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Anonymous
Hello /fit/. I come to you searching for enlightenment.

So, my problem is: I don't know if I should try to gain more muscle or if I should start to lose weight.

I joined the gym back in February 2007 because I was overweight (5'7 / 194 lbs). Managed to lose around 44 pounds in 4 months. Then I decided I should try to gain some lean mass so my body wouldn't look too flabby (July, 2007). It was my main goal until recently.

In August, 2008 I decided I should try to lose the remaining fat. I hit the treadmill 3 or 4 times a week, trying to drop 8 pounds. The first weeks I went too far and noticed I started to lose muscle mass way too fast because I was on a large calorie deficit. I slowed down a little bit to balance my calorie intake trying to save muscle mass.

I am now lifting 5 times a week (2x chest, biceps / 2x back, triceps / 1x legs, shoulder -- 3 sets: 10 / 8 / 6 reps) and doing cardio 3 times (around 30 min -- 6 min @ 7,5 mph / 2 min to recover @ 4,5 mph). I decided to do that in order to save muscle mass; the problem is my weight isn't dropping. I didn't drop a gram in 3 weeks (I really mean it, haha... very weird).

I don't know what to do now. Should I keep on trying to lose weight? (I know I have to decrease my calorie intake so I would start losing weight). Or should I try to gain more muscle mass before?
My main goal is to get rid of the tits and belly. I am totally lost!

Thank you for your time, /fit/.

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>> Anonymous
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Another one. Front.

PS: I had an accident as a kid so my right leg is 1,5 cm bigger than my left leg. Thus the hip deflect you see.
>> Anonymous
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The horror show is almost over, I promise.
>> Anonymous
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And now to keep newfags away from /fit/. Worst than gore. Haha.
>> Anonymous
lift heavier.
>> Anonymous
Not as bad as you make it out to be if you came down from 194.
>> Anonymous
this negative bullshit has to go. get some self esteem or gtfo.
>> Anonymous
>>362222
I'm not trying to be negative here. It's just that I think I could've done better in the bulking phase. Now I am stuck with a belly, tits (I don't think it's gynecomastia, though) and I don't know what if my first priority should be weight loss or muscle mass.
>> Anonymous
Also, is this 3x 10 / 8 / 6 + cardio any good? Anything I should change? Perhaps a circuit for fat loss, I don't know.

I could post my entire routine here if necessary.
>> Anonymous
I had a very similar body to yours OP.
Started taking protein shakes and kept with my plan for another year and combined it with aerobics (rowing and sprinting mainly) and I'm currently very pleased with my body.
>> Anonymous
>>362247
This is very good to hear. I think my body fat % isn't that bad. The problem is: I am afraid of losing weight because my tits might look even worse, but at the same time I want to get rid of the belly fat. When I do cardio I think my muscle goes first, and then the fat... so I would be stuck with almost no pecs at all and tits would show off.

I don't know if it is a good idea but I was planning to drop my weight down to 152 pounds.
>> Anonymous
>>362264
Oh, forgot to add I'm 158 right now.
>> Anonymous
>>362204
OP, two quick questions:

1. From Feb-Jun 2007 what kinds of exercise were you doing at the gym?

2. What were you eating during that time?

I'm in the same boat you were in at Feb 2007. HALP
>> Anonymous
>>362307
I joined the gym mainly to lose weight. When I started my routine was pretty simple because I've never had done ANY kind of exercise/sports before (aka lazy bastard).

There was day A and day B.

A: 3 sets of 12 reps: upper part of the body.
Biceps, triceps, back, chest, shoulder. It was mainly to get me started I think and to help my body on not losing that much muscle because I was doing cardio 5x a week.

B: lower part of the body. Legs. Same thing, 3 sets of 12 reps.

So basically I was lifting weight just to SAVE muscle mass in the beginning. Cardio 5x a week: around 45~50 mins every day. I would run for X minutes until my pulse was around 180 and then I would jog to recover then repeat it.

I ate every 2,5 hours, small meals. Lowered my carb intake and increased my protein intake. WATER, WATER AND WATER! My calorie deficit was around 700~1000 kcal a day (it worked better for me). In 4 months I was able to lose 44 pounds.
>> Anonymous
>>362323
Oh, I would do "Day A" 2 times a week and "Day B" 2 times a week also.

Like:
Monday -- A.
Tuesday -- B.
Wed -- Cardio + abs.
Thurs -- A.
Fri -- B.
>> Anonymous
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Well, I am still doubtful. I think I could drop from 158 to 152 and then start to bulk all over again. What do you guys think? First "cut" a little bit and then start to bulk. The only thing I'm afraid of is I end up losing much more muscle than fat.

Picture is me sucking in the gut. I can see I do have some muscle mass but I'm uncertain if it already time to start losing weight once again; and if I would sacrifice lose more lean mass than fat and end up looking even worse.

Thanks once again and sorry about the tl;dr thread.
>> Anonymous
>>362355
bulk first

you don't lose any mussles if you eat right when cutting
>> Anonymous
how about this for an idea: CHANGE YOUR FUCKING SHITTY DIET. Doing a little cardio is not going to help if you're cramming fat down your face.