Lose weight, gain muscle for 2009

[Mguy]

I haven't posted on here in a while, but the last time I posted, I was in the 160s range. Last I checked, I was 152, but the Holidays could've changed that.

Holiday 2007...completely ruined me health-wise. I lost all motivation to lose the weight I accumulated at the beginning of 2009, and I went from 145 - 164. I changed that once school started back up, since I managed to do DDR at an earlier time. I find DDR to be the most efficient way of cardio (for myself) because it gives me results that I like. I'm not going to let Holiday 2008 ruin me, either. I'm going to lose weight until...eh, 130 - 140 lbs (5'9") and then try to maintain it as best as I can.

Aside from losing fat, I also want to gain muscle. By no means do I want to look like a beefy body builder, but I think an athlete's build would suit me quite nicely. I am in no way an athlete, and I suppose it's ironic that I want this build. I don't play sports or attend a gym, but I have a bench press downstairs. I can't do one chin-up/pull-up, either, and that I would like to change that ASAP. I'm weak...I don't like that at all. I am taking a weight training class in school that will last up until early March, so I suppose I'll start there.

I know I can rely on DDR to lose fat, I'm confident in that. It's given me great results before, and it will do it again. Now I just want to take it one step further and put on muscles, mostly to help my self-esteem. I wouldn't mind jogging or biking as an alternative to DDR, either. So, any advice will be appreciated, and thank you in advance.

 

[Poisonhearts]

Good luck losing weight and gaining muscle. I should probably state the obvious but weight loss requires a calorie deficit while gaining muscle requires a calorie surplus. I've heard that when someone just starts out weight training they might be able to gain some muscle while on a calorie deficit but it won't last too long. I'm not experienced in this so I can't give any personal input. I myself lost weight first, and am now concerned with gaining the muscle I lost during the weight loss and then some.

 

[Mguy]

I'm probably going to do it that way. Lose weight first, gain muscle after. Lose weight until the summer, spend the summer building muscle perhaps? Well, unless I am satisfied with my weight loss before the summer.

 

[Poisonhearts]

If I were you I'd still do weight training while losing weight, it will at least help prevent muscle loss associated with weight loss. I made a mistake and rarely did weight training while losing weight which resulted in substantial muscle being lost.

Your post made me curious so I went to see how many chin-ups and pull-ups I could do with proper form. I still managed 4 chin-ups in a row but only 1 pull-up, pathetic but these number will change. I begin my strength training routine on Monday.