Predicament

Jregan519 · 10-30-2009, 09:45 AM

Alright, so im 5'6 140 pounds or so. I wouldnt consider myself fat, but i definitely have a layer of fat on my stomach that i would love to peel away. Anyways 3 weeks ago or so i started lifting heavily, and for about 2 months ive been running for atleast 30 minutes a day, sometimes even an hour.

Now, ive been told that instead of cutting my calories i should actually just eat more(I calculated it to be about 2k Calories/Day), along with more protein (My body weight in grams which is about 140g/day). Now, do you think i should do this? Will the layer of fat i have on my stomach right now dissapear with all the cardio and weightlifting i do? I'm really not looking to get super jacked, i would just like to get a tight stomach, some nice arms and back. Or will i actually gain weight as in fat?

I dont want to gain muscle, and have a bunch of fat covering it because well, thats just pointless, i want to be able to take my shirt off at the beach and have all the ladies flock to me cause ill be such a stud.

Thanks in advance fellas.

SuffolkPunch · 10-30-2009, 09:55 AM

It's up to you - you are going to have to do a low calorie cycle to lose fat and a high calorie cycle to gain muscle. In both cases, you need the protein ratio you mentioned and you need to weight train.

Some say you should slim down to 12% before bulking up. Lyle McDonald says this.

koatliki · 10-30-2009, 10:44 AM

Diet is more important than cardio or weight lifting when you're losing fat...

phal · 10-30-2009, 10:53 AM

Seeing how none of us are Ms. Cleo, you're going to have to try it and see.

Jregan519 · 10-30-2009, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuffolkPunch

It's up to you - you are going to have to do a low calorie cycle to lose fat and a high calorie cycle to gain muscle. In both cases, you need the protein ratio you mentioned and you need to weight train.

Some say you should slim down to 12% before bulking up. Lyle McDonald says this.

Alrighty, so slimming down to 12% BMI isnt just genes, anyone can do it with the right diet, and exercise, right?

th3pwn3r · 10-30-2009, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jregan519

Alrighty, so slimming down to 12% BMI isnt just genes, anyone can do it with the right diet, and exercise, right?

Even if you're not genetically gifted you can still obtain a similar look but you may have to work harder for it.

SuffolkPunch · 10-30-2009, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jregan519

Alrighty, so slimming down to 12% BMI isnt just genes, anyone can do it with the right diet, and exercise, right?

Yup

12% bodyfat by the way - BMI is a different index and largely useless for people who lift weights.

Basically, at 12%, you should see some ab definition but not a full six pack.

Nutshell20 · 10-30-2009, 11:11 AM

Funny how some people mistake bad genes for lack of dedication. Guy I used to lift with would always say he could never get lean because of his genetics...I always thought it was from all the beer and pizza, but what do I know.

jay24k · 10-30-2009, 11:40 AM

Yup, just dedication or what people might refer to as obscessed

.

I've been heavy all my life going up and down. I got down to 11% and now I'm bulking up through the winter. 1st bulk in my life!!

.

If you lift heavy, you can do it without cardio and diet. I just personally found cardio easier. For me, If I run in the evening, I tend to not be as hungry before I go to bed. So not only do I get the benefit of not eating where I eat too much, but I don't feel like I'm starving.

I cannot run in the morning or I can easily overeat.

LMG462 · 10-30-2009, 12:03 PM

Get rid of your sugars and refined carbohydrates.

gmaki · 10-30-2009, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jregan519

Alright, so im 5'6 140 pounds or so. I wouldnt consider myself fat, but i definitely have a layer of fat on my stomach that i would love to peel away. Anyways 3 weeks ago or so i started lifting heavily, and for about 2 months ive been running for atleast 30 minutes a day, sometimes even an hour.

Now, ive been told that instead of cutting my calories i should actually just eat more(I calculated it to be about 2k Calories/Day), along with more protein (My body weight in grams which is about 140g/day). Now, do you think i should do this? Will the layer of fat i have on my stomach right now dissapear with all the cardio and weightlifting i do? I'm really not looking to get super jacked, i would just like to get a tight stomach, some nice arms and back. Or will i actually gain weight as in fat?

I dont want to gain muscle, and have a bunch of fat covering it because well, thats just pointless, i want to be able to take my shirt off at the beach and have all the ladies flock to me cause ill be such a stud.

Thanks in advance fellas.

I think I was in a pretty similar predicament to you when I started. I decided to "bulk" to start out rather than cut. You can see the results in my progress pictures if you want an idea of what happened. After seeing those pics I changed horses mid stream and started cutting to get more definition before I go into bulk mode again. I think I have built some muscle btw, but behind that layer of fat it is impossible to tell. I can feel it though.

The good news for me is that I am nearly right back where I started weight wise, but stronger and with a narrower waste so all was not lost.

There is a big difference between you and I though and that is age so you might not put on as much fat as me if you were to bulk. Still I would recommend biting the bullet and getting yourself down to a sub 12% bf and then increase calories.

S0VERE1GN · 10-30-2009, 12:20 PM

a picture of you might be useful

at 140 lbs saying you're fat is kinda strange...at least that's what i think.
eating more would be a good idea if you're going to start doing vigirous exercie. id say the cardio is a good idea but be sure to supplement with a lot of lifting as well, and then eat closer to 2500 cal.

just my idea.