Apparently you can lose fat and gain muscle at the same time...

[BSpel55]

I did not know that until I got my blood tests 6 weeks apart. Granted, I was on thyroid and testosterone hormones for part of those but to anyone interested.

Went from 36.1% body fat to 33.5%, and went from 25.6% muscle to 28.2%.

Yeah, I know those numbers are terrible and I'll probably get made fun of but at 25 years old and with an exact diet and 5x/week workouts, I had the testosterone of a 90-year old and basically survival-level thyroid activity.

Anyway, for what it's worth, you can do those things simultaneously.

[Bucknut8084]

If you have high levels of bodyfat it's very possible. The lower you get the harder it becomes.

[jon1995]

If you have highly levels of bodyfat it's very possible. The lower you get the harder it becomes.

^^^^ unless you do some diet manipulation and or are getting back into training or new to it. And obviously if your taking AAS

[Voxmusculus]

^^^^ unless you do some diet manipulation and or are getting back into training or new to it. And obviously if your taking aas

aas?

[mdmayberry09]

aas?

Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid

[Serpentarius]

sort of irrelevant if you are untrained and obese/morbidly obese. That is not going to happen for an intermediate/advanced lifter in single digit bodyfat.

[NOSCOP3]

sort of irrelevant if you are untrained and obese/morbidly obese. That is not going to happen for an intermediate/advanced lifter in single digit bodyfat.

Assuming because the body does not want to get rid of the small amount of fat it has.

[Voxmusculus]

Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid

Aah, thank you.

[BSpel55]

sort of irrelevant if you are untrained and obese/morbidly obese. That is not going to happen for an intermediate/advanced lifter in single digit bodyfat.

I totally get that man, but you gotta understand there were a lot of people in my position who, and frankly I'm not morbidly obese or untrained by whatever, start to get serious about fitness/their appearance, whatever, and when they come here they are met with "You can't do both, do this, do that". I know that the rules that apply to Jay Cutler don't apply to me, but I think there are more people like me out there than you guys realize. That said, your comment is valued and appreciated.

[alimoe2008]

it's very possible high levels of bodyfat

[Serpentarius]

I totally get that man, but you gotta understand there were a lot of people in my position who, and frankly I'm not morbidly obese or untrained by whatever, start to get serious about fitness/their appearance, whatever, and when they come here they are met with "You can't do both, do this, do that". I know that the rules that apply to Jay Cutler don't apply to me, but I think there are more people like me out there than you guys realize. That said, your comment is valued and appreciated.

I was fat before too, like most of us here, you do gain a small amount when starting out and havent reached a beginner's potential (not genetic potential). But like i mentioned, you take a guy who is already benching 250, squatting 350, and deadlifting 425 and he will not be able to do both at a normal bodyfat level.
Also nobody should be comparing themselves to those guys like Cutler, and Coleman, they are far from natural. At your bodyfat, you are borderline morbid obese, just by a couple of % however.

[BSpel55]

I was fat before too, like most of us here, you do gain a small amount when starting out and havent reached a beginner's potential (not genetic potential). But like i mentioned, you take a guy who is already benching 250, squatting 350, and deadlifting 425 and he will not be able to do both at a normal bodyfat level.
Also nobody should be comparing themselves to those guys like Cutler, and Coleman, they are far from natural. At your bodyfat, you are borderline morbid obese, just by a couple of % however.

That's the messed up part. Borderline morbidly obese. Also starting (well, started, all 4 years) for college basketball team and had an almost combine-competitive 40 time. Weight/Strength haven't changed since then. Go figure.

[Rnewms]

dude...lowering bf% automatically increases muscle percentage whether you've actually gained any or not...

[ejthomp]

Went from 36.1% body fat to 33.5%, and went from 25.6% muscle to 28.2%.

Good for you.

Except....it's meaningless.

At 30+% body fat, the only numbers you should track are: calories, grams of protein, scale weight and waist measurement.

What happened on the scale during that time?

[RLB31384]

ahh I guess I have a little proof this is possible... But it has slowed down a bit after the noob gains disappear. I do a little bit of diet cycling too but thats not why..

little less than 6 months dieting, and little less than 5 months lifting. A large def diet, and heavy lifting (I did hurt my back, quads and right tricep once each though, tricep is still recovering)



Just lift hard, get protein..and if you are making gains..you are getting muscle.

[nycHorn]

How long from starting lifting (beginner) can one expect to see newb gains?

[Serpentarius]

How long from starting lifting (beginner) can one expect to see newb gains?

Depends on intensity, genetics, diet. In a 1000~ calorie deficit i maxed out in around 2-3 months where i stalled on everything as a beginner. But that was going balls out every workout.

[nycHorn]

Depends on intensity, genetics, diet. In a 1000~ calorie deficit i maxed out in around 2-3 months where i stalled on everything as a beginner. But that was going balls out every workout.

Thanks! I guess I'll continue to cut and maintain my LBM at a 500 cal deficit, then reevaluate. Repped.