Thread: Calories in regards to Fat Loss vs Mass Gain

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Originally Posted by chrischarles

Hi everyone. I’m a little confused on this point with all the reading materials out there.

I could be considered a “beginner”, and I currently do a 4-day split.

I have a fast metabolism and I’m eating about 1500 – 2000 calories a day in about 5 to 6 portions.

I’ve been told that this is required with my metabolism in order to get the BEST benefits for mass gain.
And honestly I AM seeing the results, so thanks for your advice on this forum!

My dilemma is that I’ve also been told to minimize my cardio (some have said to eliminate all together), in order not to burn much needed calories that are required for muscle gain.

That being said, I’m not at a point where I’m trying to refine my core, the muscle is there, but it is the ONLY place that I can’t seem to reduce the body fat %. The rest of my body is pretty lean.

Is there a solution to getting rid of this body fat, without doing high impact cardio? Or should I actually add cardio to my 4-day split workout, as a daily requirement, but then taking away from my CALs needed for muscle growth?
Thanks in advance for all your advice.

how much do you weigh and what is your body fat %

your caloric intake seems a litle low as 2,000 cals is pretty much the standard for the sedentary individual.

I would recommend adding activity as the best way to lose weight -- whether in the form of high-impact cardio, more frequent workouts (careful not to overtrain), or simply going for a 30-minute walk most days. After all, if you are using your body more frequently, you are burning more calories.

High impact cardio is over-rated... even typing 'high-impact' makes me cringe. I would limit that sort of activity to twice a week maximum if you are weight training 4x per week.

Also in my experience what you eat really matters as much as the calorie number. Eat low-glycemic foods more, eat lots of leafy vegetables too. Brown rice, barley, spinach, small amounts of chicken turkey or fish, nuts and Beans, I find works best. Getting used to these types of foods will keep you full for longer with less frequent dips in energy.

Cook more meals at home, research good recipes and nutrition, and stay active during the day. And be patient!

Exercise is generally regarded as a futile means to promote weight loss. It has other benefits, but weight loss isn't really among them.

Exercise is especially unhelpful if you look at it in terms of calories. One chocolate chip muffin would take a few hours of cardio to burn off. Just don't eat the damn muffin and you're grand.