Cardio + Weight Training?

Hi! For the last year or so I've been trying to build muscle and lose fat simultaneously, so I've been lifting 3 times a week and doing cardio (swimming) 3 other days a week. I was wondering if the cardio is hurting my ability to build muscle. For me, the muscle building is more important than the fat burning, but ideally I'd like to do both. Thanks for your help!
 
It shouldnt be hurting ur muscle building unless your overdoing the swiming. Just make sure to get enough protein and dont let ur body go into the catabolic stage.
 
You can not build muscle and lose fat at the same time. When your trying to lose fat, your body is in a calorie restricted state which will not produce muscle gains.

I'd suggest you choose one or the other.
 
Thanks for the replies - one more question: should I be taking protein supplements every day or only the days that I lift? Thanks!
 
~LV~ said:
You can not build muscle and lose fat at the same time. When your trying to lose fat, your body is in a calorie restricted state which will not produce muscle gains.

I'd suggest you choose one or the other.

That's not true. You can do both, but you won't make the same kind of gains you could otherwise get by bulking. If you're an experienced lifter, then trying to make gains gets harder.. and may be impossible while losing weight. But, if you're fairly new to lifting, this should be very possible for you.
 
LV was just making a point, we get asked this question a lot and it gets very annoying to answer it over and over.

You can do both, however you will make tonnes more progress if you consentrate on one at a time.

I will always say that you should worry about building mass 1st and fat loss second. because once you start to follow a healthy diet, build muscle and exercises offen the weight will be very very easy to get rid of.

If you have fat, if doesnt mean that your unhealthy, or unfit, its just means that you are eatting more than your burning off. as long as your eatting healthy foods its not a problem.
 
manofkent said:
LV was just making a point, we get asked this question a lot and it gets very annoying to answer it over and over.

You can do both, however you will make tonnes more progress if you consentrate on one at a time.

I will always say that you should worry about building mass 1st and fat loss second. because once you start to follow a healthy diet, build muscle and exercises offen the weight will be very very easy to get rid of.

If you have fat, if doesnt mean that your unhealthy, or unfit, its just means that you are eatting more than your burning off. as long as your eatting healthy foods its not a problem.
Thank you.
 
Ive heard that all you have to do is cut down calories like -7000 calories a week gives you a 2lb of fat loss. Im pretty much where I want to be with my muscles. Just keep lifting and get that -7000 a week and Ill be fine? Oh yea and as long as I lift I wont lose muscle or is there some eating I need to do?
 
The proper term is "maintaining muscle", but its actually impossible to keep your muscles as they are unless you live in a science lab. Your muscles will grow and shrink weekly depending on the protien and carbs you eat, the amount of cals you burns, sleep etc...

So... the easyest way to Maintain muscles rather that let them shrink or make them grow is to keep your weight training the same, and keep your cal intake the same as your cal output. i.e. keep track of what your eating.

Its not very easy unless your put yourself under a microscope, it comes with experience.
 
i've actually read the article ur talking about and yes 7000 calories does equal 2lb of fat but! for example if u burn 3000 calories a day, since burning consist of just walking around ur house + weight trainging and walking from point a to point b, c, d u get ur total of how much u burn. if ur body doesn't get the right about of calories or nutrions its stops burning fat and eat up muscle thus the amount of muscle u gain per week is diminished. u are suppose to eat accordingly, also burning 1000 calories a day. u gotta find out how many calories u have to eat though.


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