Losing weight and gaining muscle at the same time

[JumBie]

Is it even possible? I was 210lbs and i decided i needed to lose weight, I'm 6 feet tall and the flab was starting to show. So i basically starting running treadmill lifting weights and cutting my daily caloric intake. To my knowledge you have to eat more calories than your body burns to gain muscle, and you have to eat less to lose weight. I want to lose fat but also gain muscle, which i've heard is either impossible of possible at a EXTREMELY slow pace. At first i lost mostly water weight, while running and lifting, then i really didn't see results. So i fine tuned my diet and stopped exercising all together. Now im 180lbs, after about 2 months.

Should i start back lifting weights? or what...i wanna be fit, but then i got to thinking, i should just lose the weight then go for muscle after. Any suggestions?

 

[Howard]

Yes, very possible.

 

[OptimumSlinky]

I am no expert, but if you are more interested in body composition (ie, muscle tone) versus making a specific weight, then I would cut back on the cardio and focus on eating very clean while lifting weights. Or at least limit your cardio workouts to hill sprints to pack on leg muscle.

 

[CrazyAznDriver]

I started weightlifting(doing starting strength novice program) about a year ago at 200lb, up to 225lb now. My waist size has gone down by 2 inches. I know I have lost fat, just don't go by the scale.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Read the fat loss sticky. That will maximize both.

 

[JumBie]

I started weightlifting(doing starting strength novice program) about a year ago at 200lb, up to 225lb now. My waist size has gone down by 2 inches. I know I have lost fat, just don't go by the scale.

Don't were you chubby(fat) at 200? and now at 225 are you muscular, as in you or anyone can look at you and say your muscular? I mean don't you think 1 year is a long time?

I guess I'm going to read the sticky and see what i can do to maximize both at the same time.

 

[CrazyAznDriver]

I'm 6'3 so didn't look heavy i think... Though i had some extra padding around the middle . People that I haven't seen for awhile notice. 1 year is a long time for what? Lifting weights? Do you plan on lifting for a while and stop? I view it as a long term thing, its not a fad diet.

 

[Pantlegz]

Don't were you chubby(fat) at 200? and now at 225 are you muscular, as in you or anyone can look at you and say your muscular? I mean don't you think 1 year is a long time?

I guess I'm going to read the sticky and see what i can do to maximize both at the same time.

Adding muscle mass will make you look bigger and leaner, especially if you also keep your bf% the same. 25lbs of pure or mostly muscle is a lot. I'm 6' and 230-240 depending on the day(I'm heavier on the weekends) and I'd like to think I'm very muscular. I've still got some fat to lose though.

As far as your original question, it's possibly especially when you're just starting out. I'd keep eating clean and start lifting and look into a beginner lifting routines around here people seem to like starting strength or strong lifts.