building up muscle while losing fat on the stomach?

[the_shizzle]

Hey guys
Hope all is well...just a quick question....im going to start hitting the gym and my aim is to build up some muscle and size, however i also have a bit of fat on my stomach that id like to get rid of and aim for a six pack....just wondering...is it possible to work out in the aim of increasing muscle and also losing the fat around my stomach at the same time?
what is the best programme to follow if these are my aims...any advice would be appreciated...thanks

[crazygooner1]

Hmmm I'm sure someone with a more experienced background will be here to help, but questions are, what weight are you now and height? It will also depend on your current physique.

[JPK]

Hi there,

This is the same old question of loosing fat and building muscle at the same time and many people have different views, I am trying to do exactly this at the moment, I am finding personaly that doing a good weights routine in the gym, using mainly compound exercises and supplementing this on other days with a good cardio session seems to work. As long as you get enough protein and a good diet to prevent muscle loss.

I have always been told to lift increasingly heavy in a sensible progression at the gym and use the cardio days to try and aid the fat loss, I am currently doing 1-2 days weight training using the main compound exercises (Deadlift, Squat, Bench press etc...) and I do a 2 and a half hour Muay Thai class a week this has seen me loose a stone of fat in just over a month and I am getting progressivley stronger and fitter all round.

If you just want to do the weight training then look on here for the Strong Lifts 5x5 program as this seems like a great way to approach strength training and fat loss, also remember you cannot spot reduce fat it is a myth you have to drop your fat from all over your body (i.e. reduce your bodyfat percentage) your genetics decide where it comes off!!!!!

Hope this helps, I am by no means an expert.

[ATZ]

^^^Good advice.

[comanight2]

fo'shizzle

read the beginners stickies. Your thinking about it wrong. JPK's advice is also solid.

[JPK]

Thanks :-) Can I also add that I started taking MP Pulse today for the first time and cant believe how much better I did at the gym this morning, hughe difference in both weight capability and energy. The only other supplment I use at the moment is MP Impact Whey Protein which is a must if you are trying to maintain muscle and lose fat!

[ShakeyJake]

Yeah I tried the pulse sample, and people were asking what I was taking, I was like a machine, doin decline sit ups with a 25kg plate at the end of our workout... I jus wanted to keep going... but with regards to the og post, yes u can gain muscle and lose body fat around your stomach...

[johnew]

maybe think of something like glutamine, leucine or HMB to prevent catabolism (the natural break down of muscle), while switching between cardio and weights on alternate days

[Matt Strong]

This is possible but only as a beginner to weight training or if you were following a recomp diet protocol.

You got any more info on yourself that would help people out? e.g. height /weight/training experience/current diet

[johnew]

Would you not recommend glutamine for instance to prevent the ongoing catabolism in people other than beginners, or more relevant here, for people doing large amounts of cardio?

Also, just out of interest, is recomp diet protocol where you fast for a while?