I'm 16 years old...

[darkadonis]

I am an average size with an average amount of muscle and fat, about 5'8" and am looking to do a few things. Now, I am going on a few trips this summer and want to get looking really good. I want to lose my excess fat as well as bulk up on muscle to get a really nice looking body before then.

Now, my questions derive from whether or not I should first lose the excess fat first and then work on gaining muscle? I heard it isn't possible to do both at the same time, so should I burn the fat first with a good diet and cardio 4-5 times a week? Or should I try to put on some muscle first?

[pizdac]

Well I think that you should do both. Change your diet but begin to workout. This will help you get a better body faster, especially after you lose the extra fat.

[darkadonis]

Alright thanks...So should I run cardio as well? I know that working out increases your metabolism, so should I workout first and then do cardio for about 45 minutes a day, 5 times a week? I have begun to change my diet, should I go on a high protein-low carb diet? I think that would be best but I still need some advice. Thanks in advance.

[Sam_2005]

Bulk up first (with no cardio) then cut. If you are bulking then I suggest not having a low carb diet, carbs (complex carbs) are need as well as fats in order to bulk succesfully. Once you have gain muscle (some fat too unfortunately) you should then cut.
Furthermore five 45 mins cardio sessions a week is far too much and you would be likely to burn off muscle as well as fat. I would suggest you use the High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). Research this on google as well as using the search button on this forum.

[MATT15]

what about a clean bulk??? maybe 100 200 cals more then your body needs but putting in cardio on your off days from lifting. if your body is not used to lifting then you will loose fat aswell. Try a total body workout maybe 3 times or even twice a week.

Make sure you really work hard. supper sets and all!! maybe only 1 or at most 2 sets per body part.

Diet well right now i eat 6 meals a day and have an all carb meal then all protein meal. I do my workout an hour after an all carb meal then eat an all protien meal afterwards. Its working for me, the carbs mean i have the energy to workout but the 6 meals means my metabolism is racing

[Menik]

That Total body workout 3 times a week? Will that really be effiective instead of splitting it over the week?

[Sam_2005]

I personally think that will constitute overtraining, if you are training intensly and going to failure 3x a week for each muslce group.

[Snowboardist]

I think that the best thing is to start eating less (not undereating, though), doing weight training 3-4 times a week (for all muscle groups, 3-4 exercises for each), and doing cardio the other days. I know from personal experience that it works.

[pizdac]

I'm agreeing most with the last theard from Snowboardist, number one for you now is to get rid of the fat and second is to build muscles, so eating better and less is the number one choice for the first months, late when you have hopefully made progress you can boost your diet again. Anyway I just saw a protein 30+ today, the seller told me that it was for losing weight

[darkadonis]

Thanks guys I appreciate the advice and the help.

[WrkingHard17]

Originally Posted by darkadonis

I am an average size with an average amount of muscle and fat, about 5'8" and am looking to do a few things. Now, I am going on a few trips this summer and want to get looking really good. I want to lose my excess fat as well as bulk up on muscle to get a really nice looking body before then.

Now, my questions derive from whether or not I should first lose the excess fat first and then work on gaining muscle? I heard it isn't possible to do both at the same time, so should I burn the fat first with a good diet and cardio 4-5 times a week? Or should I try to put on some muscle first?

Ok you are talking about by summer time. that is not a nough time to properly bulk then cut what i think you should do is get your cardio in with your workouts by makeing your resting time less or superseting for example say you are doing legs you could go directly from leg extention to leg curls then take a small break that is one set. get your diet as close to perfect as possible. i would consume a lot more protein than normal so that you dont loose muscle mass.take in a little bit more carbs than normal so that you have the energy to get through your workouts.