Skinny/Fat (cutting body fat issue)

External Since: Apr 30, 2005 Posts: 8

Ok, I am about 165lbs, 5'11 pretty thin. High Metabolism. I am attempting
to gain muscle weight / definition. I have been attempting to eat as much
as possible and utilize protein supplements. I have been tracking my weight
and body fat for the past 3-5 months (i use a home body fat scale, i know
it's not 100% accurate but it should track my progress, if not the specific
%). In the past 3 months i have gained about 8 lbs and my body fat has
risen almost 4%. I am thin in all areas of my body except for the stomach,
for some reason it seems to be getting bigger. I have seen some progress in
other areas ie. chest/bis/tris/legs. I have been utilizing the following
weightlifting routine:
Day 1 - Legs/Abs
Day 2 - Chest/Tris
Day 3 - Back/Bis
Day 4 - Shoulders/Abs
I haven't until the last 2 weeks done any cardio as from many sources state
that cardio will only slow the weight gaining and muscle mass. The past two
weeks i have been doing about 10 mins of cardio (on the stepper) about 3
days per week.

My question is why am i not loosing the gut? Basically should i increase my
cardio? But will that severly reduce my weight gain and muscle defination?
Everyone i talked to said i should not be doing any cardio to begin with,
and just to keep eating and eating.... but i am concerned, (went up to a 34
in jeans Wink

Is it my diet? I really don't watch what i eat but again
people whom i've spoke with (trainers) stated that at my size (thin) i
shouldn't be too concerened about what just about eating about 5 meals per
day.

Any help is appreciated.

nuz.

External Since: Apr 09, 2005 Posts: 228

In article <COidnReNaea8nc7fRVn-iQ DeleteThis @warpdrive.net>,
"ToneJohn" <222 DeleteThis @hotmail.com> writes:
[snip]
> I haven't until the last 2 weeks done any cardio

Define what you mean by "cardio?" I.e.: What level of exercise?

> as from many sources state
> that cardio will only slow the weight gaining and muscle mass.

That seems to be the common wisdom, yes.

> The past two
> weeks i have been doing about 10 mins of cardio (on the stepper) about 3
> days per week.

10 minutes of cardio, three times a week isn't going to make
difference.

>
> My question is why am i not loosing the gut?

Fat stores. This is where guys usually put it on first. There could
be many reasons for it. Caloric intake higher than metabolism,
caloric intake way too low or too *little* fat in your diet would be
some of them.

The "caloric intake higher" one is obvious. Not so obvious are the
other two reasons. Yes, you can actually gain fat weight by starving
your body of what it wants, as it will automatically react to the
starvation signal by directing more caloric intake to fat stores.

> Basically should i increase my
> cardio? But will that severly reduce my weight gain and muscle defination?
[snip]
>

Depends. One argument is that if you're trying to build muscle and
lose fat, you need to do *aerobic* exercise. Aerobic exercise is
"cardio" done below your aerobic threshold (AT). (I don't know as
you can call such exercise "cardio," as it doesn't really challenge
the cardio-vascular system.) I do this for a *minimum* of 30
minutes, three times a week, following my strength training. I mix
it up, using at least three of four different machines (treadmill,
elliptical, upright stationary bike, rowing) at about 10 minutes
each.

Following a discussion held here in MFW, I replaced one aerobic
workout with high intensity interval training (HIIT) once a week. I
only started that last weekend, so it's early to say if it's boosted
my rate of fat burn. I will say this: It sure does wear you out Wink

.

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