Could Someone Clear this Up for me?

[jeffisbig]

I know you can't bulk up while dieting, but can I still build some muscle? Or is my only hope to maintain the muscle I have?

I try to eat lots of protein on the days I do work out (protein bars/chicken breast for dinner) I am still at a caloric deficit though.

Maybe someone can explain this better for me, when I googled it I found nothing that cleared it up.

I know more muscle isn't going to make me lose the pounds like crazy and that the numbers show its really minimal but I just don't like being as weak as I am.

 

[Steve]

I know you can't bulk up while dieting, but can I still build some muscle? Or is my only hope to maintain the muscle I have?

If your fat and/or new to weight training, there's a decent chance you'll gain some muscle while dieting. But it will be short lived. When dieting you're in a caloric deficit. Building muscle is a very intensive process, energetically speaking. Calories are energy. If you aren't taking in enough energy to support what you have (hence the loss of weight; fat and muscle), chances are slim to none you'll be adding muscle for any significant length of time.

I try to eat lots of protein on the days I do work out (protein bars/chicken breast for dinner) I am still at a caloric deficit though.

Adequate amounts of protein are important while dieting. The leaner you get, the more important it becomes. The fatter you are, the less important it is. When you're carrying a lot of extra fat, your body preferentially sheds fat. When you're not and when you've been dieting for an appreciable length of time, the tides start to turn and a greater percentage of your weight loss will come from muscle.

Doing things like eating adequate protein ensure that you'll preserve as much muscle as possible. This works quite simply... your body will preferentially get it's aminos from the extra pool sitting in your bloodstream opposed to your stored aminos (muscle) assuming your eating enough to establish said pool.

Protein doesn't build additional muscle, however, in the face of a caloric deficit. As I said above, muscle growth is an energy intensive process. Calories are energy.

I know more muscle isn't going to make me lose the pounds like crazy and that the numbers show its really minimal but I just don't like being as weak as I am.

You can get a shit ton stronger without actually growing muscle, ya know?

 

[jeffisbig]

Thanks Steve. I didn't know. I thought muscle = strength. When I think building muscle thats what I mean, not bulking up.

That cleared alot up for me. Thanks.

 

[Steve]

You're welcome.

Strength has a huge neural component. All this means is, in laymans terms, your brain and neuromuscular system can 'learn' to be stronger without actually growing bigger muscles.

 

[Ankebuzz]

So this is another reason for us ladies not to fear the "real" weights

Gonna check out your weight training for women thread Steve, much appreciated!!!

 

[edco76]

You're welcome.

Strength has a huge neural component. All this means is, in laymans terms, your brain and neuromuscular system can 'learn' to be stronger without actually growing bigger muscles.

Thank you. That took awhile for me to wrap my head around. Common sense just tells you: big muscles=strong. When I was in the furniture business we had a guy that was like 170-180 that worked in deliveries. He would out work all the big muscle guys that the managers would hire. When he would give them crap about it they would just say "Its just because you have been doing it so long, you just know how to handle this stuff" Which was true to an extent but it wasnt some magic knowledge he had about furniture physics. It was the fact that while those guys had been busting out curls to get the guns, this guy had been moving heavy, awkward objects off trucks and up stairs for 10 years. It didnt make him huge but he was hella strong.