It’s difficult for the body to build muscle and lose fat at the same time. Building lean muscle tissue requires calories! If you are restricting calories to lose body fat, your body may not have the fuel it needs to create new muscle. Instead, the body will break down muscle to use for fuel.
An active person who exercises regularly can minimize muscle loss with the following strategies:
#1 a small calorie deficit that contributes to a slower fat loss
#2 an adequate protein intake (ie protein at each meal and snack)
#3 frequently eaten meals that offer a constant supply of fiber, lean protein and nutrient rich, complex carbohydrates
#4 strength training to protect against the loss of muscle mass
Remember that your muscles are the fat burning furnaces of the body!!
by Kim Agostino
Hey Kim,
Great post. This is a question I get from time to time too. Alot of people don’t understand that in order to build muscle you have to consume “excess” calories and in order to lose fat you have to be in a calorie deficit.
That’s why I recommend going on a bulking phase where you focus on building muscle and then a cutting phase where you focus on fat loss. From my experience, this is by far the most effective way to go about it.
Awesome post,
Rich
glad you liked it!! thanks for reading!