Lifting makes me hungry, but I need to lose weight too?

[hankjoejr]

I am 5' 11'' and about 195. I have started lifting again and have had great results in mass, but I still have a gut and some breast fat. The issue is after lifting hard I am very hungry and am eating 5 - 6 decent meals a day. Last night my wife commented that I shouldn't be eating as much as I do right before bed (last night had a muscle milk drink, ham slices, small cottage cheese and and a fruit cup. But I am hungry! I do need to add cardio. Any suggestions? I am watching my body transform before my eyes, but don't want to starve my body either. Thanks!

[chazzy1864]

eat more at other times of the day?

[hankjoejr]

I guess my question is it possible to bulk up and lose weight at the same time? That evening meal is similar to my other meals..it happens to be right before bed. If I am eating all the time (5/6 times) how will i lose the pudge around belly? I need cardio too, which i am lacking at the moment...

[keys_10]

I guess my question is it possible to bulk up and lose weight at the same time? That evening meal is similar to my other meals..it happens to be right before bed. If I am eating all the time (5/6 times) how will i lose the pudge around belly? I need cardio too, which i am lacking at the moment...

You said that 'You're watching your body transfrom before your eyes'.

I presume you mean in a good way?

[chazzy1864]

how often you eat is irrelevant. It is how much you eat at those times that is the bigger factor.

I personally try to have my bigger meals be earlier in the day, and around my workout. After my PWO meal, I try to limit my carbs a fair amount and taper off my intake as the night progresses. That is my preference.


You can gain muscle and burn fat at the same time. It is called recomping. Beginners have an easy time doing it, outside of newbie gains, it is difficult to do. Generally people find it easiest to choose one task (bulk or cut), do it, then do the other.

What I would suggest doing, is eat a little over maintenace, with most of your calories around your workout time. After each lifting session, do 15-20 minutes of LISS. I can't say it is guaranteed to work, but i personally found good results with that strategy.

[mjlindne]

Last night my wife commented that I shouldn't be eating as much as I do right before bed !

and that's because...?

the argument that eating right before bed has any different effect on weight gain/loss than eating at any other time of the day is ignorant. eat when you are hungry. simple as that.

[medjen]

How many calories you're eating is much more important than whether you're eating before bed. Count your calories (if you aren't). It'll make your weight gain/loss strategy much easier to develop.

[hankjoejr]

Thanks to all the posts. Yes, i am seeing great gains! I started doing deadlifts and all of a sudden i have traps! My chest is getting very defined...so my gains have been excellent...except for my massive keg for a beer belly. I look pregnant. Also, all the water i have been drinking has made it look more bloated...Not sure what LISS is, but I will do a search.

I just want to make sure my body had fuel for whatever it does while I sleep. Since i have had nice gains, i am afraid to change the routine, but I will eliminate alcohol (Fri/Sat bingers) and do something cardio and abs. I just don't want to look deformed. Thanks again

[gecko2424]

and that's because...?

the argument that eating right before bed has any different effect on weight gain/loss than eating at any other time of the day is ignorant. eat when you are hungry. simple as that.

that's ignorant. I'd weigh 300 lbs...

[keys_10]

Thanks to all the posts. Yes, i am seeing great gains! I started doing deadlifts and all of a sudden i have traps! My chest is getting very defined...so my gains have been excellent...except for my massive keg for a beer belly. I look pregnant. Also, all the water i have been drinking has made it look more bloated...Not sure what LISS is, but I will do a search.

I just want to make sure my body had fuel for whatever it does while I sleep. Since i have had nice gains, i am afraid to change the routine, but I will eliminate alcohol (Fri/Sat bingers) and do something cardio and abs. I just don't want to look deformed. Thanks again

Low Intensity Steady State (LISS)
It's good that your seeing gains but if your not happy with your midsection then just eat around 300kcals less than maintanence.
Adding cardio is a must really to help speed up your weight loss. Don't worry about the water weight, it's very important to keep drinking water. Once your body gets used to it you'll no longer feel bloated.

[mmmdonuts]

that's ignorant. I'd weigh 300 lbs...

some people naturally under eat and some naturally over eat..

[Stacemann]

That's pretty ignorant of you Gecko, to believe you'd be a fat ass. It doesn't matter when you consume calories. If your BMR is 2000 and you consume 1500 a day, it doesn't matter if you eat throughout the day or all of them right before bed. You will still lose weight. Stop giving false information. It still astonishes me how much bad info is out there and how gullible some people are given all the scientific evidence out there about muscle gain and weight loss. There is a sucker born every minute tho I suppose