can fat turn to muscle?

[nightowl81]

This is probably a stupid question... but ...


If you need to eat more calories than your body needs to really build muscle mass, what if you are restricting calories to lose weight and doing some serious weight training, would your body use the excess fat stores for energy to build muscle?

 

[maddiesmum]

Fat cannot be turned into muscle because a fat cell is a fat cell and a muscle cell is a muscle cell. You need proteins to build muscle. Fat can be utilized as an energy source, for all bodily/metabolic activities, but unless you have adequate protein in your diet, you may not grow much muscle mass.

Usually they say that you cannot build muscle if you are restricting your diet. What they recommend is increasing protein in-take to build muscle, then when you have added the mass you seek, then you can concentrate more on cardio and reducing calories slightly to burn off fat with HIIT type activities.

Losing fat and adding muscle at the same time is a difficult goal to achieve! Perhaps the book, "Burn the fat, feed the Muscle" can help? Tom Venuto is the author. Other people on the forums have this book, maybe they will chime in?

Clare

 

[SirenSongWoman]

You know, Clare, I really need to get that book. And I like your easy to grasp explanation.

 

[marnapril]

If you need to eat more calories than your body needs to really build muscle mass

you don't need to eat more than your body needs, you just need to eat the right kinds of calories - lean protein, fresh veggies, whole grains. no more or less than what your body needs.


either tom venuto's book that clare or others recommend, and i also like muscle chow by uber-hottie greg avedon

 

[LaughingWater]

Anyone interested in Burn The Fat, shoot me a PM.

 

[maddiesmum]

you don't need to eat more than your body needs, you just need to eat the right kinds of calories - lean protein, fresh veggies, whole grains. no more or less than what your body needs.

yes, that is a better explanation of what I meant to say, but I was having trouble with my words!

Clare

 

[nightowl81]

really...? I read to put on muscle you need more calories, is that just for bodybuilding? Do us regular folks do fine putting on muscle on fat loss and maintenance calories?

do our bodies go for our fat stores to atleast repair the muscles?