Is it easier to go from skinny to buff or from fat to buff?

[dvdrdiscs]

Buff as in good mass with some definition in the major muscle groups, not totally rip.

 

[clamum]

Hopefully skinny to buff hehe

 

[Tetsuo]

I would think easier to go from "fat" to buff

 

[TearsofScarlet]

My brother tried to get skinny to buff, but just got fat instead.

 

[gtsukada]

fat to buff, you have more to work with

 

[Kenny]

Fat to buff. If you're skinny, you're probably not going to gain weight as easily. I have a friend that's ridiculously skinny (~100lbs @ 5'3"), and he's been working out for a long time, but his weight still fluctuates from 95-105

On the other hand, I know a lot of fat people that have gotten on track to being "buff."

 

[daveymark]

I always hear the skinny guys complain about wanting to bulk up but can't. And I always see the fat guys who come back after a summer and are all bulked up. Considering skinny guys have ultra quick metabolism to begin with, it must be tougher for them to get buff, right?

 

[yobarman]

It's definately easier to lose fat than to gain muscle. Losing fat is nothing but willpower. When you gain muscle, it's a lot more difficult because results arent instant and you're limited how your body works

 

[IEatChildren]

Technically it's physically easier to do it if you're fat, being that you burn the fat to gain muscle mass. If you're skinny, you need to gain fat first so you can burn it after.
However the mental aspect is another story. That would make a good experiment. Get a skinny guy and a fat guy to buff up and see who gievs up first.

 

[daveymark]

Originally posted by: IEatChildren
Get a skinny guy and a fat guy to buff up and see who gievs up first.

The skinny guy would give up first, because the fatty would see results quicker

 

[dvdrdiscs]

I would figure fat to buff is the easier way but does anyone have technical data or study to show how drastic of a difference those two scenarios are?

 

[Antisocial Virge]

Fat to buff, if your fat your already in a positive caloric intake.

 

[Honkus]

Fat to buff is harder because in order to get buff you have to lose the fat pounds first. The kicker is, the only effective way to lose fat is through cardiovascular training, not strength conditioning. Cardio work most likely be harder for an overfat person to do, let alone stick with it

 

[KidViciou$]

i think skinny to buff is better. If you just eat properly and work out properly, you will see improvements. When your fat, you have to burn much more calories while still maintaining a high protein intake, and you can't control where you lose your fat at. but when your going from fat to buff, i guess you have more of a snowball effect where you begin to burn calories more and more so your results will come faster.

i just think skinny to buff is easier cause you don't have to do as much cardio.

 

[Antisocial Virge]

Originally posted by: Honkus
Fat to buff is harder because in order to get buff you have to lose the fat pounds first. The kicker is, the only effective way to lose fat is through cardiovascular training, not strength conditioning. Cardio work most likely be harder for an overfat person to do, let alone stick with it

But as you build muscle your body uses more calories with you just sitting on your butt, ideally it will canabolize the fat instead of the muscle.

 

[johnjbruin]

i would assume fat to buff would be easier

 

[Amused]

Both require drastic diet and lifestyle changes. To ask which one is more difficult is pointless. It's difficult for anyone to make such a drastic change either way.

 

[dvdrdiscs]

Originally posted by: Amused
Both require drastic diet and lifestyle changes. To ask which one is more difficult is pointless. It's difficult for anyone to make such a drastic change either way.

That's like saying it's pointless to explore and understand space because we will most likely never leave our solar system. What happened to basic curiosity?

 

[Kipper]

Originally posted by: daveymark
I always hear the skinny guys complain about wanting to bulk up but can't. And I always see the fat guys who come back after a summer and are all bulked up. Considering skinny guys have ultra quick metabolism to begin with, it must be tougher for them to get buff, right?

This is absolutely true. What I've found works well is to work the metabolism into the ground. I have the "eat something and poo it out 45 minutes later" type of metabolism. By simply eating GOOD FOODS (i.e. not Jelly donuts) nonstop I've managed to break the metabolism and can maintain a stable body mass at roughly ~180 pounds. If I don't work out and go a couple of weeks without my usual diet, though, I can lose weigh very quickly...

 

[Deeko]

I gained over 20 pounds of muscle after about 4 months of lifting, i was damn skinny beforehand. I'm now a respectable 150 @ 5'6"

 

[whaleskinrug]

depends what's under the fat

 

[yhelothar]

well i'm a pretty skinny guy... 5'6" and 105lbs...
I've been working out for 2 years now trying to bulk up... i eat a lot, but not often... but my metabolism is fast, though isn't not eating often supposed to slow your metabolism?
well anyways.. I've gotten a lot stronger, but not bulkier. Yes my chest and my arm is slightly bigger, but i still look small and skinny.
When I first started benching, I was very weak, my max was 50lbs. by the end of my first year, I could bench 90lbs. I pretty much capped at 90lbs. by the end of my second year, I only improved to 105lbs max. my biceps are pretty big now, but only when i flex.

 

[Deeko]

Virtualgames, it may be your workout program. What are you doing when you lift? Are you getting enough protein? I used to have that problem when I was lifing fairly haphazardly in high school, when I got on a strictly regimented program with my roommate, I saw huge results.

 

[yhelothar]

I took the weight training class in my highschool. I workout for an hour every morning. I followed the classes' program, which I would do different exercises for a set of muscles each day

 

[Deeko]

Not every program works for everyone. You also might want to try "shocking" your muscles. I was plateuing back in the spring, so i hardly lifted over the summer, then jumped back in full-force in September, and while I lost a little over the summer, I made huge gains when I restarted. Also, are you getting enough protein? Obviously very important. I can link my workout program if you'd like to see it.