Gaining muscle while losing fat, yet no results?

[Anonymous]

Bottom line is I have been working out for almost two years. Gained 15 pounds (mostly in the first six months), gotten stronger, yet I have hit a stagnant point. I have switched up exercises, I have switched up days, I have switched up strategies, etc.

It has seemed when I stick with one thing it works then it stops working and I am still back at the same strength. One day I feel weaker, another stronger. I tried protein shakes, I eat healthy with protein, I feel good. I also run because when I don't, I get flabby, and when I don't work out for a week, I get flabby and smaller. I do intense abs three-four times a week. I have tried resting more, working out more.

I just want a muscular body, but I am beginning to think this is just genes, since I see other people get big and strong over a period of 6 months. I will not stop working out no matter what either way, I just want an answer.

[Texan83]

Genes play a big part of it. Some people are born naturally athletic. Also keep in mind that the male body gains at most around 7-10 pounds of lean muscle a year! I don't know your workout routine so I can't really say what you should/shouldn't do. If you want to get bigger it is pretty simple. Do 6-8 reps of heavy weights. Eat like an animal. I'm talking about tons and tons of food not junk food but healthy/semi healthy foods. Once you got bulky to the point you are satisfied do more reps of small weights and eat healthy low carb diet to lose the fat and get cut and lean.

[jarhead]

Sounds like you are on a plateau. What works for me is taking a week or two off from lifting. That's right, don't do any lifts whatsoever during that time. Believe it or not, my first day back I'll come back just as strong or stronger and keep progressing up.

Here are some more tips you can try: link

[jarhead]

This is also a useful calculator to let you know when you are near your genetic maximum lean weight: link

[sweet_18]

Are you doing the same exercises over and over? Cause if you do, your body will adapt to them and you won't see results. So for example, instead of doing pushups every week, week after week, try something different to target your arms...like using the machines or using the wall.

[TheCheshireCat]

If you are making your judgement based on your weight, you should know muscle weighs more than fat, so that is why your weight would go up & not down...

[raptor]

muscle does not weigh more than fat...

[TheCheshireCat]

Yes, muscle does weigh for than fat. Get your facts straight.

[Prof_Don]

I think the wording is what's making the QA say "wth?"

Muscle DOES have more density than fat, ~7x in a matter of fact. The same cubic inches of muscle, compared to fat, will weigh 7x more.

So a person primarily weightlifting (I don't think the QA isn't this way), focusing on LOSING WEIGHT (rather than just being in better shape), isn't the most effective way to drop the # on the scale.

[Hyped_up_on_coffee]

Try the adkins diet it is based on protein, it helps build tons of muscle for men

[ItalianBro]

What is your weight and height?

[Asker]

LOL srry I forgot to put that up. I am only 5'8 and 145lbs