Possible to gain muscle while cutting with a high protien intake?

[Benz1990]

I'm pretty sure the answer is no but i thought i would double check.

1750 cal limit per day
Very High protein amount
Lift Heavy/Low Reps

[dezudezue]

I'm pretty sure the answer is no but i thought i would double check.

1750 cal limit per day
Very High protein amount
Lift Heavy/Low Reps

Its possible. I'm doing this right now. Low calories , usually between 2000-2500 when my maintenance is about 3500 but my protein intake is pretty high. I have been gaining a decent amount of muscle albeit fat loss is slow. 7lbs in 2 months.

I'm not tracking macros religiously though and to be fair most of the time i end up eating below maintenance because I'm busy and not because I'm dieting.

[tara19]

In the untrained, "noobs" yes.

However, you simply can't make muscle out of no surplus.
No extra calories = no growth.

People often mistaken seeing more of their muscle (i.e "cuts" or "muscle definition) as gaining muscle. It's not.

[Benz1990]

However, you simply can't make muscle out of no surplus.
No extra calories = no growth.

that was my understanding, just thought id double check

thanks

[Znik]

In the untrained, "noobs" yes.

However, you simply can't make muscle out of no surplus.
No extra calories = no growth.

People often mistaken seeing more of their muscle (i.e "cuts" or "muscle definition) as gaining muscle. It's not.

Exactly what tara said, while there is some possible evidence it's possible to increase muscle mass while on a small deficit if you got perfect diet,workout routine and genetics for it the amounts gained are pretty small.
But in probably 99% of the cases people are mistaking muscle growth for intravascular increases (more glycogen/water in muscle), some degree of recovery from muscle atrophy and general muscle adaptions to new stress along with more definition as tara said, all of these can either increase muscle size (without an actual increase is mass) or give the appearance of doing so.

Most people tend to forget it takes a high amount of energy to create new muscle tissue (around twice of the energy it actually contains (unless there has been some new research on that since stuff is constantly changing) and when you are in a deficit it's highly unlikely the body will spend all that energy required.

[bboyjihad]

Tara19 and Znik pretty much nailed it. For people who lift, it's hard enough not losing muscle during a cut, forget about gaining! Keep your protein intake high, continue to lift as if you were bulking, and just focus on not losing strength and mass, that will be challenge enough!