I want to lose fat and build muscle at the same time. Are my light weights enough?
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Rachel Hosie
Aug 1, 2022, 15:40 IST
Samantha Lee/Business Insider
Simultaneously losing fat and gaining muscle is called body recomposition.
It's possible if you lift heavy weights, progressively overload, and eat in a small calorie deficit.
Eating a high protein diet and sleeping enough will help too, a personal trainer and nutritionist said.
Dear Rachel,
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I'm eating in a calorie deficit and I workout six days a week. I use a pair of 2.5 kilogram (5.5 pound) dumbbells and do upper body, lower body, core, and HIIT. My goal is body recomposition, losing fat and gaining muscle at the same time. I have a lot of body fat, think I have a slow metabolism, and am having a hard time with my protein intake. Please help!
— Struggling
Dear Struggling,
It sounds like you're frustrated, but the good news is there are some simple tweaks you can make that will help you reach your goals.
However, if you're new to lifting weights, and you do it right, it's possible to lose fat and build muscle at the same time.
"Although many people claim that you cannot do it, it is indeed possible to build muscle and lose body fat simultaneously. This process is often referred to as 'recomping,'" Ben Carpenter, a qualified master personal trainer and strength and conditioning specialist, previously told Insider.
Lift heavier weights
For body recomposition, it's really important to lift weights heavy enough to stimulate muscle growth, personal trainer Rachel Trotta told Insider.
She recommends focusing on compound exercises like squats, deadlifts, lunges, and bench and shoulder presses as these recruit large muscles.
People often choose weights that are too light for them, and while the right weight will vary from person to person, most beginners can start with goblet squats holding at least 10 kilograms (22 pounds) and deadlift 30-40 kilograms (66-88 pounds), Trotta said.
Try and train around four days a week, ensuring you give your body time to recover between sessions, as that's when the muscles grow.
Challenge yourself to use increasingly heavy weights
To build muscle, you need to challenge yourself almost to failure (where you can't complete the rep).
Aim to do sets of eight to 12 reps, and at a weight where you feel like you could only do a couple more if you absolutely had to, Trotta said. If you feel like you could do more than four more reps after the initial eight to 12, you need a heavier weight.
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Once you find the weight that feels right to you, it's important to try and gradually increase the weight, reps, or sets over time — this is called progressive overload.
If you keep doing 10 kilogram (22 pound) goblet squats, for example, it will get easier as the weeks go by.
"Even though the weight is the same, the stress on the muscle is reducing because you are getting stronger," Trotta said.
Registered nutritionist Jamie Wright recommends staying active over the course of the day to keep your non-exercise activity thermogenesis (or NEAT) up — this is all the movement you do in your life that isn't formal exercise, such as walking up stairs or cleaning.
Wright recommends small tweaks like adding protein powder to oatmeal or smoothies, and getting creative with spices and seasoning rather than just eating bland, plain chicken breasts.
You're doing the right thing by eating in a calorie deficit, Wright said, but ensure your deficit isn't too big, as that would make muscle building harder.
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Be patient
Body recomposition takes time, Trotta said, so try not to be frustrated by slow results.
Reducing stress and getting adequate sleep play a role in fitness and fat loss too, Wright said, so make sure you're prioritizing those as much as your workouts and diet.
If you've tried everything and still aren't making progress, consider going to see your doctor and asking for a blood test to check if there's anything else at play, Wright said.
You'll get there!
Wishing you well,
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Rachel
As a senior health reporter at Insider and a self-described fitness fanatic with an Association for Nutrition-certified nutrition course under her belt, Rachel Hosie is immersed in the wellness scene and here to answer all your burning questions. Whether you're struggling to find the motivation to go for a run, confused about light versus heavy weights, or unsure whether you should be worried about how much sugar is in a mango, Rachel is here to give you the no-nonsense answers and advice you need, with strictly no fad diets in sight.
Rachel has a wealth of experience covering fitness, nutrition, and wellness, and she has the hottest experts at her fingertips. She regularly speaks with some of the world's most knowledgeable and renowned personal trainers, dietitians, and coaches, ensuring she's always up to date with the latest science-backed facts you need to know to live your happiest and healthiest life.
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