First post question......

gneal · 12-21-2007, 12:31 PM

Ok, so let me get this straight. I weigh 165 lbs. and have 18 percent body fat. My goal is to gain muscle and then start a cutting phase to get rid of the love handles I have. Based on what I have read on this board in the past month, it's almost impossible to gain muscle mass AND lose the love handles at the same time...right?

You are either in a building muscle phase by eating more calories and creating muscle or you are in a cutting phase by eating fewer calories and getting lean...correct?

Sorry if this question sounds silly but I've been working out 3 months and want to start hitting the weights a lot harder after the first of the year. I'm not looking to compete or anything, this is more about getting a littler more muslce mass and looking and feeling better about myself.

Age is 47....

Thanks for any help.

ntrllftr · 12-21-2007, 01:00 PM

Just try hitting the weights hard as you can while you lose a few pounds. I am sure you weill see drastic changes in a couple months and will feel much better. When you lose a few pounds the "looks" of muscle mass will look better with weight loss.. just my opinion.

biggaz · 12-21-2007, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gneal

Ok, so let me get this straight. I weigh 165 lbs. and have 18 percent body fat. My goal is to gain muscle and then start a cutting phase to get rid of the love handles I have. Based on what I have read on this board in the past month, it's almost impossible to gain muscle mass AND lose the love handles at the same time...right?

You are either in a building muscle phase by eating more calories and creating muscle or you are in a cutting phase by eating fewer calories and getting lean...correct?

Sorry if this question sounds silly but I've been working out 3 months and want to start hitting the weights a lot harder after the first of the year. I'm not looking to compete or anything, this is more about getting a littler more muslce mass and looking and feeling better about myself.

Age is 47....

Thanks for any help.

Have a look at fitday.com. Calculate the number of calories you need a day to maintain your current weight. Eat clean whole food, avoiding as much processed food as possible.

Eat 1-1 1/2 grams per pound of lbm and see how you get on. You'll probably lose some bodyfat just eating well. Lots of small meals will help speed your metabolism as well. Good luck.

IdahoViking · 12-21-2007, 01:07 PM

If you're a newbie to lifting it is very easy to gain muscle while losing fat. Once I got serious, I went from about 24% BF to 19% BF without losing a single pound. My waist dropped from 39" down to 36".

However, after I reached that point - I found that I had to work on my diet as well to lose an additional inch off of my waist.

gneal · 12-21-2007, 01:18 PM

Thanks for the replies guys. Maybe I was misinformed but I thought you had to take in more calories than you normally would to gain muscle mass and fewer calories to get lean.

So it is possible to lose the love handles by eating better and gain muscle mass then?

IdahoViking · 12-21-2007, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gneal

Thanks for the replies guys. Maybe I was misinformed but I thought you had to take in more calories than you normally would to gain muscle mass and fewer calories to get lean.

So it is possible to lose the love handles by eating better and gain muscle mass then?

Initially, yes.

biggaz · 12-21-2007, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gneal

Thanks for the replies guys. Maybe I was misinformed but I thought you had to take in more calories than you normally would to gain muscle mass and fewer calories to get lean.

So it is possible to lose the love handles by eating better and gain muscle mass then?

Depends on the calories, stella artois (strong lager) has 500 calories a pint. Drinking two or three of them a day would up your cals but not help muscle gain.

Have a look at star riders post on this page, both of them, for a better answe.

gneal · 12-21-2007, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biggaz

Depends on the calories, stella artois (strong lager) has 500 calories a pint. Drinking two or three of them a day would up your cals but not help muscle gain.

Have a look at star riders post on this page, both of them, for a better answe.

Read both of his posts and got some good information. Again, thanks for the help.