Strength training and cutting

[DokterVet]

I've been told that it is impossible to bulk up in muscle and cut fat at the same time; they must be done in separate cycles.

 

But I'm wondering if you can still strength train while cutting. Can you do the work-outs and not see the size increase but still gain the strength increase while maintainig a calorie defecit?

[Thuggish]

of course you can. bulking up muscle involves weight lifting and protein consumption. losing fat weight involves cardio exercise and a good diet- not devoid of carbohydrates or super low in calories, but with enough exercise to burn off the fat you have and keep it off. hop on a tredmill then go lift, and eat right. its funny how simple it is but so called experts make it seem so complicated. the simple truth is- when eating right, long enough cardio workout burns off fat, and proper weight lifting builds muscle.

[Tibby]

Amen to that, Thuggish. DokterVet, who told you this? Sounds like you need to go bitch slap them. He has been reading to many Muscle & Fiction rags

[DokterVet]

That was based on advice from this site.

[Tibby]

Ah, that explains it lol

[nathanjusko]

You can't build muscle and lose fat at the same time. In order to build muscle your body needs more calories than it burns off for the purposes of energy so it can convert the food into muscle. In order to "cut" your body needs less calories than it expends so it begins to use fat stores to maintain energy levels (why many people feel tired while cutting).

 

Now if you need more calories than your BMR (basal metabolic rate) in order to build muscle, and you need less calories than your BMR in order to burn fat. Does anyone see a problem with attempting to do the two at the same time?

 

However, building strength is another thing than bulking up (as the article that you read was reffered to). Your body likes to use fat before muscle when it is losing weight, therefore you will lose fat but tend to spare muscle as long as your protein intake is high enough. Therefore, your body will become lighter with the same muscle mass as it had when it was heavy with fat. Therefore, push-ups will seem easier, sit-ups will seem easier and your athletic strength (calisthenic strength) will have appeared to increase. However, if you lift something other than your body (freeweights) for a workout, you will see that your strength has either stayed the same or decreased as a result to the losing weight.

 

The problem with this post is that people are ignorant of the terminology involved in sports physiology. I will say it for the last time, BULKING UP IS NOT THE SAME AS BUILDING STRENGTH, AND CUTTING WHILE BULLKING GO AGAINST THE LAWS OF THERMODYNAMICS IN YOUR BODY.

[DokterVet]

Ok, so in a nutshell, you think that I won't be able to improve my strength while cutting? Just maintain it?