Gain lean muscle or lose pure fat?

**Dolphinski** · 14-01-2012 05:00 PM

^^ exactly what that man said! And I said a pound a week, not two!

**MSaxp** · 20-01-2012 06:26 PM

Boy being fat is difficult

dont know how people do it, I'm not used to having a belly!

anyway I think I have probably overdone it. In 4 months i have gained 25lbs which means i am now 165lbs. Definitely improved arms, legs and chest, belly makes me feel like father Christmas though

I think i will go for 8-10lbs in the next 6 weeks and then i will need cutting advice. Provided i can hold myself for that long

**MSaxp** · 15-02-2012 08:11 AM

Hi again,

It has been a few months on the bulking phase and i think its time to start cutting. I am not used to having a belly and it makes my running times awful

The problem is the following. I know scales that measure body fat are not to be trusted but in the summer it showed: 140lbs 10% fat and now shows 170% 19% bf. That means that roughly out of the 30lbs i put on, 19 was fat and 11 was lean mass which is definitely poor. Looking at me, i definitely see a great improvement in legs, pecs, arms, without any fat, but all the fat piling up on my belly. Will try to measure with callipers as well. Not that accuracy matters but if true, its probably quite a bad result.

On top of that, if i manage to maintain all my lean mass (probably difficult), i will need to cut down to 152lbs to get to 10% bf. So in all likelihood i will end up at 140lbs again, which isnt great.

So i would be interested in thoughts on cutting. I know the basics, create a calorie deficit to lose about 1lb a week, 1-1.5g of protein per lb, protein in all meals, etc. Are any supplements useful for maintaining muscle? And what about cardio? I intend to do 3 weights sessions and 3 cardio sessions. Is it useful if i also do some (say 20' of crosstrainer) after my weights sessions or am i eating my muscles? For the cardio sessions, is it better to do it on an empty stomach? Although i've read thats stupid as your body taps into your muscles in the absence of anything else.

Any help would be welcome.

**Zeigler** · 15-02-2012 10:20 AM

Quote

Originally Posted by MSaxp

On top of that, if i manage to maintain all my lean mass (probably difficult), i will need to cut down to 152lbs to get to 10% bf. So in all likelihood i will end up at 140lbs again, which isnt great.

This is why 'old school' bulk & cut cycles should be buried! Genetically you can only get close to 1lb of muscle a week (but thats only when your a beginner, and even then, everything has to be done right!), sounds like you've overdone it a fair bit in the pursuit of more muscle than was possible.

Not to worry though - I'd suggest looking at leangains/IF for your 'cut' - at least then you have a great chance of losing fat and possibly gaining a few lean lbs as well, which would obviously be awesome!

What are you stats like after your bulk for your lifts?

**StMichael** · 15-02-2012 10:36 AM

hahaha! mzaxp this thread has gone quiet... just do the usual... 3 hard muscular workouts a week protein... cranch chain aminos... creatine... id love to get my stomach that slim! Its this summer or nothing with my six pack.. ive worked and worked on stomach muscle.... ie weights to my laces and do leg raises ... i know the muscle is there its just stripping the fat for another month maybe then ill use creatine maybe to get it pumped? Thats my plan im on the morning fast with coconut oil and cinnemon at the moment... day 10. lost about 1 kg. Urg. Gym time again biceps n cardio today was stomach n cardio yesterday.

**MSaxp** · 15-02-2012 06:50 PM

Thanks for that. Have you tried LeanGains yourself? I have read quite a lot of stuff on it and it sounds reasonable. Different to what mainstream advice tells you...

As for lifting stats, difficult to say, as i work out in my work gym which only has limited equipment, so not easy to compare. I can bench press max 100kg (havent tried more) and can do 5x5 with 80kg. Squats, again 5x5 10kg, no problem, havent tried more yet.

**MSaxp** · 15-02-2012 07:19 PM

body fat measurements are also worthless. omron scales shows 19%, omron handheld 14% and with the calipers I say about 15%. The embarassing photo is attached below. Hopefully it will make a good 'before' photo in a few months

**StMichael** · 17-02-2012 02:32 PM

Quote

Originally Posted by MSaxp

body fat measurements are also worthless. omron scales shows 19%, omron handheld 14% and with the calipers I say about 15%. The embarassing photo is attached below. Hopefully it will make a good 'before' photo in a few months

Yes hope so... yea re..the leangains.. 2 weeks on sunday i will of been following that coconut oil n coffee artcle.. thats kinda leangains? Basically not eating all morning - just coffee green tea cinnemon and coconut oil. And working out about 12 to 1 pm.. with my only carb meal of the day after htis work out.. the other meal being lean mince n veg .. and if i need to snack.. before bed nuts or boiled eggs or cottage cheese n veg. Last week i was loving it. But this week my moods are pretty low as low. On one hand im not fasting long enough.. its from 12 1 or 2am till about 2 pm the following day... its tricky often work till 12 midnight up till 4 am .. and i always wake between 8 and 10 regardless. I think we are about similar strength lifting wise... its just burning this fat i need to make some tweaks somewhere becasue im sick as a chip at moment only feel good durin workout.. or after a meal!