davemac
07-18-2008, 01:29 PM
I've looked through the forum postings, but don't see anything that directly correlates to my question, so I thought I'd just throw this out these for some help.
I am 30 years old, 5’11”, 172pounds, and according to my Tanita scale, 15% body fat. I was tested about a year ago by a local university with the BodPod and was 192 pounds, 23% body fat. My diet and exercise slumped during the fall and winter, but I began vigorously again in March.
The problem I am currently having is that my weight is fluctuating by about 6 pounds (from 171-177) and my body fat going from 15%-17%. I have asked the university that I come in for another reading, but in the meantime I want to see if the way I am training/dieting is being at all productive. My weight and body fat have been around the same for the past 2 months, regardless of how much I exercise. I typically spend 2-3 days in the gym vigorously lifting and doing abdominal work, while I spend an additional 2-3 days running 5-7 miles, or biking 10-18 miles. On days I visit the gym I try to consume at least 150g of protein, while still keeping my caloric intake low. On days I run or bike I typically drink 2 shakes containing 230 calories, and eat something healthy for dinner. I usually finish the day well under 1800 calories. Usually 1 day a week, on the weekend, I take a day off from the diet and exercise.
So I am wondering, I have heard that you can’t build muscle and lose fat at the same time, and I was wondering if that were true? I also wonder if my weightlifting and protein intake are building muscles, that are only burned off the next day with my cardio? I am open to suggestions as the long term goal is to be about 8% body fat and 180-185 pounds. However if you do the math you can see that means losing an additional 11 pounds of pure fat, and then regaining 19 pounds of pure muscle. I am going through a lot of hard work, so I just don’t want to do anything that is in vain.
Any suggestions, recommendations, or help would be greatly appreciated.
I am 30 years old, 5’11”, 172pounds, and according to my Tanita scale, 15% body fat. I was tested about a year ago by a local university with the BodPod and was 192 pounds, 23% body fat. My diet and exercise slumped during the fall and winter, but I began vigorously again in March.
The problem I am currently having is that my weight is fluctuating by about 6 pounds (from 171-177) and my body fat going from 15%-17%. I have asked the university that I come in for another reading, but in the meantime I want to see if the way I am training/dieting is being at all productive. My weight and body fat have been around the same for the past 2 months, regardless of how much I exercise. I typically spend 2-3 days in the gym vigorously lifting and doing abdominal work, while I spend an additional 2-3 days running 5-7 miles, or biking 10-18 miles. On days I visit the gym I try to consume at least 150g of protein, while still keeping my caloric intake low. On days I run or bike I typically drink 2 shakes containing 230 calories, and eat something healthy for dinner. I usually finish the day well under 1800 calories. Usually 1 day a week, on the weekend, I take a day off from the diet and exercise.
So I am wondering, I have heard that you can’t build muscle and lose fat at the same time, and I was wondering if that were true? I also wonder if my weightlifting and protein intake are building muscles, that are only burned off the next day with my cardio? I am open to suggestions as the long term goal is to be about 8% body fat and 180-185 pounds. However if you do the math you can see that means losing an additional 11 pounds of pure fat, and then regaining 19 pounds of pure muscle. I am going through a lot of hard work, so I just don’t want to do anything that is in vain.
Any suggestions, recommendations, or help would be greatly appreciated.