Build Muscle Then Melt Fat or the other way around?

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darkvampwriter

New member
Which is better to do first. Lift heavy weights for months to build muscle, then run to lose fat. Or lose the fat first then build the muscle later?
 
That's an unanswerable question. It's completely dependent on you and your current body.

If you have a lot of excess fat, I'd say focus on shedding the fat while maintaining muscle with heavy weight training.

If you don't have a lot of fat, it really comes down to a matter a personal choice, generally speaking.
 
Oh yea, and read the sticky threads. Especially the words of wisdom thread as this is discussed there.
 
What I was wondering is why maintain muscle if that muscle was used to carry around my fat ass?

Right now I'm focusing on my diet and losing weight. I do zero exercise and still lose weight. I guess my question is why maintain unnecessary muscle? Or is it necessary?
 
Well that's a great question. :)

For starters, it really depends actually. For instance, obese people are going to have to lose muscle to get back to a 'normal' weight. Reason being; even though obese people generally lead sedentary lifestyles... as they gain weight, a fraction of each pound gained is actually lean body mass.

So it's obvious that an obese individual is going to have to lose some of everything.

Things change at the opposite end of the spectrum though. When you're someone who has a relatively small amount of fat to lose, things change in your body. Your body is more susceptible to burning a higher ratio of muscle to fat. It has a lot to do with survival instincts genetically wired into us from back in the cavemen days. With this in mind, losing more muscle than fat usually leaves people unhappy with the results. They're left lighter, but still soft looking and more often than not, this is not the 'look' most are going for.

In this latter case, weight training is one of the primary things you can do to 'persuade' your body to maintain the good stuff and shed the unwanted stuff.

That's the two opposite ends of the spectrum and there's a lot of stuff in the middle too.

No matter where you are, never do you HAVE to lift weights. If you want to optimize your body composition, improve strength, combat osteoporosis, etc... it's probably a good idea.

If you're simply after a particular number on the scale and don't so much worry about how you look... than you certainly don't need to lift weights.

Does that answer your question?
 
It really is a whole lot harder to gain muscle than people are lead to believe. It takes alot of time and discipline. Doing 2-3 days a week of strength training along with cardio will help you to gain enough muscle to burn fat and speed up your motabolism. It will help you to lose weight it won't however make a great deal of change to your body muscle wise. If your looking to gain an extensive amount of muscle, I would stick to a strict diet and weightlifting routine. hope this helps!!!!
 
What do you mean "stick with a strict diet if you want to gain an extensive amount of muscle"?
 
just wishing you luck.

IMO Muscle is more important then anything else. I'd protect it by not stripping your calories too low and continuing to weight train.

If you are so overfat that you are dropping tons without any planned excercize...then that is great for you that you are making changes in your life!

But it's impossible to drop only fat weight. If yuo aren't working to maintain or increase muscle, then you will lose it. (through diet, age and lack of use)
 
What do you mean "stick with a strict diet if you want to gain an extensive amount of muscle"?
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meaning high protein, good carbs and good fats.. not diet as in losing weight, diet as in healthy eating plan!!! If your looking to gain a good amount muscle the right way you should have a routine.
 
I don't find those statements helpful at all for anyone looking to gain muscle.

Your points are "eat healthy" and "have a routine."

That's beyond vague and leaves out some of the critical points that go into hypertrophy.
 
I don't find those statements helpful at all for anyone looking to gain muscle.

Your points are "eat healthy" and "have a routine."

That's beyond vague and leaves out some of the critical points that go into hypertrophy.
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well you wouldnt find them helpful for anyone trying to gain muscle for the simple fact that i am not a personal trainer. So I am unable to post a weight training regimen. I'm simply stating that it is alot harder than people think to gain muscle and that simple strength training wont make much of a difference if your looking to bulk up. Will strength training help you shed lbs.. absolutely.. but like I said before trying to gain a great amount of muscle reguires exteme dedication and your favotrite word a "routine".. No need to get hostile.
 
I'm not being hostile.

Promise.

Just blunt. I didn't find your advice helpful is all. Not attacking you by any stretch of the imagination... just the advice. You seem like a nice person. :)
 
Its my understanding that any muscle gain while trying to lose fat is short lived. It can happen, but doesn't last and eventually you are just working to maintain the muscle mass you have.

You can continue to build strength though.
 
superuniquer said:
I think you can do both things (I do it everyday)

Do 30 min of cardio.

Lift weights little but a lot of reps.
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By do both do you mean gain muscle and lose fat simultaneously?

If so, I would agree... especially when you're untrained and/or very fat.

The closer you get to an optimal weight though and the longer you been training... the less likely it is that you'll be able to do both to any significant or even noticeable degree.

Also, you should keep in mind that just b/c you're lifting weights, this does not ensure you're building muscle. Not at all.

Also, I'm not sure why you're generally promoting high reps?
 
superuniquer said:
I meann melt the fat. Not build muscle.
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This leaves a lot unanswered from my previous post.
 
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