question for the gym freaks

[BigDaddyWooWoo]

Alright so I need some advise. Im 5'6 around 190 lbs. Im tryna lose weight. Maybe cut down to 160-170. I've been going hard on the eliptical for about an hour every other day. Sometimes I bench and somdays I don't. Am I losing muscle by doing alot of cardio? Because im not trying to lose muscle. Or am I losing the fat first before losing muscle? I have no idea how it works out someone help!!!

 

[MatiGco]

In order to not lose muscle you need to do:

3x4 read the faq
2x4 read it again

 

[bringbacklife]

losing weight and maintaining muscle is mostly about diet. diet is key man. you a beginner lifter? how much bf% you got? aim for 1.2gram of protein per pound of lean muscle mass

 

[MatiGco]

You can also use Rippetoe's Reading Routine, its more slow because you add a paragraph each workout instead of reading it all at once but its guaranteed that you will understand it

 

[Andrewwawa]

You can also use Rippetoe's Reading Routine, its more slow because you add a paragraph each workout instead of reading it all at once but its guaranteed that you will understand it

yes.

squatting will burn calories like nothing else.


Having muscle burns calories as well.

 

[BigDaddyWooWoo]

I don't know how much body fat I have but probably more fat than muscle. But I do know I have muscle cuz I use to go to the gym but I stopped. Its been about a year since I stopped going. My question is though, will my body lose the fat first before it reaches the muscle? Is that possible?

 

[Andrewwawa]

I don't know how much body fat I have but probably more fat than muscle. But I do know I have muscle cuz I use to go to the gym but I stopped. Its been about a year since I stopped going. My question is though, will my body lose the fat first before it reaches the muscle? Is that possible?

Stop doing just the elliptical and it might. instead of benching 1ce a week i really suggest you take up a starting strength program

 

[zere0wn]

(still hasn't read faq).

Just read the faq, pick a routine, do it. Eat better at the same time. Guaranteed results.

 

[porkchopbjj]

it will be very hard to maintain all the muscle as you try to lean out. diet is key

 

[BigDaddyWooWoo]

Thanks I read the faqs. Just one more question is it best to do cardio first and then weights or the other way around?

 

[Ethan]

Doesn't matter.

 

[Im so Moldy]

definitely weight first so you'll be fresh and not tired for weights, which will make sure you have enough energy to get through your whole workout and maintain good form. And you don't sweat on all the equipment.

 

[pathfighter]

Having muscle burns calories as well.

That's not established scientifically, as far as I'm aware. This page does a pretty good job of breaking it down for the lay reader: http://muscleevo.net/muscle-metabolism/

 

[Ethan]

It matters.

Really only as far as "which one do you want to be fresh for".

 

[Ethan]

Ok so the better answer was "whichever one you want." So, pick one. If it doesn't work, switch.

 

[ssdd]

TS why are you doing cardio? If it's just to burn calories, then you'd be better off cleaning up your diet and focusing on lifting and building muscle. The cardio will interfere with the weight training especially if done on the same day or within 24hours of each other. Source: http://www.8weeksout.com/2011/09/05...gth-endurance-training-are-they-incompatible/

Follow a routine based on your goals, which if it's losing weight and getting big, will be handled by your diet and lifting weights. You'd be better off in the long run if you read the FAQ and lifted correctly on a decent routine.

 

[VoodooPlata]

That's not established scientifically, as far as I'm aware. This page does a pretty good job of breaking it down for the lay reader: http://muscleevo.net/muscle-metabolism/

It's very established scientifically that having muscle, and using it, burns calories. Thermodynamics states very clearly that someone who deadlifted 400 lbs used more calories to do so than someone who deadlifted 200 lbs, and the key difference between these people will be muscle mass (though other things will also matter).

 

[superreise]

First off... You need to learn how to actually build and sustain muscle, I doubt you actually know considering you say "sometimes I bench and sometimes I don't".