s a slow process, but losing fat is also just as important to me. Based on the concept that you cant build muscle and lose fat, it seems like the only option left would be to do cardio and diet until you achieve your ideal body fat % and then take on a strength training program. However, I know that this isn’t for me. I don’t think I could commit to a non-strength training program of just cardio! I enjoy lifting and really enjoy the NROLFW program I just started and ideally would like to shape my body to be tighter and leaner with less fat. Can someone straighten out the fact for me please!?
August 10, 2009 at 8:59 am
#1 correct
#2 I don’t think you have to eat in excess to put on muscle but it definiatly make it easier and faster to do.
#3 It is possible to do both, just neither will happen very fast if you take that approach. And it becomes a big ballancing act.
#4 High reps like that will give you more of a big pump and can be a bit more cardio in nature depending on your rest times, Its good to throw high reps into your ruitine here and there, but not so much for putting on size. Unless its at the end of your routine to burn the remaining muscle fibers up.
Personally I bulk untill I want to see how my body has changed when I will cut for a little until I am ready to bulk again. But I don’t compete I just want to be big and strong.