Fitness and Exercise

[Raven]

Well... what are you trying to achieve? Build muscle, endurance, strength or simply losing weight?

I've been cutting since May, and I didn't have a lot of fat to burn so it wasn't easy. All up I've become pretty lean and I do have some muscle definition (broad shoulders, big-ish chest and arms, tiny waist). So I guess my goal, now that I've wiped the slate clean so to speak, is to build a bit more muscle. I don't want to become big as hell like a line backer or something, I guess I'm more after that ballet style of physique as dumb as it might sound, that chiseled, lean muscular look.
I'm on the way to a six-pack too inadvertently, but I know that'll be hard to maintain. Really gotta get the BF% low for that.

I've developed really good eating and supplement habits while cutting but I'm fairly sure I'll need to eat bigger portions in general if I want to build up a bit. On another note, a nutritionist told me I was eating wayyy too much protein daily. She said she has guys coming to her after 10+ years of high protein diets and their kidneys are starting to fail from all the hard work. *shrugs*

[Archangel]

There's a whole lot of ignorance going on in this thread. It's to be expected though, there are loads of myths on the subject of muscle gain and fat loss.

I've been cutting since May, and I didn't have a lot of fat to burn so it wasn't easy. All up I've become pretty lean and I do have some muscle definition (broad shoulders, big-ish chest and arms, tiny waist). So I guess my goal, now that I've wiped the slate clean so to speak, is to build a bit more muscle. I don't want to become big as hell like a line backer or something, I guess I'm more after that ballet style of physique as dumb as it might sound, that chiseled, lean muscular look.
I'm on the way to a six-pack too inadvertently, but I know that'll be hard to maintain. Really gotta get the BF% low for that.

I've developed really good eating and supplement habits while cutting but I'm fairly sure I'll need to eat bigger portions in general if I want to build up a bit. On another note, a nutritionist told me I was eating wayyy too much protein daily. She said she has guys coming to her after 10+ years of high protein diets and their kidneys are starting to fail from all the hard work. *shrugs*

You're looking for ottermode, google it. A 6 pack isn't really that hard to maintain assuming you'll still do maintenance workout and personally i find it extremely aesthetically pleasing. Swimming would also be a good alternative for maintenance.

What's the consensus on "having some fat on you so you can burn it during workout"? I was wanting to burn off my fat as first priority before building mass. Lean mass, and not too much. I still want to fit into most of my current clothes.

Well powerlifters keep a lot of fat as to keep spinal injuries less likely... but i'm guessing that what you mean is how beginners to lifting are able to both gain muscle and lose fat at the same time so the concept of bulking and cutting becomes less significant to them.

I don't think you want to "leave fat on you" for workouts, because your body won't process that fat as quickly as it needs energy. You eat shortly before to have the energy to workout.

Actually, there have been some interesting studies on the advantages of fasting before workout. I'll see if i can find the article when i get home.

It's not possible to really gain a lot of muscle if you don't bulk up ( ie get fat) beforehand; your body simply will not have fat to burn and it will reach a peak on how much muscle it can gain.

Read my answer to Bill's question.