Building muscle in a caloric deficit

[Swagnificent]

So I've been on a strict fasting regime the last couple of months. I eat only 1 meal every 3 days. That means continous 72 hour fasts. In the first 30 days of this diet I lost around 30 lbs of fat. However, over the last couple of weeks something weird happened.

About two weeks ago I weighed myself and I was at 154 lbs (which is the leanest I've ever been in my life). I continued my training in the gym and kept on fasting for 48-72 hours thinking I would keep losing fat. However, when I weighed myself yesterday the scale read 160 lbs. This blew my mind. I looked in the mirror to see if I've gained any fat around my belly. I didn't see anything. I actually looked leaner than I did at 154 lbs. What did look bigger were my forearms. My shoulders were thicker and more defined. And my triceps and gotten more muscular. I had somehow gained 6 lbs of muscle in two weeks while in a severe caloric deficit because of my fasting focused lifestyle.

So there you have it. Stop listening to these steroid using bodybuilders who say you gotta be in a caloric surplus to build muscle. I'm living proof that you can build muscle while fasting and being in a huge caloric deficit.

 

[Brolic]

6 lbs of muscles in 2 weeks, while in a caloric deficit?



It’s impossible to gain 6 lbs of muscle in 2 weeks in a caloric surplus. Your scale is probably broken.

 

[The ADD]

FFS



You didn’t

 

[Billy Ocean]

Been lifting and working out most my adult life...this is complete bullshyt.

 

[Swagnificent]

6 lbs of muscles in 2 weeks, while in a caloric deficit?



It’s impossible to gain 6 lbs of muscle in 2 weeks in a caloric surplus. Your scale is probably broken.

Wonderful things happen when you live a fasting focused lifestyle. Fasting for 72+ hours boosts growth hormone and stem cell production massively. That could be whats helping me make these remarkable gains.

Its crazy how much more efficient my body is now. What I say next might be a bit graphic but bear with me cause it illustrates my point. One major change I've noticed lately since I started fasting is that I don't shyt anymore. Even after I eat my huge meals on the refeed days I don't have to use the restroom for several days. Its like my body has realized I only feed it every 72 hours so its no longer just discarding food after I eat. Its holding onto the food for as long as it can and taking every single nutrient out. I only lay 1 or 2 small turds in the toilet now once a week. Its freaking weird cause I use to shyt once a day in the past and they were huge loads.

 

[Pimpdaddy]

Nah

 

[UncleTomFord15]

Gain water weight and think it's muscle brehs

 

[easymoneysniper]

I did something similar, albeit when I was quite a bit overweight - went from 60kg deadlift to 110kg deadlift while losing 20kg

OP is right - when your body turns into a fat burning machine, you can put on muscle whilst being in a calorie deficit. Gets a lot harder / impossible when you are at a low body fat percentage

Its my belief that the body adapts to its circumstances - if you keep putting it under tension via weights it will adapt to build more muscle despite the calorie consumption circumstances we put ourselves through

The body is very strong and adaptive!

Now I gotta get back into that mojo, 30-40kgs overweight and haven’t been to the gym in ages

 

[Tha Gawd Amen]

Wonderful things happen when you live a fasting focused lifestyle. Fasting for 72+ hours boosts growth hormone and stem cell production massively. That could be whats helping me make these remarkable gains.

Its crazy how much more efficient my body is now. What I say next might be a bit graphic but bear with me cause it illustrates my point. One major change I've noticed lately since I started fasting is that I don't shyt anymore. Even after I eat my huge meals on the refeed days. Its like my body has realized I only feed it every 72 hours so its no longer just discarding food after I eat. Its holding onto the food for as long as it can and taking every single nutrient out. I only lay 1 or 2 small turds in the toilet now once a week.

It sounds like you're severely constipated. I'll pray for your intestines my guy.

 

[Swagnificent]

Gain water weight and think it's muscle brehs

I typically dry fast (aka no food or water) for 48 hours before weighing myself so your point is mute.

 

[easymoneysniper]

It sounds like you're severely constipated. I'll pray for your intestines my guy.

Lack of fibre in his diet + overall lack of nutrients

 

[Originalman]

OP it means the simulation has a glitch in it.



You might need to hit the reset button....

 

[Swagnificent]

It sounds like you're severely constipated. I'll pray for your intestines my guy.

Nope. I feel great. I use to shyt once a day before I started fasting. Its this fasting focused lifestyle that has changed how my body operates. Its simply more efficient now. There are actual calories in feces now. Think of all the microbes that feed on it. What my body has done is adapted to the decrease in food I'm giving it by trying to draw more calories and nutrients out of the food I give it instead of just discarding it because I decided to put more food in my stomach.

Its amazing how our bodies can adapt to almost anything.

 

[The ADD]

I did something similar, albeit when I was quite a bit overweight - went from 60kg deadlift to 110kg deadlift while losing 20kg

OP is right - when your body turns into a fat burning machine, you can put on muscle whilst being in a calorie deficit. Gets a lot harder / impossible when you are at a low body fat percentage

Its my belief that the body adapts to its circumstances - if you keep putting it under tension via weights it will adapt to build more muscle despite the calorie consumption circumstances we put ourselves through

The body is very strong and adaptive!

Now I gotta get back into that mojo, 30-40kgs overweight and haven’t been to the gym in ages

No this is also false

 

[Alexander Wiggin]

Problem with fasting is that's a short term solution. Good if you have to lose weight rapidly for a particular purpose (wedding, boxing, acting... Ect) but generally people can't sustain that type of restriction too long because it fukks with your mind.

The best way is too eat regularly but healthy food. Maybe reserve one day of the week to eat whatever junk food you want, fast one day per week max and keep a regular physical routine