Gain muscle/loose muscle at the same time

[Holyspokes]

Wondering if this is actually possible.. I am trying to loose some upper body muscle, while gaining lower body mass. Total body weight doesn't really matter, but I don't want it to go UP much if at all. I'd also like to drop 1-2% BF.

Should I keep calories around maintenance and just stop lifting upper body? Should I eat in a slight deficit? Should I eat a slight surplus on the day of and day after I do low cadence intervals on the bike / Lower workouts?

Basically what I'm asking if it is possible to "transfer" muscle from one area to another (not that simple but you get the gist), and if it is.. how calories should be handled? Would it be done more like a "recomp"?

Feel free to move this if you don't think it warrants "advanced" nutrition.

[initialize]

You'd probably still have to eat at a surplus to add muscle to your legs, but quit lifting upper body. Of course, since you're eating above maintenence it might take awhile to lose the upper body mass... but I'd say you'll lose some mass after awhile. Or you could go on a cut, just lift legs to maintain lower body mass and don't lift upperbody, then begin bulking again only doing legs

[AllGenetix]

where are you going to lose fat? you don't have any!

[Holyspokes]

where are you going to lose fat? you don't have any!

haha I have a little bit more than you.


I know that I could always just cut and stop lifting upper body and try to maintain my legs by doing some low volume work.. but I'm wondering more so if it is possible to simultaneously have my legs GROW and loose my upper body muscle by simply not lifting upper body.

[determined4000]

but I'm wondering more so if it is possible to simultaneously have my legs GROW and loose my upper body muscle by simply not lifting upper body.

Absolutely. My cousin was a big time athlete and had a serious leg injury and couldnt use it for months but decided to really hit the weights. In a year or so his leg shriveled up but he had put on a good 15lbs of upper body muscle in his chest, and arms. Muscle you use will grow when in surplus and any muscle you dont use will go away whether in surplus or deficit.

[Gstay]

Wondering if this is actually possible.. I am trying to loose some upper body muscle, while gaining lower body mass. Total body weight doesn't really matter, but I don't want it to go UP much if at all. I'd also like to drop 1-2% BF.

Should I keep calories around maintenance and just stop lifting upper body? Should I eat in a slight deficit? Should I eat a slight surplus on the day of and day after I do low cadence intervals on the bike / Lower workouts?

Basically what I'm asking if it is possible to "transfer" muscle from one area to another (not that simple but you get the gist), and if it is.. how calories should be handled? Would it be done more like a "recomp"?

Feel free to move this if you don't think it warrants "advanced" nutrition.


.... It's called steroids. haha.

I'm not kidding though. I'm surprised no one has said that.

A light PH will do exactly the recomp you're looking for.

.. but I digress.

Many people on here will say you have to either bulk or cut.

Personally, I am impatient.

Bulk, cut, recomp... there are more than just three levels.

Work out the areas you want to gain muscle. disregard the areas in which you don't need anymore.

Eat normally.

All will be fine.

[On Fire]

Basically what I'm asking if it is possible to "transfer" muscle from one area to another (not that simple but you get the gist), and if it is.. how calories should be handled? Would it be done more like a "recomp"?

While you and I both know that muscle can't be transfered, I know what you're getting at. I would eat at maintenance and cease upper body training. You can gain when you're not at surplus, it's just not going to come quick.

[TheWaffleIron]

Wondering if this is actually possible.. I am trying to loose some upper body muscle, while gaining lower body mass. Total body weight doesn't really matter, but I don't want it to go UP much if at all. I'd also like to drop 1-2% BF.

Should I keep calories around maintenance and just stop lifting upper body? Should I eat in a slight deficit? Should I eat a slight surplus on the day of and day after I do low cadence intervals on the bike / Lower workouts?

Basically what I'm asking if it is possible to "transfer" muscle from one area to another (not that simple but you get the gist), and if it is.. how calories should be handled? Would it be done more like a "recomp"?

Feel free to move this if you don't think it warrants "advanced" nutrition.

Yes, you could gain muscle and lose fat simultaneously.

But, as you pointed out, your body could not simply "transfer" muscle tissue. To lose muscle from your upper body and gain muscle in your lower body, I would suggest that you adjust your training; body composition is more dependent upon activity than diet. Stop working your upper body, and train your lower body (as intense as possible, with your cycling schedule). If you are at caloric maintenence - or, perhaps, even in a slight deficit - your goals should be plausible.