04/02/2021
If you know me, you know I am an open book and honest as the day is long. I have no secrets here and my mission is to 100% teach you all I know, learn and what I do.
I get asked the question all the time wondering if you can "lose weight" and build muscle at the same time. So I wanted to break this down for you.
In order to "lose weight" ie: lose body fat, you must be in a deficit of calories from where your maintenance level is. This could be anywhere from 10-30% less calories from your maintenance. Typically when women are exercising and lifting weights in deficit you are not "building muscle" because you are eating LESS calories then what your body needs because the #1 goal is Fat loss.
But while in Maintenance & NOT In deficit one can still burn fat, while building muscle gains at a slower rate. You wouldn't necessarily see the scale drop like you would in deficit, but rather you would notice inches dropping, improved biofeedback; better moods, sleep, energy, stronger in your workouts, lifting heavier, etc.. Burning Fat and "losing weight" to me are two different things. Look at the image of the two picture of me above. The left is a 5 week Deficit (which in all honesty I hate being in deficit) and the right is maintenance coming out of surplus. Looks so different right?! One might say I was "too skinny" on the left, but it served a point. Deficit Is for weight loss which doesn't always equate to just fat loss. But on the right side picture is where I notice the fat loss happening, but my pants are tighter in the b***y and thighs. I am lifting heavier weights with focus. I am resting more and doing less intense cardio.
Bottom line depending the goal, depends on the approach. One goal at a time. You want weight loss, deficit! You want strength, power & to feel amazing Maintenance with Muscle Building goals! Eat for your goals! Eat for your body! Pay attention to the way you feel and tap in to that! Your body will tell you what it needs more of and less of, I promise! It is a pretty amazing work of art and no matter your age you have the ability to transform it to whatever desire you'd like.
For me I love maintenance and listening to the way my bodies responds to various things. As I get older (I mean I am still young but.... 😆) our bodies respond different. Listen to them! Less Isn't always more and More Isn't always the answer.
Change brings change. Like they say...nothing changes, if nothing changes. ❤