Is it possible to loss fat and build muscle simultaneously?

Hey OT :)

I have been doing some research on the above topic. There seems to be very mixed views on the matter. I'm an ectomorph but I want to lose my "protective layer" over my abs as well as build muscle.

Some say that it's impossible and other say that it is certainly possible. Have you done it? If so then what's the best in achieving it?

Thanks

Yes. Eat properly and exercise effectively. thegerg

/thread

To get a six pack, it's more about your diet than anything, though exercise helps too, do mostly cardio since you're trying to lose fat rather than build ab muscles.

You SHOULD be losing fat (if you have it to lose) while gaining muscle. Muscle burns fat.

You SHOULD be losing fat (if you have it to lose) while gaining muscle. Muscle burns fat.

Pirate700

Maybe combine cardio and resistance training?Elraptor

I didn't know Mac had a gamespot account! Reed_Bowie

You can't lose fat over your abs without losing fat everywhere. Spot reduction is a myth and ab machines are garbage if not used correctly (i.e. as a part of a workout regimen and a worthwhile diet). The best way to achieve it? Leangains. Look up the Leangains guide. Martin knows his stuff and there are a decent number of sites/forums (especially on Reddit) that discuss his method.dodgerblue13

While you can it's already hard enough for most people to do one or the other, so I usually say stick to one or the other as your focus (fat-loss or muscle gain). That's why people do the tried and true bulk/cut cycles. The way I handle it myself is just lift heavy and often and eat plenty for recovery. If I start to gain more fat then I want I either eat less or lift more. I can't speak from personal experience on losing fat while building muscle mostly because I don't have too much fat to lose so I never bother.achilles614

You can't lose fat over your abs without losing fat everywhere. Spot reduction is a myth and ab machines are garbage if not used correctly (i.e. as a part of a workout regimen and a worthwhile diet).dodgerblue13

Earlier I mentioned cutting weight. That's a part of training regimens of athletes like martial artists and bodybuilders who have to meet a certain weight requirement. For me, it usually involves decreasing the amount of water I take in, as I keep a lot in to maintain a healthy body. If you aren't doing that, it's really not that necessary. Just make sure you have protein for muscles and vitamins and minerals to keep your body working. I hope this helps. It worked for me.

scientifically speaking no it doesn't actually work that way, one will happen before the other. From a practicality standpoint yeah you can do that, just know that people are wrong when they say weight lifting will disolve fat into muscle from a scientific point of view.

Will that actually matter? No because it pretty much appears that that is exactly what is happening.

Maybe for an endomorph wanting to lose 75 lbs. They could easily find a daily daily caloric intake level that would provide plenty of nutrition for muscle growth yet allow them to burn off fat at the same time. But for an ectomorph who just wants to lose a few pounds? I think it would be really tough to pull that off. You really need to cut your caloric intake down to the point where you're losing weight, and although you can certainly maintain the vast majority of your muscle mass while doing that, I think you'd have a pretty tough time actually trying to build muscle and lose fat at the same time.

You burn fat as you gain muscle.

[QUOTE="Pirate700"]

You SHOULD be losing fat (if you have it to lose) while gaining muscle. Muscle burns fat.

KittyKat

[QUOTE="thegerg"]Yes. Eat properly and exercise effectively. Johnny_Rock

/thread

Maybe combine cardio and resistance training?Elraptor

Yes. Eat properly and exercise effectively. thegerg

[QUOTE="Elraptor"]Maybe combine cardio and resistance training?dodgerblue13

Calorie deficits and surpluses work for everyone, you will always gain weight eating more than you burn, you will always lose it eating less. Partitioning is a different issue, more decided by macronutrient ratios and training protocols. But the energy balance equation always trumps all.The_Zoid

[QUOTE="dodgerblue13"][QUOTE="Elraptor"]Maybe combine cardio and resistance training?The_Zoid

And really you'd have to have some pretty screwy food choices to not see decent results on a deficit. Just eat a little less, meet your protein and essential fatty acid needs and that's really all there is to it. Unless half your calories are coming from cake or soda or something stupid like that, it will work fine.The_Zoid

Yes it is. It's a little tricky because when you are losing fat, you are in sense in a catabolic state.

[QUOTE="Elraptor"]Maybe combine cardio and resistance training?dodgerblue13

[QUOTE="dodgerblue13"][QUOTE="Elraptor"]Maybe combine cardio and resistance training?JIT93

If we had that kind of control over partitioning we'd all look like Arnold. When losing weight regardless of cardio or not there will be a loss of lean body mass. Calories taken in to recover from cardio take away from optimal protein synthesis and muscle repair.The_Zoid

You burn fat as you gain muscle.

airshocker

Hey OT :)

I have been doing some research on the above topic. There seems to be very mixed views on the matter. I'm an ectomorph but I want to lose my "protective layer" over my abs as well as build muscle.

Some say that it's impossible and other say that it is certainly possible. Have you done it? If so then what's the best in achieving it?

Thanks

Golden_Ace