I keep reading about how burning fat and building muscles are opposite, because you need extra calories to build muscles and a calories deficit to lose weight.

But there's also people who say you can do both at the same time. I'm assuming this is true because it's suggested to lift weights during a "cutting" phase.

So if there's an effective way to gain muscles and lose fat at the same time, why bothering going throught "cutting" and "bulking" phases? Wouldn't it be the healthier way to improve your body, comparing to cutting until you almost look skinny and then bulking?

Another question, if you can lose fat and gain muscle at the same time effectively, why aren't there more informations available about this for doing it optimally? From what I read, people either insist on how burning fat and muscles are impossible to do at the same time, or are very vague (or even secretive) about the possibility of doing both.

Generally, if you are new to weight training or have not done it in a while you can do both at first. If you are a serious body builder then you really can't.

Now, even if lifting weights while you cut does not end up helping you gain muscle it will still help preserve the muscle you have and prepare your body for more intense weight training later -- so do both!

Another question, if you can lose fat and gain muscle at the same time effectively, why aren't there more informations available about this for doing it optimally?
It's mostly because if your goal is to lose fat and gain muscle at the same time, then you're not going to be doing either optimally. That's not to say that trying to do both is a bad idea, it's just that most people pick a goal (losing fat/building muscle) and totally focus on it.

I tried the cutting/bulking thing and I'm actually not a big fan of it. I like to have one plan that I can stick to indefinitely. So instead of focusing on losing two pounds a week, I focus on losing one pound a week. That puts me on less of a caloric restriction. I also try to take in a reasonable amount of carbs during the day so that I have energy in the gym. By doing these two things, I'm not really losing fat as quickly as I would be if I tried to lose 2 pounds a week and really restricted my carbs. But on the other hand, I get more progress with the weights doing that, while still losing fat. However, I'm not making as big gains in the gym as if I was eating a caloric surplus and not losing any fat. Does all that make sense?

Personally, I'd rather stick to a slow cut that gave me steady progress in the gym for 9 months, than seriously cut for 3 months, bulk for 3 months then cut again for 3 months. It's just whatever you prefer and I don't know that one is really better than the other.

Generally, if you are new to weight training or have not done it in a while you can do both at first. If you are a serious body builder then you really can't.

Now, even if lifting weights while you cut does not end up helping you gain muscle it will still help preserve the muscle you have and prepare your body for more intense weight training later -- so do both!


Well done Thirtysomething!!!!!

Also there are differences of opinion as to what is optimal to do. Once you get to this level of asking questions, you are running into the level of disagreement. My own personal experience is that the approach one advicates tends to be the one that works best for that individual. What works best for a particular individual can depend on their physiology, their life styles and schedule, and their taste preferences.

So what this means is not that there is contradictory information out there, but ther is a menu of choices for you to follow..and you can pick the one that seems to suit you best or appeals to you the most. And after a while, you can try a different one either because you just feel like it or the one you have choen just doesn't seem right for you. Or you may take a different approach because you feel your body should have a change, as every body's body adjusts to a particular routine, becomes efficient at it and paradoxically, the routine is not as effective any more.

And some perspectives come from individuals, whose living is based on guiding people to their goals. These people are not in a position to give the full benefit of their experience and thought for free because that is how htey earn their income. They are professionals at this.

Even among professionals, there is a (firendly) disagreement as to what works best. The links to sites at the introductory stickt and the sponsors here are all individuals with the highest level of professionalism and yes, of different points of view.

So what I would recommend is just startign with one approach that appeals to you now, keep reading, observe how you do on hte approach, and if change seems like it will improve things, then by all means go ahead and do it.

:gl: