Working out and losing muscle?

D

daxamite

0
Hello,

I've been doing some aerobic excercise and eating 1500 calories/day for about a month and I've been losing around 2-3 lbs per week. That's when my brother told me that when most people lose weight, they are actually losing muscle first. So I've added in some protein supplements and strength training for the last week+ with discourging results. It seems that since I've added in the strength training I haven't lost any weight!

Was my previous weight loss muscle and not fat? Am I gaining 2-3lbs of muscle per week (And losing 2-3lbs of fat)? Is there any way to know the rate at which I am gaining muscle? Has this happened with anyone else?

Any information would be great,

James
 
1500 calories is a bit low for your weight. bump it up to around 2200. You may well indeed be adding muscle and losing fat at the same time. New lifter muscle gains can be rapid.
 
Here's a bit more about my diet/exercise:
1400-1600 calories per day (Trying for 1500 per day) All the food groups. (Healthy foods mostly)
500-600 calories per day on exercise bike. (two 20min sessions, one in the morning, one at night)

Stength Training that's been added:
Curls: 2 reps of 30 on each arm using a 20lb weight (I am going to upgrade to a 25 or 30lb weight soon)
50-100 crunches using a machine that supports the neck/back while you do them.
I do the curls and crunches only once in the morning right now. I may add it into the evening routinue.

Protein suppliment:
29g Protein Bar with 250 calories (Myoplex) Once after every strength training session. The bar's caloric intake does count towards 1500/day goal.
 
"New lifter muscle gains can be rapid."
Can you estimate a rate given the information I just provided? What's a lot of muscle gain? What's only a little bit of muscle gain?

Thanks again for any info,
James
 
I can't give you numbers on how much you will gain at first, but you will notice in the first 4 weeks increased size and strength. If you continue eating 1500 calories a day though, I can guarantee you WILL start using muscle for energy. Most normal weight 6 foot tall males have a weight maintenance caloric level of 2000. 1500 will put you into starvation mode (most likely anyway).
 
From various different measurements (Both my own and others) I've determined that my sustainable caloric intake (without exercise) is aprox. 2700 per day. Therefore, I am going to increase my calories to 1800-1900. With exercise this is around a 1500 calorie loss per day. (Which equates to 3lbs per week)

I'll just attribute the lack of weight loss to an increase in muscle and the start of a "starvation" mode.

Thanks for your help!

James
 
P.S. Once I hit 235 I've officially lost 50lbs in under a year. My goal is to reach 180 sometime in July/August. (Which is when I started watching what I ate and worked out)
 
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