Dre Fitness
A blog in support of strength, fitness and wellness. Spreading knowledge on natural approaches and new ideas.
Updates coming:
- Disease Prevention
- Fat Loss
- Metabolic Health
- Fitness Guide
- Injury Prevention
- Mental Wellness
- and more…
Updated 11/16/23
Andre! I have a health question that perhaps you can answer, and can benefit other readers of your blog as well!
Currently, I am at 192 pounds. I feel like I am in the best “physical” shape of my life. My muscles and veins are popping, I can go all day without naps or coffee, and I am drinking lots of water every day.
Right now, my diet is a mix between taco time (mahi mahi burritos are my kryptonite), and cereal. Basically, VERY LITTLE home cooked meals. I am trying to correct this by preparing meals in advance. (I packed my own lunch today).
My question is this: I want to lose weight, without losing too much muscle mass. I know I am naturally a muscular guy, but I also know my BMI could be lowered down a few points. I want to get back to my old 178 and fit into my old tee-shirts again. Any suggestions?
Your faithful reader and friend,
~Drew
in reading through your articles, there’s a mini-theme that crops up here and there, to the effect that it seems to be difficult for skinny guys to put on a lot of additional muscle mass. I wonder if the inverse holds true- that being fat makes adding muscle (or converting fat weight to muscle weight) is easier. Is that the case? Will I, with my 40-60 pounds of extra unhealthy weight on me, have an easier time building muscle than a guy at a lower, healthier weight?
Arthur,
You have a very interesting theory there but it actually isn’t true. Genetics can determine how fast your metabolism is, which in turn will be a cause of why you look the way you do.
As for skinny and overweight, the isn’t really a difference. In theory, since fat is stored as energy in your body, if you were to start working out the fat would get burned by the body. This would make you lose body weight. At the same time, your muscles would build in mass and if there is a lack of energy your body will be able to tap into your fat to gain some energy to continue rebuilding the muscle.
In reality, although this might give overweight people a slight advantage, the plan to build muscle is always the same. Lift weights that you can do more than 6 but less than 14 reps on. If you do more than 14 you need to go up in weight. To decrease weight you will need to eat less calories than your body requires, while also making sure to provide your body enough protein to keep building muscles.
The only advantage that I can see is that being overweight usually means you have a slow metabolism. Therefore, nutrients are kept in your system longer which allows your muscles to access them as needed before they leave your body.
In conclusion, there really isn’t an advantage, but if that motivates you more to workout consistently, then believe it! 🙂 Remember, nutrition, workouts, and cardio will always be your key to success.
Darren
http://www.flat-stomach-six-pack-abs.com/
Hey man, Drew showed me your site, been reading through all your blogs. Good stuff. I am 6′ 1 and 175 lbs. I am lifting 6 days a week, on a great lifting regimen. I eat 4-5 meals a day and take a multivitamin (1) and fish oil (2) daily plus I drink a protein shake after every workout and before bed. I’m considerably muscular, but one problem. Breakfast is not my friend. Question is: Is breakfast really crucial for gains? And also, would a couple bowls of cereal and maybe some fruit be sufficient enough to help me continue to gain lean mass?
Thanks bud,
Danny