Author Topic: Can I build muscle mass and lose fat at the same time (Read 7170 times)

MidniteRambo · « **on:** April 25, 2006, 03:08:43 PM »

I've been hearing different answers. I want to keep building mass but I'm not satisfied with my current bodyfat %. In the current issue of MuscleMag, Ron Harris says point blank: "you can't gain lean weight and lose fat at the same time." Is he right?

G.R.H. · « **Reply #1 on:** April 25, 2006, 03:58:56 PM »

I'M NO EXPERT, BUT I'D SAY YE HE'S RIGHT!

Princess L · « **Reply #2 on:** April 25, 2006, 08:23:37 PM »

Quote from: MidniteRambo on April 25, 2006, 03:08:43 PM

I've been hearing different answers. I want to keep building mass but I'm not satisfied with my current bodyfat %. In the current issue of MuscleMag, Ron Harris says point blank: "you can't gain lean weight and lose fat at the same time." Is he right?

Gain = Caloric increase
Lose = Caloric deficiet

Newbies can get away with both for a short time

brianX · « **Reply #3 on:** April 25, 2006, 09:11:26 PM »

Ron Harris is an idiot. One can definitely build muscle and lose fat at the same time.

candidate2025 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 25, 2006, 09:33:36 PM »

if your a relative newbie, absolutely. if your on roids, absolutely. other than that...its very hard just to maintain you muscle while losing fat at any type of rate.

headhuntersix · « **Reply #5 on:** April 26, 2006, 12:06:54 AM »

Canddidate are'nt you 16 or something..

Anyway, Building muscle and losing fat would all depend on diet, program, cardio amounts etc. You can loose body fat without loosing a ton of muscle. I happen to like Harris and his definition of loosing and gaining may differ from the average smoe at the gym.

Dude, up your cardio and tighten your diet for a bit. Hell 4 weeks and you can shed what you want and then get back building more lean muscle. This is not an exact science so take an average of what the so-called experst say and then decide who to believe. You will never get an staright answer about this. look at the post. One guys says no, one says yes and one guys says maybe. It sucks. Just find someone you trust and generally follow that advice. Until it doesn't work and switch. Yeah this sucks but its part BB. Good luck

Always Sore · « **Reply #6 on:** April 26, 2006, 06:16:01 AM »

yes i have to jump on the harris bandwagon and say its hard to do both well, unless your new to it then anything you do will work, and if your young you can make allot of mistakes and still get results (damm high natural test).

if you have a few years in its harder but if you are drug free there really is no need to get really heavy in a mass phase and then lean out in a cutting phase. you should work to stay leaner year round and during a mass phase only look to add a little weight since really you are working to change your body's set point so to adapt to carring more muscle, then when you cut its easier to only have to drop a few pounds and move your bodyfat % down again.

Princess L · « **Reply #7 on:** April 26, 2006, 12:33:31 PM »

Quote from: brianX on April 25, 2006, 09:11:26 PM

Ron Harris is an idiot. One can definitely build muscle and lose fat at the same time.

Please tell us how
Only fat newbies can accomplish this, lean guys are not going to lean out significantly while gaining muscle.

pumpster · « **Reply #8 on:** April 26, 2006, 12:52:42 PM »

You can do both, but from my experience and that of others, for some reason mentally and physically it's easier to do one then the other. Easier to focus on losing weight by going with cardio & diet than to try to lose while also lifting, in part because of the difference in appetite and the difficulties of trying to lift during a calorie deficit.

As someone said, might make sense to focus on cardio & dieting for a relatively short 4-8 weeks. Lose the weight & tighten up, then go back to weights.

candidate2025 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 26, 2006, 01:08:02 PM »

Quote from: headhuntersix on April 26, 2006, 12:06:54 AM

Canddidate are'nt you 16 or something..

Quote
and?...

headhuntersix · « **Reply #10 on:** April 26, 2006, 08:54:41 PM »

Your 16, stop reguritating stuff you read in a mag and or online. You don't have the wealth of experience to give advice to people who are older then you. Hell dude you have'nt even made enough mistakes lifting to figure out what works. But it's a free country, so atleast tell folks your 16.

CQ · « **Reply #11 on:** April 26, 2006, 09:01:05 PM »

http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?topic=67067.0

Seriously...many on here have been in this game longer than you have been alive.
Learn instead

headhuntersix · « **Reply #12 on:** April 26, 2006, 09:14:41 PM »

He's gonna think we're bashing but thats not the case. Bud, ask more questions. I've been lifting since I was 18 and I learn stuff everyday. There are plenty of guys here who have learned through trial and error for years. We can all go to BB.com and cut and paste some generic workout. I've got a pretty good build and while I have 1 contest under my belt I still have a hard time posting trining advice because at 32 I'm not convinced I do it anybetter then anybody else. At 18 I just sucked up every mag, book and hooked on with every crazy training plan to grow. Hell if I were your age i'd dominate this board with stupid questions to avoid all the mistakes that these guys, including myself, have made.

Good luck kid

candidate2025 · « **Reply #13 on:** April 26, 2006, 09:22:55 PM »

Quote from: CQ on April 26, 2006, 09:01:05 PM

http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?topic=67067.0

Seriously...many on here have been in this game longer than you have been alive.
Learn instead

you may have been training longer, but dude, ive been studying and been a fan of bodybuilding for over three years. and im sure that i read and watch a whole lot more stuff to do wth bodybuilding than you do, personal trainer or not.

headhuntersix · « **Reply #14 on:** April 26, 2006, 10:52:19 PM »

I was trying to be nice but since you represent the typical know it all teenager that will drive the US into the ground the gloves are off.

Alright you idiot. i'm 32. i'm not a personal trainer. I'm a Captain in the Army. I've been doing this since I was 17. All through the Marines, college and now the Army. I've done one comp and found that its not for me. I've been to numerous contests, The Arnold 3 times, paid for a 1 week seminar with top pro's in Cali instead of Spring break in college. I really hate talking about myself but this is my sport and your an idiot for assuming that you know it all at 16. Your a fat tub of lard that may some day get it right and have an honest original thought about how to train. I really didn't want to weigh in about you giving advice because getting into a pissing contest with 16 year old is rediculous but you could get someone hurt or worse, just waste their time. Half the people on here don't even know your age. I've seen your pic and while I credit you for posting, come on bud, your too young and too gooey to comment yet. There area ton of guys, including me, who would love to help you if you'd shut up and act your age. I'm not a "hater" there Jim Rome so speak english and act a little more humble.

benchthis · « **Reply #15 on:** April 26, 2006, 10:59:40 PM »

Quote from: headhuntersix on April 26, 2006, 10:52:19 PM

I was trying to be nice but since you represent the typical know it all teenager that will drive the US into the ground the gloves are off.

Alright you idiot. i'm 32. i'm not a personal trainer. I'm a Captain in the Army. I've been doing this since I was 17. All through the Marines, college and now the Army. I've done one comp and found that its not for me. I've been to numerous contests, The Arnold 3 times, paid for a 1 week seminar with top pro's in Cali instead of Spring break in college. I really hate talking about myself but this is my sport and your an idiot for assuming that you know it all at 16. Your a fat tub of lard that may some day get it right and have an honest original thought about how to train. I really didn't want to weigh in about you giving advice because getting into a pissing contest with 16 year old is rediculous but you could get someone hurt or worse, just waste their time. Half the people on here don't even know your age. I've seen your pic and while I credit you for posting, come on bud, your too young and too gooey to comment yet. There area ton of guys, including me, who would love to help you if you'd shut up and act your age. I'm not a "hater" there Jim Rome so speak english and act a little more humble.

whoo bro mellow out just ignore the kid

headhuntersix · « **Reply #16 on:** April 26, 2006, 11:04:14 PM »

Yeah your right. Sorry guys, had to vent. I'm in Afghanistan it doesn't help the stress level.

GET_BIGGER · « **Reply #17 on:** April 27, 2006, 07:37:49 AM »

Quote from: MidniteRambo on April 25, 2006, 03:08:43 PM

I've been hearing different answers. I want to keep building mass but I'm not satisfied with my current bodyfat %. In the current issue of MuscleMag, Ron Harris says point blank: "you can't gain lean weight and lose fat at the same time." Is he right?

Yes you can. It is difficult, but possible. It takes longer, you don't see results as quickly as you would if you did one or the other but you can. It's all about the food you eat and supplementation. But then again, I've lost weight on Muscle Milk, you don't hear that too often.....

headhuntersix · « **Reply #18 on:** April 27, 2006, 07:51:40 AM »

I think i can one up you on the muscle milk thing, every time I take Pump tech ( yeah i know you all hate Muscle Tech) I drop about 5 pounds. No other NO product just that stuff. Weird about the MM , I love that stuff.

Saskbb · « **Reply #19 on:** April 27, 2006, 08:00:25 AM »

My view on this question depends on your stage of development, lifting, your body type, and chemicals added to your body (food, sups, and roids).

If your 16 and still growing sure you can do both. If you have been lifting for 10 years and have juiced for several of them than I say no. Once you start cutting for a contest that will be your heaviest lean mus. weight. It is tuff for you to cut your cals. so you loss weight and even hold mus. The goal is to loss as little as possible.

But of course there are individuals who are very lucky that do a 6 week cut and able to gain mass. But from my experience this is only a small percentage of most bb.

If your younger your first few years of growth are important. So I suggest eat right, rest, and train hard. Also train smart, I watch guys in our gym and only 2 or 3 can squat correctly and only one or 2 or us even do dead lifts. I also suggest stay off the roids and keep that in your pocket for several years down the road if at all. Taking roids while your young is just a waste. Sure your get short term gains but if your in this sport for the long run than it will have a negative effect on your progress.

Good Luck

pumpster · « **Reply #20 on:** April 27, 2006, 11:43:17 AM »

16 yo and already a know-all's a bad combo, kid. Lay back, absorb info and experience another 5-10 years of good training and your input will mean something.

blondmusclhunk · « **Reply #21 on:** April 27, 2006, 12:11:41 PM »

If your new and dont have a lot of lean muscle mass to begin with doing both would be hard. If your on roids its easy since they help you keep lean muscle while at the same time loosing body fat. If your not on the juice take in lots of protein and watch the carbs especially sugars and do cardio youll be fine. If you dont have a lot of mass wait till you do. If you dont have a lot of body fat now you may burn muscle.

candidate2025 · « **Reply #22 on:** April 27, 2006, 05:25:00 PM »

Quote from: headhuntersix on April 26, 2006, 10:52:19 PM

I was trying to be nice but since you represent the typical know it all teenager that will drive the US into the ground the gloves are off.

Alright you idiot. i'm 32. i'm not a personal trainer. I'm a Captain in the Army. I've been doing this since I was 17. All through the Marines, college and now the Army. I've done one comp and found that its not for me. I've been to numerous contests, The Arnold 3 times, paid for a 1 week seminar with top pro's in Cali instead of Spring break in college. I really hate talking about myself but this is my sport and your an idiot for assuming that you know it all at 16. Your a fat tub of lard that may some day get it right and have an honest original thought about how to train. I really didn't want to weigh in about you giving advice because getting into a pissing contest with 16 year old is rediculous but you could get someone hurt or worse, just waste their time. Half the people on here don't even know your age. I've seen your pic and while I credit you for posting, come on bud, your too young and too gooey to comment yet. There area ton of guys, including me, who would love to help you if you'd shut up and act your age. I'm not a "hater" there Jim Rome so speak english and act a little more humble.

haha , oh brother, i never said i knew it all, i was piinting out that i have alot more knowledge than the average 16 yo, and that all though its onl been a year of trainign, ive been studying and watching bodybuilding for about three. and i never said you were a personal trainer, im talkin bout cq or whatever his name is. haha...and man, i got asll the respect in the world for the army, but really, you cant be that big with all that running.

and punpster...dude i was just saying that i listent to what u have to sa, and you come i here hating.

man, you guys are a bunch of cry babies. and if i dont know what im talking about...find a piece of advice that is wrong, and ducate me. otherwise, shut up.

pumpster · « **Reply #23 on:** April 27, 2006, 07:09:46 PM »

Hey kid, you shut up, and learn something. I don't care how much "experience" and knowledge you've acquired, it's too early to be talking like a punk.

headhuntersix · « **Reply #24 on:** April 27, 2006, 09:36:51 PM »

Quote from: candidate2025 on April 27, 2006, 05:25:00 PM

haha , oh brother, i never said i knew it all, i was piinting out that i have alot more knowledge than the average 16 yo, and that all though its onl been a year of trainign, ive been studying and watching bodybuilding for about three. and i never said you were a personal trainer, im talkin bout cq or whatever his name is. haha...and man, i got asll the respect in the world for the army, but really, you cant be that big with all that running.

and punpster...dude i was just saying that i listent to what u have to sa, and you come i here hating.
I'm done slmming you, its rediculous,

No I'm 5'9ish - 220 with maybe about 11/12% body fat. I never plan on competeing so as long as my stomach is flat I'm happy. I may try and drop as the summer goes on but I'm trying to put on another 10lbs by FEB and 405 on the bench by August. I run a small unit and completely run my own physical fitness program. I won't do more then cardio once week until i get back from Afghanistan. it's like jail. No long distance running in a combat zone. Most guys here and Iraq hit the weights pretty hard while deployed, even the grunts when they get a chance. Cardio is at a premium.

man, you guys are a bunch of cry babies. and if i dont know what im talking about...find a piece of advice that is wrong, and ducate me. otherwise, shut up.