lose weight or gain muscle first?

[looseswing]

Hey guys, this is a general fitness question. Im trying to do both, but I know its not possible at the same time. So before I devote months to one then the other, which is the better one to do first? And how long should I spend before switching between the two? If it helps I am 18, 5 foot 6, 145 pounds.

 

[jrod]

^^^ At 5'6", 145 lbs you must be in relatively decent shape. I'd say start toning and don't worry about the weight loss.

 

[150mph_]

wow you are like me, i'm 5'6.5" and 148 (as of today)
i'd gain muscle then cut if i were you... b/c thats what im doing myself
i'm trying to get to 155-160 for my weight, strong looking

 

[Blask]

I seriously prefer to lose the weight first. Lose the weight doing hard cardio first and then start to mix in heavier weights. I have seen a lot of people try to do both simultaneously or start with bulking up first and it is very difficult

To add real muscle tone you have to feed the workouts. Why would you want to take on heavy proteins when bulking up if the person is already trying to lose weight?

 

[150mph_]

I seriously prefer to lose the weight first. Lose the weight doing hard cardio first and then start to mix in heavier weights. I have seen a lot of people try to do both simultaneously or start with bulking up first and it is very difficult

To add real muscle tone you have to feed the workouts. Why would you want to take on heavy proteins when bulking up if the person is already trying to lose weight?

145 at 5'6 there isnt any weight to lose

 

[looseswing]

hmm maybe its just my body type but I have a lot of fat in my belly (if you looked at it exclusively youd say i need to lose weight) and in my upper legs. it basically looks like a beer gut.

 

[looseswing]

and no im not one of those anorexic people, i was just trying to put some weight on my arms and shave down belly to get close to a flat stomache (i dont need six pack abs or anything, just healthy looking)

 

[150mph_]

and no im not one of those anorexic people, i was just trying to put some weight on my arms and shave down belly to get close to a flat stomache (i dont need six pack abs or anything, just healthy looking)

well you need to do resistant exercise as well as cardio
i am 148 and i look like anorexic

 

[jrod]

hmm maybe its just my body type but I have a lot of fat in my belly (if you looked at it exclusively youd say i need to lose weight) and in my upper legs. it basically looks like a beer gut.

we don't believe you....post a pic or suck it up and get lifting.

 

[looseswing]

haha im currently lifting, i was just wondering if i shouldve changed that order up

 

[looseswing]

and ill try and post a pic if you really want i guess ha

 

[gastro54]

Its easier to build muscle then cut fat. When you have more muscle you can burn calories faster (convert that fat into energy)

 

[ogruskie]

Sorry to hijack the topic, but what happens if you do cardio and lift weights?

I do some heavy cardio along with tennis 3 times per week, and lift heavy weights for 3 times a week, with one rest day. My intention is just to get more fit.

 

[purple-n-gold]

You want to gain muscle,not nessarily "bulk up" but increase your lean body mass.Here's the oxymoron though,muscle weighs more than fat,so one could actually lose bodyfat,lose inches,and not lose much body weight on a workout program.

Depends on what your goals are,do you want larger muscles (not really important for tennis)or build long lean muscle groups which could help your tennis.

Don't forget your core muskles,just about every workout,sport or experienced trainer in the last 10 years place a big emphasis on the core.

 

[MomentumGT]

Sorry to hijack the topic, but what happens if you do cardio and lift weights?

I do some heavy cardio along with tennis 3 times per week, and lift heavy weights for 3 times a week, with one rest day. My intention is just to get more fit.

Sounds like you're on the right path.

You can gain mass and lose body fat % at the same time as well as lift heavy and do cardio mixing it in during the week is fine as well. You want to gain mass or loose weight change your diet. No matter how much or how heavy you lift you will not gain the full potential of your "hard" workouts if you are not feeding your muscles to grow by having a proper diet. Same can be said with doing tons of cardio.

You want a wash board stomach or even just a flat stomach. . .change your diet! If you have a high carbs high sugar diet you're not going to loose much weight. If you want to gain muscle mass make sure you have a high protein diet with the proper intervals of eating and nutrition to go along with it, going half arse at it isn't going to get you anywhere. Diet is 70% of the workout.

As far as losing weight or gaining muscle first. . . you can do both at the same time, unless you're a competitive bodybuilder or fighter and you have limited time for an event or competition then your workout is going to be different.

-Jon

 

[gastro54]

Sorry to hijack the topic, but what happens if you do cardio and lift weights?

I do some heavy cardio along with tennis 3 times per week, and lift heavy weights for 3 times a week, with one rest day. My intention is just to get more fit.

This will definitely get you more fit. Cardio and weights are great together. You can increase your strength and cardiovascular health at the same time

 

[ogruskie]

You want to gain muscle,not nessarily "bulk up" but increase your lean body mass.Here's the oxymoron though,muscle weighs more than fat,so one could actually lose bodyfat,lose inches,and not lose much body weight on a workout program.

Depends on what your goals are,do you want larger muscles (not really important for tennis)or build long lean muscle groups which could help your tennis.

Don't forget your core muskles,just about every workout,sport or experienced trainer in the last 10 years place a big emphasis on the core.

What I'm trying to do is burn fat. Mostly the gut/chest area. I'm not fat by any means. My weight lifting routine hits every area of the body, so I'm not worried about that at all.

 

[ogruskie]

Woah, very quick replies. Thanks for the help guys!

 

[NineMileSkid]

You want to gain muscle,not nessarily "bulk up" but increase your lean body mass.Here's the oxymoron though,muscle weighs more than fat,so one could actually lose bodyfat,lose inches,and not lose much body weight on a workout program./QUOTE]

On average, how much more does one pound of muscle weigh than a pound of fat?

 

[Topaz]

You want to gain muscle,not nessarily "bulk up" but increase your lean body mass.Here's the oxymoron though,muscle weighs more than fat,so one could actually lose bodyfat,lose inches,and not lose much body weight on a workout program.

On average, how much more does one pound of muscle weigh than a pound of fat?

1 pound = 1 pound

A pound of one thing does not weigh more than a pound of another!

Muscle is *denser* than fat. A pound of muscle will take up less space than a pound of fat.

 

[purple-n-gold]

^^^Read my previous post slowly dude. FYI: A LB.= A LB.

Seriously though were talking BMI(body mass index)%bodyfat. Muscle is more dense than fat, i.e. it takes a greater amount of fat to get that 1lb.

Problem is you can't spot reduce,"just lose here and not there." You could pay extra attention to any problem areas and tighten up the diet.

On cardio days try doing it first thing in the morning before eating and if you really want to kick up fat burning furnace again at night before going to bed.

I had a very knowledgeble weight training partner once that clued me into the cardio;I used to diet down without doing any cardio and lost muscle in the process;cardio and the weights should go hand in hand. BTW that guy is an M.D. now.

A company called Cybergenics that sold supplements and a workout program also recommended weight training in the A.M. before eating to increase one's lean bodymass,though I find it easier to do cardio than weights first thing in the A.M.

 

[purple-n-gold]

Beat me to it,thanks Topaz.

 

[NineMileSkid]

1 pound = 1 pound

A pound of one thing does not weigh more than a pound of another!

Muscle is *denser* than fat. A pound of muscle will take up less space than a pound of fat.

Don't tell me, tell the poster who claimed muscle weighs more than fat.

 

[150mph_]

Don't tell me, tell the poster who claimed muscle weighs more than fat.

muscle weighs more than fat per similar mass

 

[purple-n-gold]

Hey skidmark, volume wise if you take 1 lb. of fat tissue and compared it to 1 lb. of muscle tissue,there appears to be more fat tissue, but they will weigh the same.

Now kid do you get it?

 

[NineMileSkid]

Hey skidmark, volume wise if you take 1 lb. of fat tissue and compared it to 1 lb. of muscle tissue,there appears to be more fat tissue, but they will weigh the same.

Now kid do you get it?

I always got it.

 

[purple-n-gold]

Two words: High Intensity Interval Training

Wouldn't that be more like four words?

Not if you say it with high intensity.

^^LMAO. funny.

Do you really now???

 

[NineMileSkid]

Do you really now???

I see you've been blessed with quite the sense of humor.

How lucky for you.

 

[looseswing]

ha well im sorry to see this thread dissolve into an argument. if anyone is curious i think i identified the problem- i have an ectomorph body type i think, which might be why i appear fat even though im not technically overweight.