This advice is so incomplete as to be pretty unhelpful at best. Not trying to be a jerk, but A) the kinds of workouts you’re doing don’t have much at all to do with weight loss, and B) the number of people for whom too much protein powder is the reason they can’t lose weight is…I mean, it just must be vanishingly small. These are not the reasons most people who want to be slimmer are not, even the ones who are real active.
There are a lot of people who don’t realize that different workout regiments accomplish different things. They follow some shredded dude on insta who shares their workout, and they think if they do the same thing, they’ll look like them.
If you wanna be shredded and you’re over weight today, you have to slim down before you bulk up
Also, in reference to the pic from op, That dudes strong already. If they want to look “better,” more weights isn’t the answer
I just think it’s really conflating two separate things. Weight loss (or gain) is primarily, overwhelmingly controlled by diet. The ~10% influence exercise has just doesn’t leave much room for exercise choice to influence the weight loss goal much. In fact cardio and especially HIIT can really make the brain feel super hungry, and work against dietary goals. Anecdotally and I believe supported by literature.
So for the things that exercise and choice of exercise really contribute to, sure, choose them wisely so that they align with your goals.
But in general, people who want to lose weight should focus on diet almost entirely. And separately, almost anyone looks better with more and stronger muscle. But yeah, they’re distinct goals with very different strategies. Sounds like you do agree about that.
I disagree with you, as do most bodybuilders and physical trainers. Muscle mass burns calories. The more muscles you have, the more you have to eat to keep them. So by focusing on building strength and muscle first, it’ll be easier to lose the fat later. Plus, people who are brand new to weightlifting get something called newb gains, where they can both build muscle and burn fat at the same time. Once you’ve been at it a while you can’t do that anymore. You need to either bulk (and gain some fat), or shred, and lose fat (and some muscle).
the kinds of workouts you’re doing don’t have much at all to do with weight loss
I get where you’re going with that, but if you’re doing full body exercise routines 3 days per week, including squats and deadlifts, then your caloric needs will be considerably higher than someone who is just wandering around the gym, hitting an occasional machine. When I’m doing my strength routine I need roughly 3900 calories per day. That is fucking hard to do. So, it’s pretty easy to lose fat (and some muscle). It doesn’t require starving, it requires me to just stop force feeding myself 6 times per day
Lol this thread ain’t about you and you know it! I know some folks do hit really massive caloric needs even just for maintenance. And hell, even just getting enough protein can be pretty tedious in my own experience, eating for you has got to be a serious chore!
I do want to point out, not to be argumentative but just in the spirit of fun - you didn’t really disagree with the point lol. You said if you decide to lose weight you change diet, not exercise choice.
Just out of curiosity, what are your goals/hobbies that have your activity level so gnarly?
I know it’s not me, but the point is that for some people it’s easier to be more active than to eat less food. If you burn enough calories then you can eat as much as you want, and then some.
I don’t have that same requirement right now because I’m not strength training. But when I’ve slacked off for a while and start getting weak, I do full body workouts, full of compound exercises, and big heavy weights. My hobbies vary, but include rock climbing, mountain biking, and hiking/backpacking. Those types of activities burn a lot of calories, as does building muscle, so doing both on a regular basis means you have to eat a lot of food to put muscle on.
Fair enough. And there’s enough variation in us that few rules truly apply to everyone. Hell, I know an adult woman who eats almost nothing but sweets, no physical activity, stays thin as a rail (though likely not healthy, to be clear).
Yeah, whenever I notice that I’m getting a bit too thick on my stomach, I just stop watching my calories so closely and it goes away within a couple weeks. I don’t have an issue with overeating, I have an issue with eating enough.
Ah bummer, I had that happen when I was younger. Completely unenjoyable, was ruined for many years. It sure seemed permanent for me, but for whatever reason edibles after all that time off worked great.
I was fine in my early 20s and teen years and then they started making everything 20%+ and it was just too much. Maybe when I’m done my career and I’m chilling with a more…accepting job, I can try again.
This advice is so incomplete as to be pretty unhelpful at best. Not trying to be a jerk, but A) the kinds of workouts you’re doing don’t have much at all to do with weight loss, and B) the number of people for whom too much protein powder is the reason they can’t lose weight is…I mean, it just must be vanishingly small. These are not the reasons most people who want to be slimmer are not, even the ones who are real active.
There are a lot of people who don’t realize that different workout regiments accomplish different things. They follow some shredded dude on insta who shares their workout, and they think if they do the same thing, they’ll look like them.
If you wanna be shredded and you’re over weight today, you have to slim down before you bulk up
Also, in reference to the pic from op, That dudes strong already. If they want to look “better,” more weights isn’t the answer
I just think it’s really conflating two separate things. Weight loss (or gain) is primarily, overwhelmingly controlled by diet. The ~10% influence exercise has just doesn’t leave much room for exercise choice to influence the weight loss goal much. In fact cardio and especially HIIT can really make the brain feel super hungry, and work against dietary goals. Anecdotally and I believe supported by literature.
So for the things that exercise and choice of exercise really contribute to, sure, choose them wisely so that they align with your goals.
But in general, people who want to lose weight should focus on diet almost entirely. And separately, almost anyone looks better with more and stronger muscle. But yeah, they’re distinct goals with very different strategies. Sounds like you do agree about that.
I disagree with you, as do most bodybuilders and physical trainers. Muscle mass burns calories. The more muscles you have, the more you have to eat to keep them. So by focusing on building strength and muscle first, it’ll be easier to lose the fat later. Plus, people who are brand new to weightlifting get something called newb gains, where they can both build muscle and burn fat at the same time. Once you’ve been at it a while you can’t do that anymore. You need to either bulk (and gain some fat), or shred, and lose fat (and some muscle).
Ignoring the fact the shredded dude is on HGH or whatever else.
I get where you’re going with that, but if you’re doing full body exercise routines 3 days per week, including squats and deadlifts, then your caloric needs will be considerably higher than someone who is just wandering around the gym, hitting an occasional machine. When I’m doing my strength routine I need roughly 3900 calories per day. That is fucking hard to do. So, it’s pretty easy to lose fat (and some muscle). It doesn’t require starving, it requires me to just stop force feeding myself 6 times per day
Lol this thread ain’t about you and you know it! I know some folks do hit really massive caloric needs even just for maintenance. And hell, even just getting enough protein can be pretty tedious in my own experience, eating for you has got to be a serious chore!
I do want to point out, not to be argumentative but just in the spirit of fun - you didn’t really disagree with the point lol. You said if you decide to lose weight you change diet, not exercise choice.
Just out of curiosity, what are your goals/hobbies that have your activity level so gnarly?
I know it’s not me, but the point is that for some people it’s easier to be more active than to eat less food. If you burn enough calories then you can eat as much as you want, and then some.
I don’t have that same requirement right now because I’m not strength training. But when I’ve slacked off for a while and start getting weak, I do full body workouts, full of compound exercises, and big heavy weights. My hobbies vary, but include rock climbing, mountain biking, and hiking/backpacking. Those types of activities burn a lot of calories, as does building muscle, so doing both on a regular basis means you have to eat a lot of food to put muscle on.
Fair enough. And there’s enough variation in us that few rules truly apply to everyone. Hell, I know an adult woman who eats almost nothing but sweets, no physical activity, stays thin as a rail (though likely not healthy, to be clear).
I do a full week bro split push, pull, legs, accessory arms, accessory back. And if I were to not eat two extra eggs I lose 2 lbs a week lol
Edit…okay more like if I skip lunch every once in a while I lose 2 lbs a week
I would like to start arguing about how many days are in a week in this thread please.
Lol is a week not 5? Like weekends off? The weekdays on.
Yeah, whenever I notice that I’m getting a bit too thick on my stomach, I just stop watching my calories so closely and it goes away within a couple weeks. I don’t have an issue with overeating, I have an issue with eating enough.
Amen. I lost 3 lbs since Thursday. And that’s cause I ate tuna instead of pasta for dinner 2 nights. I’m 175 fluctuating 170-178
Could never be me lol, I’m fairly active and have gotten somewhat serious about diet, but man cannabis + ice cream…phew. Good stuff lol.
I wish I could still smoke. I get schizo now, even with the light shit so I’ve completely stopped. Probably for the best.
Ah bummer, I had that happen when I was younger. Completely unenjoyable, was ruined for many years. It sure seemed permanent for me, but for whatever reason edibles after all that time off worked great.
I was fine in my early 20s and teen years and then they started making everything 20%+ and it was just too much. Maybe when I’m done my career and I’m chilling with a more…accepting job, I can try again.