Higher calorie fat loss...possible?

[fatshowdown]

If you are trying to lose excess fat, and build muscle at the same time, is it ok to eat at a calorie surplus, or should I stick with 1800 calories per day? If so, how much surplus is acceptable for what I would call an "average" amount resistance training, this being 3 sets and 12-20 reps of a weight of 50 lbs or more for bi's, tri's, chest, and back, as well as burning 400-500 calories doing cardio.

Is building muscle while trying to lose fat a bad idea if I need to eat at a calorie surplus? Should I try and lose the fat first through cardio and THEN start to put some muscle on? What is the most effective way to go about this?

The reason I'm asking this is because last week I started to do use weights in my workout, and so I started eating an extra 100-200 Calories, and expected it to slow down my weight loss a bit, but instead I put on weight, which is NOT what I want to do. Could this be muscle growth? Water retention? I hope to God this isn't a fat attack!

 

[FiteClubFan]

Logic would state that if you were already in a defecit where you were steadily losing weight, then adding 100 or 200 calories might take you out of that defecit (depending on how much it was) but it won't cause fat gain.

And, at an extra 200 calories a day, you would have to be over eating what you burn for 17.5 days to gain a lb of fat. So, while I do not think you have gained muscle so fast, it is due to glycogen and water retention. I am always up a pound or two after a heavy lifting work out.

I really can't answer the rest of your questions with any certainty!

 

[fatshowdown]

Logic would state that if you were already in a defecit where you were steadily losing weight, then adding 100 or 200 calories might take you out of that defecit (depending on how much it was) but it won't cause fat gain.

And, at an extra 200 calories a day, you would have to be over eating what you burn for 17.5 days to gain a lb of fat. So, while I do not think you have gained muscle so fast, it is due to glycogen and water retention. I am always up a pound or two after a heavy lifting work out.

I really can't answer the rest of your questions with any certainty!

That does make some sense, and even though I may need to do a little more research, I will take what you say as good news! I'd much rather hear it being water retention than fat increase!