If I am interested in losing weight, while at the same time adding (building) muscle, what category do I fit into?

I play softball, and a few guys I play with have lost a lot of weight, but also lost all their power because they weren't working out. (They also were weaker off the field, too.)

I do not want to make this mistake. Plus, I want to look imposing. :)

Anyway, what category am I in?

Mesomorph. A beginner starting weight-workouts trying to lose fat will usually add some muscle whilst doing it. If you want to add muscle whilst losing weight, get Bill Phillip's "Body for Life" book. Simple portion rule instead of calorie counting and a good workout guide. Good luck!

Mesomorph.


I guess I meant more do I check out the cutting forum or the bulking forum...

Though I will certainly check out that book, and any other suggestions anyone has...

[QUOTE=Demon Knight]Mesomorph. -QUOTE]

How do you come to this conclusion?

I was kinda wondering that as well :confused:

without a pic and some history of weight, eating habits etc... How can you conclude their body type?

The poster was asking how to lose weight (fat) and build muscle....probably asking which category to post in: Fat Loss or Bulking.

Really it sounds like they want to do a recomp.

So to that end....

keep up your calories, eat clean, work out with weights do some cardio, work hard....you'll build muscle and slowly burn off that fat. When the time comes that you'd like to take it further, and you've progressed with weight training, you eventually stall. So, then you have to decide if you want to shed more fat (cut) or build more muscle (bulk = eat= gaining a little fat along the way).

Unless you are genetically gifted, completely new to weight training, or on gear....you can't have it both ways.

Not sure how you came to the conclusion of "mesomorph."

I think for these goals I'd recommend MAXOT. It'll add some strength and get you in shape. Or a powerlifting program modified to help you with your softball game and with the addition of proper nutrition and cardiovascular work.

Well, I have been lurking for a while. In a few weeks, I plan to really implement some of the ideas in this forum, and go full force.

A previous poster was exactly right -- I am looking to know what forum to post in! Or even more so to know which forums to read for the best advice for my situation.

Basically, I am a 31 year old male, 6'4". I started out in July at 290. I was 263.7 this morning. I am pretty good at losing weight if I set my mind to it, even allowing an occasional cheat day or drinking binge every week. (Usually on Sundays during NFL season.) I am pretty big-boned -- people never believe I weighed 290 (except my wife who sees me naked!).

Anyway, I am now losing about 1.5 pound a week, which is the rate I feel is safe. I plan on getting to 245 for softball season (April 1st), and keep going until my doctor says quit. I am going to start eating more healthy foods as I start working out more.

I have just started a protein supplement, and also taking Animal Pak for a nutrient supplement.

I figure I will keep going along as I am doing, until I hit a wall, or need more specific advice. I have been doing an elementary weight lifting program, but I am buying new equipment, and will be looking to expand on my exercises shortly.

Well, I have been lurking for a while. In a few weeks, I plan to really implement some of the ideas in this forum, and go full force.

A previous poster was exactly right -- I am looking to know what forum to post in! Or even more so to know which forums to read for the best advice for my situation.

Basically, I am a 31 year old male, 6'4". I started out in July at 290. I was 263.7 this morning. I am pretty good at losing weight if I set my mind to it, even allowing an occasional cheat day or drinking binge every week. (Usually on Sundays during NFL season.) I am pretty big-boned -- people never believe I weighed 290 (except my wife who sees me naked!).

Anyway, I am now losing about 1.5 pound a week, which is the rate I feel is safe. I plan on getting to 245 for softball season (April 1st), and keep going until my doctor says quit. I am going to start eating more healthy foods as I start working out more.

I have just started a protein supplement, and also taking Animal Pak for a nutrient supplement.

I figure I will keep going along as I am doing, until I hit a wall, or need more specific advice. I have been doing an elementary weight lifting program, but I am buying new equipment, and will be looking to expand on my exercises shortly.


Sounds like a good plan. :tu:

You can decide to cut, and then bulk, in cycles, repeating the process until you're happy with your body composition, similar to how John is doing it. This process leads you into stages where you are temporarily "too fat" and "too skinny". While cutting, you decrease your calories and focus on cardio without ignoring resistance training, and while bulking, you increase your calories and focus on strength training, without ignoring good nutrition and cardio. If you want the fastest results, this is the way to go. Alternately, you can lose fat and gain muscle at the same time. It's a longer process, with more plateaus to fight through, but I think it's not quite so regimented and restrictive.

Oops, my bad! Understood the post wrong, thought he meant he was not fat but not skinny either which kind of puts him in the mesomorph area. Sorry!

Anyway, yeah. Well, I went on a bulk first and then on a cut. I'd suggest doing the opposite i.e. going on a cut then a bulk, reason being you can see the muscle more when cut and could possibly help you psychologically. I know muscle burns more calories and many suggest doing a bulk to save time on the cut but I don't think it helps that much speaking from experience.

You are doing fine at losing 1.5lbs per week. Just keep it up and when you hit a plateau, who ya gonna call? John Stoners! Sounds like a very "high" gang!

One note: If you hit a plateau, try one week on drop sets, 10x3s, 20 reps squats or whatever and maybe rest for a week after that.

Your post brought up a question, which I might post in a separate thread, but I thought I would start here.

How do I decide how I want to work out? How many days, how many sets/reps, etc.?

There are so many trains of thought out there -- is there anything that has proven to work well with beginners?

I have been doing 3 sets, adding say 10 pounds (or whatever is appropriate) to each set. 12-10-8 reps, where I can barely do the 8th one at the end.

Arnold recommends 5 sets, which would have me in the gym forever!

I'd like to keep working out to 3 days a week, maybe 4 max.

i feel that i am in very much the same boat as you and new here as well. I'm over wieght but dont wish to get "skinny" just want to lose the fat and gain muscle. Currently i just started doing a full body workout 3 times a week as my body gets use to resistence training then ill move to the more traditional splits workout. I know i tried starting a 4 day splits starting with shoulders and felt like i could not touch my hands to my shoulders for like 4 days so i figure i need to ease into a bit more. I find that the editorial in http://www.bodybuilding-supplement-guide.com/fat-loss-beginners.html a good outline for beginners like me :gl:

You should know that making significant gains in muscle (what most would call true bulking) while also cutting runs across purposes as bulking requires excess calories over a period of time while cutting requires a deficit. However- this does sound like a perfect time to mention Swolecat's SGX program. John Stone and I are both on it at the moment. And we've both seen great cutting results while actually gaining a slight amount of mass.

Follow the banner in my sig. for details. Also, look HERE (http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showthread.php?t=19062)

I think this is the perfect time for me to bring this up:

When does one call a diet regimen 'cutting' instead of just 'losing fat'?

For me, it feels like cutting is something you can call what John is doing now, or a bodybuilder does before a competition. More like a phase after a bulking phase... If you're heavily overweight, I'd call it 'losing fat'.

I think this is the perfect time for me to bring this up:

When does one call a diet regimen 'cutting' instead of just 'losing fat'?

For me, it feels like cutting is something you can call what John is doing now, or a bodybuilder does before a competition. More like a phase after a bulking phase... If you're heavily overweight, I'd call it 'losing fat'.

I kind of agree.

I have like 40 more pounds to lose (at least) before I'd even begin to look fit.

My priamry goal is to get rid of the fat, while building up some muscles under there...

I kind of agree.

I have like 40 more pounds to lose (at least) before I'd even begin to look fit.

My priamry goal is to get rid of the fat, while building up some muscles under there...

The term "cutting" refers to cutting fat. It's all the same.