Quick question about working out AND dieting...

O

Omni

New member
So I can't build muscle while being under my par calorie number.

So... If I wanted to get from 16% bodyfat to 10% should I bother working out?

I'm a male 5'11'', 170 lbs. I want the 6 pack and all that. I eat 1550 Cals a day and have lost weight (from 185 lbs.) but now I'm kind of resting at 170 lbs. for 2 weeks and it's bothering me.

My arms look thinner and I am much weaker before I started the diet.

Should I work out or eat less?
 
Personally

In my personal opinion I would work out more AND eat more. If you eat 1500 calories a day, but you burn 500, your body is only getting 1000 calories, way less than it needs, this WILL help you lose weight, but leave you feeling weaker when you work out. Trying sticking with an 1800 calorie day, which is the average for most males. Heck if you are lifting weights AND doing cardio you may want to bump it to 2000 calories or more, as muscles use even more calories to repair themselves. As long as you are eating the right foods, you should see a decrease in fat and an increase in muscle, you may not want to worry about weight because your muscle is growing while you fat is decreasing, which can lead to the scale not really moving, or possibly even moving up!

Keep in mind though I am not a professional, and you may want to speak to someone who is to get an even better answer.
 
You are correct when you say you cant build muscle when in a calorie defeicit. Your goal should be to retain as much muscle as possible when in a calorie deficit while cutting your fat.

Find a good full body workout and make sure you are getting adequate protein in your diet. This should help you preserve some of that muscle.

Hope this helps.


Matt
 
What matt said.

You can't build while being calorie deficient, but you can pack in protien to keep from losing muscle.

Bodybuilders go through specific stages in building muscle. There is the bulking phase, there is the cutting phase. The bulking phase they are eating everything they can, the cutting phase, they are high protein, low carb to retain muscle mass
 
Omni said:
idk guys. How long would it take to go from 16% body fat to six pack you think?
Click to expand...

How long is a piece of string?

It's different for everybody and it all depends on what your exercise program is like and what kinds of food you are eating. I would also say it's very important to keep going to the gym if you want to lose some fat. I'm not sure what you are doing at the gym but try doing a mix of both weights and cardio on different days.
 
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