Going back to weight loss cycle in a few weeks... any help?

RAGE

Hey guys,

A few months ago I went on a weight loss cycle and lost about 20 lbs in a month and a half or so. It was a very intense diet with a lot of training and six meals a day. For the past month and a half or so, I've gone back to a major muscle-building routine. It has been going well. I've been building a lot of muscle.

I'm a pretty muscular guy, but I am now hoping to trim some more fat from my mid-section, which is my only problem area. The thing is, I lost 20 lbs, right? Well, now I have gained that weight back and then some. However, a lot of this weight is muscle. How do I know this? I'm visibly bigger and my stomach area is nowhere near the size it was when I weighed this much 3-4 months ago. So even though I weigh even more now than I did 3-4 months ago, the fat level is visibly less.

I think this is due to my six meal a day eating cycle while losing fat. I think my metabolism is faster because during this muscle-gaining process, I have eaten an enormous amount of food. Hell, I eat more now than I did 3-4 months ago! I'm not doing any cardio on this muscle gaining cycle (except 80-90 minute walk to and from the gym) and my stomach isn't putting on the layers I feared it would.

So, with this weight-loss cycle, I am hoping to gradually trim more fat while speeding up my metabolism even more, so when I get back on my muscle-building cycle, I can enjoy even more success than I do now (in respect to eating a lot of food and having it go to my muscles rather than stomach fat).

Believe me, I am strongly motivated. On my fat-burning cycle, I lifted everyday and did 30-45 minutes of cardio a day. I'm learning more and more about what to eat from this site so that's a plus.

On my weight-loss cycle, I completely avoided soda, junk food, fast food, processed grains- hell, anything man-made, I didn't eat (except whey). It wasn't a problem. I will combine this with six meals again once I go back to the cycle. Hell, even if I don't get my six-pack with this cycle, it won't matter. I just want to make steady gains because I enjoy burning fat and building muscle, so I continue to alter. So even if I end up gaining it all back after the cycle but having visibly less stomach fat, it will be another successful cycle.

If I can continue this cycle for another year or so, I'm hoping I can get closer to what I want. I'm 18 years-old and I've been training religiously for 20 months. I'm pretty big- 6'1''-6'2'' and 210-220 lbs. I'm muscular and it's all good... except the stomach, which genetically stores fat to the sides (love handles). I don't have a big beltch.

Sorry for such a long post, lol, but you guys here are great. You give me some great advice. I'm just looking for any extra boost you guys can give me... in any way shape or form. September is when I start up again. Your words would be appreciated.

Thanks for reading.

Anonymous

I think you are on the right path with your current approach, do what you did previously when on your fat loss program but possibly not quite so severely. Take a slower and gentler approach so you don't only risk losing muscle but may be able to add some whilst still gettting leaner.

Some say you can't build muscle whilst dieting, I disagree. When I competed for the first time I lost muscle and fat, the second time I did it the little bit extra knowledge allowed me to compete around 25 pounds heavier in much the same condition, I didn't get much smaller at all because I was gaining muscle as I burnt fat.

RAGE

Thanks. I'm hoping to move forward and fall behind. I don't want to lose too much muscle. I'm just trying to get the effect both ways - building muscle, then burning fat.

Dazza9t9

Rage can i ask what your routine consisted of?

I am looking to lose weight off my stomach while not loosing muscle i have gained!

leighton

hi rage
can you tell me how to loose the stomach fat, i seroiusly need to
loose the stomach. cheers leighton

Stu21Ldn

you lose stomach fat with diet and cardio